Comparison · Bucharest vs Istanbul · Romania / Turkey
Bucharest vs Istanbul
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Madalin Pentelie, CC0
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Quick answer
Choose Bucharest for Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, lower day-to-day costs and a short break; choose Istanbul for Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries, beaches and a milder winter. Bucharest is generally less expensive, and the two are about 447 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 447 km
- Less expensive
- Bucharest
- Best time for Bucharest
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Istanbul
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bucharest | Istanbul | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Romania | Turkey |
| Known for | Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum and Old Town nightlife | Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries and Grand Bazaar |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$180 | $120–$230 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Kilyos |
| Airports | OTP | IST, SAW |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bucharest for…
Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, lower day-to-day costs and a short break. Romania's capital mixes Belle Époque mansions and the Romanian Athenaeum along Calea Victoriei with the enormous Palace of the Parliament and the socialist boulevards built around it. In between, the Old Town's lanes around Lipscani hold the 18th-century…
Choose Istanbul for…
Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries, beaches and a milder winter. Istanbul spreads across both banks of the Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe from Asia. The historic peninsula of Sultanahmet holds Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar within a 15-minute walk of each other, while Galata…
Top sights compared
| # | Bucharest | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palace of the Parliament | Hagia Sophia |
| 2 | Old Town and Lipscani | Topkapı Palace |
| 3 | Stavropoleos Monastery | Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) |
| 4 | Cărturești Carusel | Basilica Cistern |
| 5 | Romanian Athenaeum | Grand Bazaar |
Food compared
| Bucharest | Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Sarmale | Simit |
| Mămăligă | Turkish breakfast |
| Mici | Fish sandwich |
| Tripe soup | Meze and rakı |
Which is cheaper?
Bucharest is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$180 per person there, against $120–$230 in Istanbul (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bucharest on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bucharest and Istanbul are about 447 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Bucharest and 5 in Istanbul.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bucharest or Istanbul cheaper?
Bucharest is usually less expensive: about $100–$180 a day mid-range against $120–$230 (estimates).
+Is Bucharest or Istanbul better for a first trip?
Pick Bucharest for Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, lower day-to-day costs and a short break, or Istanbul for Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Bucharest from Istanbul?
About 447 km in a straight line.