There are 8 ways to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul 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 Varna Airport to Istanbul, Metro
best- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul (IST)plane VAR - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
4h 42mTrain
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
13h 30m₺703–4,072Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h₺1,700–3,700Drive 546.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbulcar 546.4 km
4h 57m₺3,858–5,573Fly Sofia Airport to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
5h 19mFly 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 22mBus via Istanbul Esenler
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Istanbul Esenlerbus
8h 3m₺1,227Bus via Serdika
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
9h 3m₺777–1,827
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 ₺ - 6.000 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Istanbul Büyük Otogari. Services depart four times a day, 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 320 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 1.700 ₺ - 3.700 ₺.
It takes approximately 4h 42m to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul, including transfers.
Bulgaria to Istanbul bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus 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 1.700 ₺ - 3.700 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 700 ₺ - 4.100 ₺ and takes 13h 30m.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari 3 times a day. Tickets cost ₺1,700–2,300 and the journey takes 8h. Three other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺650–3,937 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺6,500–13,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,500–9,500
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,800–13,000
- 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
- +90 850 252 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
- +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
- ₺650–3,937
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,185
- Single Room
- ₺3,937
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,921
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–2,300
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,100–3,700
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,500
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,100–3,300
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station 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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More Questions & Answers
Bulgaria to Istanbul bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
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, Distribusion and FlixBus.
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