There are 8 ways to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) 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 42m₺10,897–20,940Train via Гара Подуяне
cheapest- Take the train from Poduyane to Istanbul(Halkali)train Ic
16h 49m₺513–708Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h 48m₺1,289–1,960Train
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
13h 30m₺808–4,274Drive 546.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbulcar 546.4 km
4h 56m₺4,137–5,975Fly 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 Huzurevitrain
4h 38m₺6,071–15,071Fly Sofia Airport to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
5h 18m₺4,813–10,113Bus via Serdika
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
9h 19m₺821–1,971
Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul (IST) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) is to train via Гара Подуяне which costs 500 ₺ - 750 ₺ and takes 16h 49m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) is to fly and Metro which takes 4h 38m and costs 6.000 ₺ - 16.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Bulgaria station to Istanbul (State). However, there are services departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station and arriving at İskenderpaşa via Bayrampaşa Devlet Hastanesi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 48m.
No, there is no direct train from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State). 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 (State) is 320 km. The road distance is 546.4 km.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) without a car is to bus which takes 8h 48m and costs 1.200 ₺ - 2.000 ₺.
It takes approximately 4h 42m to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State), including transfers.
Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) is to bus which takes 8h 48m and costs 1.200 ₺ - 2.000 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 800 ₺ - 4.300 ₺ and takes 13h 30m.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Istanbul (State), Turkey?
Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari 3 times a day. Tickets cost ₺1,800–2,400 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 ₺750–4,187 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺7,000–15,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,800–10,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,800–12,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺6,000–11,000
- 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
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Huzurevi
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–4,187
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,324
- Single Room
- ₺4,187
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,043
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- bdz_passengers@bdz.bg
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Train from Poduyane to Istanbul(Halkali)
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 58m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺450–650
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺450–650
- 1st Class
- ₺490–650
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,800–2,400
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,600–4,300
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,300–3,600
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 54m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,900
- Website
- Huntur
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,900
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
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More Questions & Answers
Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bulgaria to Istanbul (State) is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 56m to drive from Bulgaria to Istanbul (State).
There are 4208+ hotels available in Istanbul (State).











































