There are 5 ways to get from Istanbul to Smolyan 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 Esenler to Plovdiv
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
9h 30m$33Train, bus
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Plovdiv
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
16h$22–28Drive 445.4 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Smolyan445.4 km
6h 6m$71–102Bus, fly
- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)IST - SOF
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
11h 39m$111–246Bus via Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Plovdiv Bus Station SouthArda-Tur
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
10h 25m$37–44
Istanbul to Smolyan by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Smolyan is to train and bus which costs $21 - $28 and takes 16h.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Smolyan is to drive which takes 6h 6m and costs $70 - $110.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul to Smolyan. However, there are services departing from Istanbul Esenler and arriving at Smolyan via Plovdiv. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 30m.
The distance between Istanbul and Smolyan is 518 km. The road distance is 445.4 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Smolyan without a car is to bus which takes 9h 30m and costs $34.
It takes approximately 9h 30m to get from Istanbul to Smolyan, including transfers.
Istanbul to Smolyan bus services, operated by Luks Yonca, depart from Istanbul Esenler station.
Istanbul to Smolyan bus services, operated by Luks Yonca, arrive at Plovdiv station.
Smolyan is 1h behind Istanbul. It is currently 6:44 AM in Istanbul and 5:44 AM in Smolyan.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Smolyan is 445 km. It takes approximately 6h 6m to drive from Istanbul to Smolyan.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Smolyan, Bulgaria?
You can take a bus from Istanbul Esenler to Smolyan via Plovdiv in around 9h 30m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–200
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Halkalı to Plovdiv
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 17m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $11–17
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Esenler to Plovdiv
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24
- Schedules at
- luksyonca.com.tr
- info@bgrazpisanie.com
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10
- Website
- https://bgrazpisanie.com/en
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- info@hava.ist
- Website
- hava.ist
Bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $3–7
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
- Phone
- +359 2 493 0191
- info@traventuria.com
- Website
- traventuria.com
Bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 9m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $13–19
- Website
- https://traventuria.com/
- 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
- $27–40
- 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
- $32–34
- 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
- $27–31
- 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
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
There are 621+ hotels available in Smolyan.

















