Kyiv to Istanbul and Antalya by minibus: how to prepare for 21–28 hours on the road
The route via Uman, Odesa, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria, the documents you need, borders without the general queue, which departure to choose and tips for a comfortable day on the road.
We take passengers to Istanbul and Antalya every day, with no changes and no flights. It’s a long journey — about 21 hours to Istanbul and about 28 to Antalya — but in a wide leather reclining seat, with Wi-Fi, a socket, water and coffee, it goes by far more easily than you might expect. Here’s how to prepare.
Route and timetable
Kyiv — Istanbul takes about 21 hours. The minibus travels via Uman and Odesa, then through Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria, and arrives at Esenler Bus Terminal. Departures from Kyiv: 06:20, 09:10, 12:40, 16:30, 20:15 and 23:10. A ticket costs €295 (≈ UAH 15,045), or €590 return (≈ UAH 30,090).
Kyiv — Antalya takes about 28 hours along the same route via Uman, Odesa and Istanbul, arriving at Antalya Bus Terminal. Departures: 06:50, 10:20, 14:40, 19:10 and 23:30. A ticket costs €310 (≈ UAH 15,810), or €620 return (≈ UAH 31,620).
Back to Kyiv: from Istanbul at 07:10, 10:40, 14:20, 18:30, 21:50 and 23:40; from Antalya at 08:10, 12:30, 16:40, 20:20 and 23:50. Departure and arrival times on the website are shown in local time. Children under 14 travel at 20% off.
Which departure to choose
| Route | Departs Kyiv | Arrives (approx., Kyiv time) |
|---|---|---|
| Kyiv — Istanbul | 12:40 | next day around 09:40 |
| Kyiv — Istanbul | 16:30 | next day around 13:30 |
| Kyiv — Istanbul | 20:15 | next day around 17:15 |
| Kyiv — Antalya | 06:50 | next day around 10:50 |
| Kyiv — Antalya | 10:20 | next day around 14:20 |
These services arrive during the day, so you can check straight into your hotel. The early Istanbul departures at 06:20 and 09:10 arrive at night or at dawn, and the late Antalya service at 23:30 arrives at around three or four in the morning two days later; they work well if someone is meeting you.
Documents
- A biometric passport. The route passes through Moldova and the EU (Romania and Bulgaria), so you can’t travel without one. We recommend at least 6 months’ validity from the date of travel, so you meet the requirements of every country along the way.
- No visa needed. Ukrainian citizens can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period in Turkey, in Moldova and in the Schengen area.
- Accommodation booking and return ticket — you may be asked for them when entering the EU, so keep the confirmations on your phone.
- Travel medical insurance for the whole trip, including the transit through the EU.
Exit rules for certain groups of Ukrainian citizens may change, so check them on the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine website. If you’re travelling with children, read about the documents a child needs.
Borders without the general queue
There are three checkpoints on the way: Ukraine — Moldova, Moldova — Romania (entering the EU) and Bulgaria — Turkey (leaving the EU). There are no checks between Romania and Bulgaria, as both are in the Schengen area. At every border our minibus skips the general queue, and the time needed for the checks themselves — about three hours for the whole route — is already built into the timetable.
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) applies when you enter the EU: the first time you cross, your fingerprints and a photo of your face are taken. And the key food rule: meat, salo, sausage, milk and cheese can’t be taken into the EU, so finish them while you’re still in Ukraine or Moldova. Read more about the checks in our border guide.
How to get through a day in your seat
- Recline and change position. The seats in our minibus are wide, in a 1+1 layout, with a reclining back, so sleeping is far more comfortable than on a regular coach. Nobody sits right next to you: every seat is both by the window and by the aisle.
- Move at every stop. The minibus has no toilet, so the driver stops every 3–4 hours for 15–30 minutes. Get off, walk around and stretch — it’s the best way to avoid swollen legs and fatigue.
- Drink water and eat light. Water and coffee are provided on board, but bring your own snacks: nuts, fruit, crackers, vegetable sandwiches.
- Help yourself sleep. A neck pillow, a sleep mask and earplugs turn the overnight stretch into an ordinary night. The minibus provides a blanket.
- Dress in layers. It gets cool at night with the air conditioning on, while Turkey is warm even in autumn. Compression socks help your legs.
- Download your content in advance. The socket at every seat keeps your phone charged, but Wi-Fi abroad and at the checkpoints can be patchy.
Money and mobile data on the way
You’ll pass through several currencies: lei in Moldova and Romania, euros in Bulgaria and lira in Turkey. The easiest option is a bank card plus a few euros in cash for small purchases at the stops. Check your roaming terms or buy an eSIM for Turkey before you go, so you can call a taxi or open a map as soon as you arrive.
Before you go
- choose your trip and seats on the website, then confirm and pay for the booking with our manager on WhatsApp or Telegram;
- book both ways at once: €590 to Istanbul and €620 to Antalya, with your seat on the way back secured;
- pack everything you’ll need for the day in your hand luggage, as there’s no access to the hold on the way — here’s our checklist.
Timetables and free seats: Kyiv — Istanbul, Istanbul — Kyiv, Kyiv — Antalya and Antalya — Kyiv. For ideas on what to see, visit our Istanbul and Antalya pages.
