There are 8 ways to get from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria by train, plane, 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.
Metro to Istanbul, fly to Sofia Airport
best- Take the train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
5h 2m$103–253Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 19m$17–24Bus via Haskovo
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo Central Bus Station to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus Group Plus 1705 / ...
9h 20m$35–52Drive 546.7 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Sofiacar 546.7 km
4h 55m$87–125Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly to Sofia Airport
- Take the train from Huzurevi to Sabiha Gokcen Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane SAW - SOF
4h 44m$122–292Metro to Istanbul, fly to Varna Airport
- Take the train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane IST - VAR
5h 4m$217–512Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
10h 32m$47–77Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
10h 33m$27–41
Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria is to train which costs $17 - $24 and takes 15h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria is to Metro and fly which takes 4h 44m and costs $120 - $300.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Sofia Central Bus Station via Haskovo Central Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 20m.
No, there is no direct train from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria. However, there are services departing from Yenikapi and arriving at Serdika via Halkalı and Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 19m.
The distance between Istanbul (State) and Bulgaria is 527 km. The road distance is 546.7 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 20m and costs $35 - $55.
It takes approximately 5h 2m to get from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria, including transfers.
Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 20m and costs $35 - $55. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $17 - $24 and takes 15h 19m.
What companies run services between Istanbul (State), Turkey and Bulgaria?
You can take a train from Aksaray to Serdika via Esenler Otogar, Istanbul, Haskovo Central Bus Station, Sofia Central Bus Station, and Central Station in around 9h 20m. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Halkalı to Sofia once daily. Tickets cost $15–21 and the journey takes 13h 40m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–230
Flights from Istanbul to Varna Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–380
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Huzurevi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 28 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- 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
- $15–21
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Haskovo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–23
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- +359 889 59 00 00
- support.eu@union-ivkoni.com
- Website
- union-ivkoni.com
Bus from Haskovo Central Bus Station to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–27
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–80
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- 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
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–90
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- 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
- $26–40
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
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Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria is 547 km. It takes approximately 4h 55m to drive from Istanbul (State) to Bulgaria.
There are 2297+ hotels available in Bulgaria.

































