There are 8 ways to get from Bulgaria to Athens by plane, bus, car, shuttle, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Sofia Airport
best- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Athens International Airport (ATH)SOF - ATH
5h 4m€60–160Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens KarolouCitylines 79 / ...
11h 30m€30–50Drive 749.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Athens749.4 km
8h 55m€134–194Fly from Varna Airport
- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Athens International Airport (ATH)VAR - ATH
7h 32m€176–343Shuttle to Bucharest Otopeni, fly
- Take a shuttle bus from Ruse to Bucharest Otopeni Airport
- Fly from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Athens International Airport (ATH)OTP - ATH
6h 1m€152–409Bus, train via Tsentralna Gara
- Take the bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki train stationN980 / ...
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to AthensIc
12h 29m€34–60Bus, train
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Thessaloniki Train Station Bus StopUnion Ivkoni - Unibus 7 / ...
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to AthensIc
12h 41m€40–60Bus via Serdika
- Take the bus from Sofia to Athens
14h 38m€70
Bulgaria to Athens by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bulgaria to Athens is to bus which costs €30 - €50 and takes 11h 30m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgaria to Athens is to fly which takes 5h 4m and costs €55 - €160.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Athens Karolou. Services depart three times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 11h 30m.
The distance between Bulgaria and Athens is 580 km. The road distance is 749.4 km.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Athens without a car is to bus which takes 11h 30m and costs €30 - €50.
It takes approximately 5h 4m to get from Bulgaria to Athens, including transfers.
Bulgaria to Athens bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Athens is to fly which takes 5h 4m and costs €55 - €160. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €30 - €50 and takes 11h 30m.
Bulgaria to Athens bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Athens Karolou station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bulgaria to Athens is 749 km. It takes approximately 8h 55m to drive from Bulgaria to Athens.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Athens, Greece?
Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, and Bulgaria Air fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Athens International Airport (ATH) twice daily. Alternatively, Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou twice daily. Tickets cost €45–65 and the journey takes 11h 30m. Union Ivkoni also services this route once daily.
- Website
- air.bg
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–140
Flights from Varna Airport to Athens International Airport via Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €55–200
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport via Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 52m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €65–140
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–140
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–140
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €45–120
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Athens International Airport via Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €170–380
- Website
- airserbia.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Athens International Airport via Belgrade
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €65–230
- Website
- austrian.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Athens International Airport via Vienna
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €95–360
- Website
- bluedartaviation.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Athens International Airport via Tel Aviv
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €85–210
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–140
- Website
- flyulendo.com
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €55–160
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Thessaloniki to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 8m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €45–65
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €17–24
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- 07001 8282
- booking@union-ivkoni.com
- Website
- union-ivkoni.com
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €30–50
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €12–19
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
- Phone
- +359 89 345 5533
- info@atlastaxi.eu
- Website
- atlastaxi.eu
Shuttle from Ruse to Bucharest Otopeni Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- €100–240
- Website
- https://atlastaxi.eu/
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki train station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €11–24
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- 02 981 13 33
- outgoing@tourist-service.com
- Website
- en.tourist-service.com
Bus from Sofia to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- €69
- Website
- https://en.tourist-service.com/
Want to know more about travelling around Greece
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Getting around the Cyclades
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Book your Bulgaria to Athens bus tickets online with Distribusion.
There are 5443+ hotels available in Athens.















