There are 7 ways to get from Bulgaria to Athens by plane, bus, train, car, or shuttle
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)plane SOF - ATH
5h 7m€65–170Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki train stationbus 983 / ...
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
11h 52m€42–71Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karoloubus Citylines 79 / ...
11h 30m€68Drive 749.3 km
- Drive from Sofia to Athenscar 749.3 km
8h 57m€134–194Shuttle to Bucharest Otopeni, fly
- Take a shuttle bus from Ruse to Bucharest Otopeni Airport
- Fly from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane OTP - ATH
6h 10m€157–409Fly from Varna Airport
- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane VAR - ATH
5h 6m€161–333Bus, train via Централни Хали
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdika to Thessaloniki, KTELbus
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
12h 4m€44–71
Sofia Airport (SOF) to Athens International Airport (ATH) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bulgaria to Athens is to bus and train which costs €40 - €75 and takes 11h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgaria to Athens is to fly which takes 5h 6m and costs €160 - €340.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Athens Karolou. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 11h 30m.
The distance between Bulgaria and Athens is 579 km. The road distance is 749.3 km.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Athens without a car is to bus which takes 11h 30m and costs €68.
It takes approximately 5h 7m 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 7m and costs €60 - €170. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €68 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 57m to drive from Bulgaria to Athens.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Athens, Greece?
Aegean Airlines, Bulgaria Air, and Sky Express fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Athens International Airport (ATH) 3 times a day. Alternatively, Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou twice daily. Tickets cost €30–75 and the journey takes 11h 30m. Tourist Service Holding AD also services this route 3 times a week.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–130
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €70–140
- Website
- air.bg
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–130
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €55–160
- Website
- flyulendo.com
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–140
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–150
- Website
- wizzair.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €70–200
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Thessaloniki to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- 02 981 13 33
- outgoing@tourist-service.com
- Website
- en.tourist-service.com
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- €68
- Website
- https://en.tourist-service.com/
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
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €19–35
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- 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/
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Sofia Serdika to Thessaloniki, KTEL
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
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