There are 6 ways to get from Bulgary 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 Istanbul Esenlerbus
7h 25m₺1,200Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 56m₺677–3,909Drive 546.1 km
- Drive from Bulgary to Istanbulcar 546.1 km
4h 56m₺3,775–5,453Fly to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
5h 7mBus via İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h 26m₺750–1,800Fly 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 10m
Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bulgary to Istanbul is to bus which costs 1.200 ₺ and takes 7h 25m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgary to Istanbul is to drive which takes 4h 56m and costs 3.700 ₺ - 5.500 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia and arriving at Istanbul Esenler. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 7h.
No, there is no direct train from Bulgary to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Yenikapi via Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 56m.
The distance between Bulgary and Istanbul is 562 km. The road distance is 546.1 km.
The best way to get from Bulgary to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 7h 25m and costs 1.200 ₺.
The bus from Sofia to Istanbul Esenler takes 7h including transfers and departs once daily.
Bulgary to Istanbul bus services, operated by Luks Yonca, depart from Sofia station.
Bulgary to Istanbul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Bulgary to Istanbul is to bus which takes 7h 25m and costs 1.200 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 650 ₺ - 4.000 ₺ and takes 12h 56m.
What companies run services between Bulgary, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
Luks Yonca operates a bus from Sofia to Istanbul Esenler once daily. Tickets cost ₺1,200 and the journey takes 7h. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺650–3,864 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–8,000
- 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
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–8,000
- 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
- ₺650–3,864
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,145
- Single Room
- ₺3,864
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,886
- 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
- 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
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,600–2,200
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- 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 to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,600–2,200
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- 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
Bulgary to Istanbul bus services, operated by Luks Yonca, arrive at Istanbul Esenler station.
Bulgary to Istanbul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bulgary to Istanbul is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 56m to drive from Bulgary to Istanbul.
There are 4286+ hotels available in Istanbul.