There are 9 ways to get from Bulgaria to Turkey 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 Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h 44m₺1,289–1,960Train via Гара Подуяне
cheapest- Take the train from Poduyane to Istanbul(Halkali)train Ic
16h 49m₺513–707Train
- 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₺4,472–6,459Fly Sofia Airport to Istanbul Airport, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Airport (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
5h 18m₺4,313–14,113Bus via Летище София
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogaribus Arda-Tur
9h 13m₺4,178Fly Varna Airport to Istanbul Airport, Metro
- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul Airport (IST)plane VAR - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
4h 47m₺10,394–23,935Fly 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 21m₺5,616–18,136Fly Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Antalya Airport (AYT)plane SOF - AYT
6h 6m₺5,070–15,070
Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Airport (IST) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Bulgaria to Turkey is to train via Гара Подуяне which costs 500 ₺ - 750 ₺ and takes 16h 49m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgaria to Turkey is to fly and Metro which takes 4h 47m and costs 10.000 ₺ - 24.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Bulgaria station to Turkey. 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 44m.
No, there is no direct train from Bulgaria to Turkey. 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 Turkey is 575 km. The road distance is 546.4 km.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Turkey without a car is to bus which takes 8h 44m and costs 1.200 ₺ - 2.000 ₺.
It takes approximately 8h 44m to get from Bulgaria to Turkey, including transfers.
Bulgaria to Turkey bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Bulgaria to Turkey train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Turkey is to bus which takes 8h 44m and costs 1.200 ₺ - 2.000 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 800 ₺ - 4.300 ₺ and takes 13h 30m, you could also fly, which costs 5.000 ₺ - 16.000 ₺ and takes 6h 6m.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and 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 ₺750–4,184 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,000–13,000
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺6,000–18,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport via Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺7,500–14,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,100–14,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺2,500–15,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 57m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–15,000
- Website
- sunexpress.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,300–11,000
- 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
- ₺750–4,184
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,322
- Single Room
- ₺4,184
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,042
- 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 Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
#/media/File:M5_K%C4%B1s%C4%B1kl%C4%B1_Metro_%C4%B0stasyonu.jpg "Uskudar-Cekmekoy Metro train")
- 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
- ₺2,800–4,200
- 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
- ₺4,098
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,107
- 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
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Booking & Getting There
Bulgaria to Turkey bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Turkey is 1h ahead of Bulgaria. It is currently 12:09 PM in Bulgaria and 1:09 PM in Turkey.
Bulgaria to Turkey train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bulgaria to Turkey is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 56m to drive from Bulgaria to Turkey.
There are 4249+ hotels available in Turkey.