There are 7 ways to get from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality by plane, car, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Istanbul to Skopje International Airport, drive
best- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Skopje International Airport (SKP)IST - SKP
- Drive from Skopje International Airport (SKP) to Simitli Municipality
4h 26m$147–339Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Take the train from Sofia to SimitliRe
19h 6m$20–33Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad
11h 50m$38–54Drive 589.2 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality589.2 km
6h 36m$93–134Fly Istanbul to Sofia Airport, bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)IST - SOF
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop to Dupnitsa Bus Station
- Take the bus from Dupnitsa to Simitli
5h 41mFly Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport, drive
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Skopje International Airport (SKP)SAW - SKP
- Drive from Skopje International Airport (SKP) to Simitli Municipality
7h 9m$68–155Bus via Plovdiv
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Plovdiv Bus Station SouthArda - Tur
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Blagoevgrad
14h 14m$35–40
Istanbul to Simitli Municipality by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality is to train which costs $19 - $35 and takes 19h 6m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality is to fly and drive which takes 4h 26m and costs $140 - $340.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Simitli Е79 via Blagoevgrad Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 50m.
No, there is no direct train from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality. However, there are services departing from Yenikapi and arriving at Simitli via Halkalı and Sofia. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 19h 6m.
The distance between Istanbul and Simitli Municipality is 815 km. The road distance is 589.2 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality without a car is to bus which takes 11h 50m and costs $35 - $55.
It takes approximately 4h 26m to get from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality, including transfers.
Istanbul to Simitli Municipality bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul to Simitli Municipality train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality is to bus which takes 11h 50m and costs $35 - $55. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $19 - $35 and takes 19h 6m.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Simitli Municipality, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria?
Alpar Turizm operates a bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad once daily. Tickets cost $35–55 and the journey takes 10h 30m. Alternatively, you can take a train from Yenikapi to Simitli via Halkalı and Sofia in around 19h 6m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–260
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–240
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–250
- Website
- ajet.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–110
- 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
- $15–24
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- +35929311111
- onlineticket@bdz.bg
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Sofia to Simitli
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $4–8
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- $4–7
- 1st Class
- $7–8
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- +359 2 493 0191
- info@traventuria.com
- Website
- traventuria.com
Bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop to Dupnitsa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10–15
- Website
- https://traventuria.com/
- info@bgrazpisanie.com
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Dupnitsa to Simitli
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://bgrazpisanie.com/en
Bus from Plovdiv to Blagoevgrad
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 48m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $8
- Website
- https://bgrazpisanie.com/en
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $26–35
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $30–40
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $32–33
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $28–32
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
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More Questions & Answers
Istanbul to Simitli Municipality bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Blagoevgrad station.
Istanbul to Simitli Municipality train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Simitli Municipality is 589 km. It takes approximately 6h 36m to drive from Istanbul to Simitli Municipality.
There are 91+ hotels available in Simitli Municipality.



































