There are 6 ways to get from Athens to Sofia by plane, train, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Sofia Airport (SOF)ATH - SOF
4h 50m$72–182Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Athens Karolou to Sofia Serdica Bus StationCitylines 80 / ...
11h 45m$35–80Train, bus via Thessaloníki
- Take the train from Athens to ThessalonikiIc
- Take the bus from Thessaloniki Monastiriou Bus Stop to Sofia Serdica Bus StationArda-Tur
10h 48m$38–81Drive 753.3 km
- Drive from Athens to Sofia753.3 km
8h 44m$158–229Train, bus
- Take the train from Athens to ThessalonikiIc
- Take the bus from Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop to Sofia Central Bus StationUnion Ivkoni - Unibus 3670 / ...
12h 12m$47–64Train, drive
- Take the train from Athens to ThessalonikiIc
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to RodopolisRe
- Drive from Rodopolis to Petrich
- Take the train from Petrich to Sofia
13h 24m$49–75
Athens to Sofia by train, foot, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Athens to Sofia is to train and bus which costs $45 - $65 and takes 12h 12m.
The fastest way to get from Athens to Sofia is to fly which takes 4h 50m and costs $70 - $190.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Athens Karolou and arriving at Sofia Serdica Bus Station station. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 11h 45m.
The distance between Athens and Sofia is 580 km. The road distance is 753.3 km.
The best way to get from Athens to Sofia without a car is to train and bus via Thessaloníki which takes 10h 48m and costs $35 - $85.
It takes approximately 4h 50m to get from Athens to Sofia, including transfers.
Athens to Sofia bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Athens Karolou station.
The best way to get from Athens to Sofia is to fly which takes 4h 50m and costs $70 - $190. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $35 - $80 and takes 11h 45m.
Athens to Sofia bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Athens to Sofia is 753 km. It takes approximately 8h 44m to drive from Athens to Sofia.
What companies run services between Athens, Greece and Sofia, Bulgaria?
Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, and Bulgaria Air fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Sofia Airport (SOF) twice daily. Alternatively, Citylines operates a bus from Athens Karolou to Sofia Serdica Bus Station once daily. Tickets cost $50–75 and the journey takes 11h 45m. Two other operators also service this route.
- Website
- air.bg
Flights from Athens International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–160
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Athens International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–160
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Athens International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–150
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Athens to Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 12m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
Train from Thessaloniki to Rodopolis
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–9
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- +35929311111
- onlineticket@bdz.bg
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Petrich to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 48m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $6–11
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- $6–10
- 1st Class
- $9–11
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Athens Karolou to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
Bus from Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–28
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- 07001 8282
- booking@union-ivkoni.com
- Website
- union-ivkoni.com
Bus from Athens Karolou to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
Bus from Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
- Phone
- 02 981 13 33
- outgoing@tourist-service.com
- Website
- en.tourist-service.com
Bus from Athens Karolou to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $80
- Website
- https://en.tourist-service.com/
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
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