There are 9 ways to get from Bulgaria to Turkey 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₺10,395–20,936Train via Гара Подуяне
cheapest- Take the train from Poduyane to Istanbul(Halkali)train Ic
16h 49m₺513–707Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h 49m₺815–1,915Train
- 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₺4,135–5,972Fly 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₺4,813–11,113Fly 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₺6,116–14,136Fly Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Antalya Airport (AYT)plane SOF - AYT
6h 10m₺4,363–12,063Bus via Serdika
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
9h 19m₺1,271–1,971
Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul (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 42m and costs 10.000 ₺ - 21.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Bulgaria to Turkey. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at İskenderpaşa via Bayrampaşa Devlet Hastanesi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 49m.
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 320 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 49m and costs 800 ₺ - 2.000 ₺.
It takes approximately 4h 42m to get from Bulgaria to Turkey, including transfers.
Bulgaria to Turkey bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, depart from Sofia 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 49m and costs 800 ₺ - 2.000 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 800 ₺ - 4.300 ₺ and takes 13h 30m, you could also fly, which costs 4.300 ₺ - 13.000 ₺ and takes 6h 10m.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Turkey?
Kamil Koç operates a bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station every 4 hours. Tickets cost ₺750–1,100 and the journey takes 8h. Alpar Turizm also services this route once daily. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺750–4,185 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺8,500–14,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,800–10,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport via Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺7,500–12,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,800–12,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺2,400–13,000
- 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
- Website
- sunexpress.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,100–9,500
- 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
- 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
- ₺750–4,185
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,323
- Single Room
- ₺4,185
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,042
- 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
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- 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
- 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
- ₺2,600–4,400
- 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
- ₺2,300–3,500
- 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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Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Bulgaria to Turkey bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
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 4441+ hotels available in Turkey.











































