There are 8 ways to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul by bus, train, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus N1999
8h₺1,800–3,200Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
13h 30m₺702–3,971Drive 546.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbulcar 546.4 km
4h 57m₺3,816–5,512Fly Sofia Airport to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
4h 58mBus via Istanbul Esenler
- Take the bus from Sofia to Istanbul Esenlerbus
8h 3m₺1,226Bus via Serdika
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
9h 3m₺776–1,826Fly Varna Airport to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul (IST)plane VAR - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
4h 42mFly Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
- Take the train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesitrain
5h 1m
Bulgaria to Istanbul by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul is to bus via Istanbul Esenler which costs 1.227 ₺ and takes 8h 3m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul is to drive which takes 4h 57m and costs 3.800 ₺ - 5.500 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia and arriving at İstanbul Esenler bus station station. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 8h.
No, there is no direct train from Bulgaria to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Serdika and arriving at Yenikapi via Sofia and Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 30m.
The distance between Bulgaria and Istanbul is 555 km. The road distance is 546.4 km.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 8h and costs 1.800 ₺ - 3.200 ₺.
The bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station takes 8h including transfers and departs twice daily.
Bulgaria to Istanbul bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Sofia station.
Bulgaria to Istanbul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul is to bus which takes 8h and costs 1.800 ₺ - 3.200 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 700 ₺ - 4.000 ₺ and takes 13h 30m.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
FlixBus operates a bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station twice daily. Tickets cost ₺1,800–3,200 and the journey takes 8h. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺650–3,824 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–8,500
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺6,500–13,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–12,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,500–11,000
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺650–3,824
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,122
- Single Room
- ₺3,824
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,866
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,800–3,200
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to Istanbul Esenler
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200
- Schedules at
- luksyonca.com.tr
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,800
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
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Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
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More Questions & Answers
Bulgaria to Istanbul bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
Istanbul is 1h ahead of Bulgaria. It is currently 5:43 PM in Bulgaria and 6:43 PM in Istanbul.
Bulgaria to Istanbul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bulgaria to Istanbul is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 57m to drive from Bulgaria to Istanbul.
Book your Bulgaria to Istanbul bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 4209+ hotels available in Istanbul.