There are 7 ways to get from Sofia to Istanbul (State) by plane, train, bus, 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 to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Metro
best- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
- Take the train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Huzurevitrain
4h 18m₺5,820–31,771Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 27m₺783–4,035Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Istanbul Esenlerbus
7h 22m₺1,242Drive 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₺4,886–11,385Bus via Esenler Otogar
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h 16m₺817–1,810Bus via Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h 48m₺1,297–1,482
Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul (State) is to bus which costs 1.242 ₺ and takes 7h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul (State) is to fly and Metro which takes 4h 18m and costs 5.500 ₺ - 32.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Sofia station to Istanbul (State). However, there are services departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station and arriving at İskenderpaşa via Bayrampaşa Devlet Hastanesi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 48m.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Istanbul (State). 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 (State) is 559 km. The road distance is 546.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Istanbul (State) without a car is to bus which takes 7h 22m and costs 1.242 ₺.
It takes approximately 4h 18m to get from Sofia to Istanbul (State), including transfers.
Sofia to Istanbul (State) bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Sofia to Istanbul (State) train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Istanbul (State) is to bus which takes 7h 22m and costs 1.242 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 750 ₺ - 4.100 ₺ and takes 12h 27m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Istanbul (State), Turkey?
Luks Yonca operates a bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler once daily. Tickets cost ₺1,200 and the journey takes 7h. 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
- ₺4,800–11,000
- 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
- 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
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Huzurevi
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- 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
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200
- Schedules at
- luksyonca.com.tr
- 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
- +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
- +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
- +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
Want to know more about travelling around Türkiye
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More Questions & Answers
Sofia to Istanbul (State) bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Sofia to Istanbul (State) train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Istanbul (State) is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 56m to drive from Sofia to Istanbul (State).
There are 4256+ hotels available in Istanbul (State).