There are 8 ways to get from Sofia to Athens by plane, bus, train, 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.
Fly from Sofia Airport
best- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane SOF - ATH
4h 34m€60–160Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karoloubus Citylines 79 / ...
11h 30m€30–70Bus, train
- Take the bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki train stationbus N980
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
11h 23m€33–58Train, drive
- Take the train from Sofia to Petrichtrain
- Drive from Petrich to Rodopoliscar
- Take the train from Rodopolis to Thessalonikitrain Re
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
13h 26m€42–67Drive 749.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Athenscar 749.4 km
8h 55m€134–194Bus to Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia, fly
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane SKG - ATH
8h 45m€73–163Bus, train via Sofia Central Bus Station
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stopbus Union Ivkoni - Unibus 7 / ...
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
11h 38m€40–58Bus via Piraeus Port Astiggos
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Piraeus Port Astiggosbus Union Ivkoni - Unibus 7 / ...
14h 16m€36–50
Sofia to Athens by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Athens is to bus via Piraeus Port Astiggos which costs €35 - €50 and takes 14h 16m.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Athens is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs €55 - €160.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Athens Karolou. Services depart three times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 11h 30m.
The distance between Sofia and Athens is 574 km. The road distance is 749.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Athens without a car is to bus and train which takes 11h 23m and costs €30 - €60.
It takes approximately 4h 34m to get from Sofia to Athens, including transfers.
Sofia to Athens bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Athens is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs €55 - €160. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €30 - €70 and takes 11h 30m.
Sofia to Athens bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Athens Karolou station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Athens is 749 km. It takes approximately 8h 55m to drive from Sofia to Athens.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Athens, Greece?
Sky Express, Aegean Airlines, and Bulgaria Air fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Athens International Airport (ATH) twice daily. Alternatively, Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou twice daily. Tickets cost €45–65 and the journey takes 11h 30m. Two other operators also service this route.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–140
Flights from Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–150
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €45–120
Flights from Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–110
- Website
- air.bg
Flights from Sofia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–140
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Thessaloniki to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 8m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
Train from Rodopolis to Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €4–7
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- +35929311111
- onlineticket@bdz.bg
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Sofia to Petrich
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €5–9
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- €5–8
- 1st Class
- €8–9
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki train station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- €11–24
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €16–22
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €45–65
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €17–24
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- 07001 8282
- booking@union-ivkoni.com
- Website
- union-ivkoni.com
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €30–50
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Thessaloniki Train Station Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €12–19
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Piraeus Port Astiggos
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €30–50
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
- Phone
- 02 981 13 33
- outgoing@tourist-service.com
- Website
- en.tourist-service.com
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Athens Karolou
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- €68
- Website
- https://en.tourist-service.com/
Want to know more about travelling around Greece
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
Getting around the Cyclades
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Book your Sofia to Athens bus tickets online with Distribusion.
There are 2182+ hotels available in Athens.


















