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 to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h₺750–1,800Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 34m₺677–3,794Drive 546.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbulcar 546.4 km
4h 57m₺3,714–5,365Fly 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
4h 56mBus via Bayrampaşa
- Take the bus from Sofia to Bayrampaşabus
10h 30m₺750–1,900Fly to Istanbul, bus
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogaribus
5h 36m₺3,856–9,306
Sofia to Istanbul by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul is to bus which costs 750 ₺ - 1.800 ₺ and takes 8h.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul is to drive which takes 4h 57m and costs 3.700 ₺ - 5.500 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia and arriving at İstanbul Esenler bus station station. Services depart five times a day, 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 34m.
The distance between Sofia and Istanbul is 555 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 750 ₺ - 1.800 ₺.
The bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station takes 8h including transfers and departs five times a day.
Sofia to Istanbul bus services, operated by Kamil Koc, depart from Sofia 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 750 ₺ - 1.800 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 650 ₺ - 3.800 ₺ and takes 12h 34m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Istanbul, 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. Five other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺650–3,749 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,600–11,000
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–9,000
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,400–9,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,400–9,000
- 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
- ₺650–3,749
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,081
- Single Room
- ₺3,749
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,830
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- 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
- ₺1,500–2,100
- 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
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- 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 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
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- info@hava.ist
- Website
- hava.ist
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺130–280
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
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More Questions & Answers
Sofia to Istanbul bus services, operated by Kamil Koc, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
Istanbul is 1h ahead of Sofia. It is currently 3:22 AM in Sofia and 4:22 AM in Istanbul.
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 57m to drive from Sofia to Istanbul.
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