There are 6 ways to get from Sofia to Instabul 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 Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h₺750–1,800Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 52m₺677–3,820Drive 541.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Instabulcar 541.4 km
4h 53m₺3,692–5,333Fly to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Yenikapitrain
- Take the train from Yenikapi to Esenler Otogartrain
5h 13mBus via Bayrampaşa
- Take the bus from Sofia to Bayrampaşabus
10h 40m₺750–1,900Fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
- Take the train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesitrain
5h 13m
Sofia to Instabul by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Instabul is to bus which costs 750 ₺ - 1.800 ₺ and takes 8h.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Instabul is to drive which takes 4h 53m and costs 3.600 ₺ - 5.500 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia and arriving at İstanbul Esenler bus station station. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 8h.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Instabul. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Esenler Otogar via Halkali and Yenikapi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 52m.
The distance between Sofia and Instabul is 555 km. The road distance is 541.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Instabul without a car is to bus which takes 8h and costs 750 ₺ - 1.800 ₺.
The bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station takes 8h including transfers and departs every four hours.
Sofia to Instabul bus services, operated by Kamil Koc, depart from Sofia station.
Sofia to Instabul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Instabul is to bus which takes 8h and costs 750 ₺ - 1.800 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 650 ₺ - 3.900 ₺ and takes 12h 52m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Instabul, Turkey?
Kamil Koc operates a bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station 4 times a day. Tickets cost ₺750–1,100 and the journey takes 8h. Four other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺650–3,775 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–8,500
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,500–11,000
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–8,500
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,400–8,500
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺650–3,775
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,095
- Single Room
- ₺3,775
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,842
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Yenikapi
- Ave. Duration
- 18 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Yenikapi to Esenler Otogar
- Ave. Duration
- 14 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,600–2,100
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,500
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,500–2,200
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,800
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to Bayrampaşa
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,900
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- ₺750–900
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More Questions & Answers
Sofia to Instabul bus services, operated by Kamil Koc, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
Instabul is 1h behind Sofia. It is currently 4:19 AM in Sofia and 3:19 AM in Instabul.
Sofia to Instabul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Instabul is 541 km. It takes approximately 4h 53m to drive from Sofia to Instabul.
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