There are 5 ways to get from Instabul to Sofia 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 Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
9h$18–45Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 41m$16–24Drive 541.4 km
- Drive from Instabul to Sofiacar 541.4 km
4h 51m$86–124Metro, Metro to Istanbul, fly
- Take the train from Esenler Otogar to Yenikapitrain
- Take the train from Yenikapi to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
5h 24mMetro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane SAW - SOF
5h 47m
Instabul to Sofia by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Instabul to Sofia is to train which costs $15 - $24 and takes 15h 41m.
The fastest way to get from Instabul to Sofia is to drive which takes 4h 51m and costs $85 - $130.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Istanbul Büyük Otogari and arriving at Sofia Serdica Bus Station station. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h.
No, there is no direct train from Instabul to Sofia. However, there are services departing from Esenler Otogar and arriving at Sofia via Yenikapi and Halkalı. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 41m.
The distance between Instabul and Sofia is 563 km. The road distance is 541.4 km.
The best way to get from Instabul to Sofia without a car is to bus which takes 9h and costs $18 - $45.
The bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station takes 9h including transfers and departs every four hours.
Instabul to Sofia bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Instabul to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Instabul to Sofia is to bus which takes 9h and costs $18 - $45. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $15 - $24 and takes 15h 41m.
What companies run services between Instabul, Turkey and Sofia, Bulgaria?
Citylines operates a bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station 4 times a day. Tickets cost $35–50 and the journey takes 9h. Five other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Halkalı to Sofia once daily. Tickets cost $15–23 and the journey takes 13h 40m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–190
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–230
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–23
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Esenler Otogar to Yenikapi
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Yenikapi to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 17 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–25
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $39–40
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 46m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $28–33
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
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More Questions & Answers
Instabul to Sofia bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Sofia is 1h ahead of Instabul. It is currently 5:24 PM in Instabul and 6:24 PM in Sofia.
Instabul to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Instabul to Sofia is 541 km. It takes approximately 4h 51m to drive from Instabul to Sofia.
Book your Instabul to Sofia bus tickets online with Omio, Distribusion and FlixBus.
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