There are 7 ways to get from Istanbul to Smolyan by bus, train, night train, taxi, 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 via Haskovo
best- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo to Nedelinobus
- Take the bus from Nedelino to Smolyanbus
9h 35mTrain, bus
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Plovdivtrain
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyanbus
16h$16–28Night train, train, taxi
- Take the night train from Halkali to Dimitrovgradnighttrain
- Take the train from Dimitrovgrad to Krumovotrain Re / ...
- Take the taxi from Asenovgrad to Smolyantaxi
11h 31m$58–79Drive 445.4 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Smolyancar 445.4 km
6h 7m$71–102Bus
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Plovdiv Bus Station Southbus FlixBus N1999
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyanbus
10h 45m$17–43Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Plovdiv Hristo Botevbus Citylines 35 / ...
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyanbus
12h$29–38Fly, bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop to Plovdiv Bus Station Southbus
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyanbus
11h 21m$119–268
Istanbul to Smolyan by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Smolyan is to train and bus which costs $16 - $28 and takes 16h.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Smolyan is to drive which takes 6h 7m and costs $70 - $110.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul to Smolyan. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Smolyan via Haskovo and Nedelino. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 35m.
The distance between Istanbul and Smolyan is 499 km. The road distance is 445.4 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Smolyan without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 35m and costs .
It takes approximately 9h 35m to get from Istanbul to Smolyan, including transfers.
Istanbul to Smolyan bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul to Smolyan bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Smolyan is 445 km. It takes approximately 6h 7m to drive from Istanbul to Smolyan.
There are 588+ hotels available in Smolyan.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Smolyan, Bulgaria?
You can take a bus from Istanbul to Smolyan via Haskovo, Haskovo, and Nedelino in around 9h 35m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–230
- 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
- $11–16
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- bdz_passengers@bdz.bg
- Website
- bdz.bg
Night train from Halkali to Dimitrovgrad
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 28m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $5–8
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- $5–7
- 1st Class
- $6–8
Train from Dimitrovgrad to Krumovo
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- $1–2
- 1st Class
- $2–3
- 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/
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–35
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Website
- nedelino.bg
Bus from Haskovo to Nedelino
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- nedelino.bg
Bus from Nedelino to Smolyan
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- nedelino.bg
- info@bgrazpisanie.com
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $4–10
- Website
- https://bgrazpisanie.com/en
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $13–19
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Plovdiv Hristo Botev
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $27–40
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Plovdiv Hristo Botev
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Plovdiv Hristo Botev
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- 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 Plovdiv Hristo Botev
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–29
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=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
- $13–16
- Website
- https://traventuria.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- Estimated price
- $50–65
Sky Taxi
- Phone
- +359 8846 11111
- Website
- skytaxi.bg
As Taksi
- Phone
- +359 33 161 62
- Website
- couriers-bg.com
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.
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