Burgas to Istanbul by ferry
Istanbul lies 206 km (128 mi) south-east of Burgas, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
The sea distance is about 206 km (128 mi); at typical ferry speeds a direct crossing would take around 6 h 15 min. Whether one runs, and how often, is in the operator’s timetable.
| Burgas | Istanbul | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Bulgaria | Turkey |
| Population | 210,646 | 15.7 million |
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) | 39 m (128 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Europe/Sofia) | UTC+3 (Europe/Istanbul) |
| Port | Port of Burgas | Kontoskalion |
What changes when you arrive in Istanbul
Crossing from Bulgaria into Turkey: money changes from the Lev to the Lira (TRY); the dialling code becomes +90; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25743529.
Where to book ferries from Burgas to Istanbul
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Istanbul
Our booking partner lists 7,063+ places to stay in Istanbul (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 510 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (264), and 148 are five-star. Across 860 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.7 out of 10. Guests have left 1,170,336 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Istanbul
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Istanbul from Burgas?
206 km (128 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Burgas; by road roughly 252 km (157 mi).
How long does it take to get from Burgas to Istanbul by ferry?
About 6 h 15 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Burgas and Istanbul?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in Istanbul?
The Lira (TRY).
Where can I stay in Istanbul?
Our booking partner lists 7,063+ places to stay in Istanbul, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.