There are 6 ways to get from Sofia to Istanbul 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 Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h₺800–1,900Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 27m₺783–4,035Drive 546.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbulcar 546.4 km
4h 56m₺3,947–5,700Fly to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
4h 58m₺4,797–11,149Bus via Bayrampaşa
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşabus
10h 30m₺1,523–2,292Fly 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 1m₺5,525–31,836
Sofia to Istanbul by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul is to bus which costs 800 ₺ - 1.900 ₺ and takes 8h.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul is to drive which takes 4h 56m and costs 3.900 ₺ - 6.000 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Istanbul Büyük Otogari. Services depart every three hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 8h.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Yenikapi via Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 27m.
The distance between Sofia and Istanbul is 576 km. The road distance is 546.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 8h and costs 800 ₺ - 1.900 ₺.
The bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari takes 8h including transfers and departs every three hours.
Sofia to Istanbul bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Sofia to Istanbul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Istanbul is to bus which takes 8h and costs 800 ₺ - 1.900 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 750 ₺ - 4.100 ₺ and takes 12h 27m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari 4 times a day. Tickets cost ₺1,700–2,400 and the journey takes 8h. Six other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺750–3,990 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,500–11,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺5,000–13,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–11,000
- 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
- ₺750–3,990
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,215
- Single Room
- ₺3,990
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,947
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–2,400
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺800–1,100
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,200–3,500
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,100–3,700
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,500
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
- Phone
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200
- Schedules at
- luksyonca.com.tr
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,900
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşa
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,400–2,250
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- ₺1,400–2,100
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More Questions & Answers
Sofia to Istanbul bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Sofia to Istanbul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Istanbul is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 56m to drive from Sofia to Istanbul.
Book your Sofia to Istanbul bus tickets online with Omio, Distribusion and FlixBus.
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