There are 7 ways to get from Ankara to Sofia 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
best- Fly from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane ESB - SOF
7h 6m$123–233Train
cheapest- Take the train from Ankara to Halkalitrain Yht
- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
19h 37m$30–43Train, bus
- Take the train from Ankara Gar to Istanbul(Pendik)train Hst / ...
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo Central Bus Station to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus
14h 1m$49–73Drive 992.1 km
- Drive from Ankara to Sofiacar 992.1 km
8h 52m$157–226Bus
- Take the bus from Ankara to Istanbul Otogaribus
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus FlixBus N1999
16h 6m$41–74Bus via Maltepe
- Take the bus from Ankara to İstanbul Dudullubus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
17h 11m$48–87Train via Maltepe
- Take the train from Ankara Gar to Istanbul(Pendik)train Hst / ...
- Take the train from Atalar to Halkalitrain
- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
20h 3m$30–44
Ankara to Sofia by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ankara to Sofia is to train which costs $29 - $45 and takes 19h 37m.
The fastest way to get from Ankara to Sofia is to fly which takes 7h 6m and costs $120 - $240.
No, there is no direct bus from Ankara to Sofia. However, there are services departing from Ankara and arriving at Sofia via İstanbul Esenler bus station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 6m.
No, there is no direct train from Ankara to Sofia. However, there are services departing from Ankara and arriving at Sofia via Halkalı. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 19h 37m.
The distance between Ankara and Sofia is 892 km. The road distance is 992.1 km.
The best way to get from Ankara to Sofia without a car is to train and bus which takes 14h 1m and costs $45 - $75.
It takes approximately 7h 6m to get from Ankara to Sofia, including transfers.
Ankara to Sofia bus services, operated by Metro Turizm, depart from Ankara station.
Ankara to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Ankara station.
The best way to get from Ankara to Sofia is to fly which takes 7h 6m and costs $120 - $240. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $29 - $45 and takes 19h 37m, you could also bus, which costs $40 - $75 and takes 16h 6m.
What companies run services between Ankara, Turkey and Sofia, Bulgaria?
Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Wizz Air fly from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) to Sofia Airport (SOF) 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a train from Ankara to Sofia via Halkalı in around 19h 37m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–250
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Sabiha Gokcen
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–260
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Antalya
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $55–300
- Website
- wizzair.com
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Budapest
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $70–290
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Ankara Gar to Istanbul(Pendik)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 49m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $14–20
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Ankara to Halkali
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–21
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Ankara Gar to Istanbul(Pendik)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 49m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $14–20
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Atalar to Halkali
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–21
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Istanbul to Haskovo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–23
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- Phone
- +359 889 59 00 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- Grup Plus - Etap Adresss
Bus from Haskovo Central Bus Station to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–27
- Website
- Grup Plus - Etap Adresss
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- MetroTurizm
Bus from Ankara to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 36m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $24–35
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- $24–35
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $16–22
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- 0850 577 99 99
- [email protected]
- Website
- varan.com.tr
Bus from Ankara to İstanbul Dudullu
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $17–25
- Schedules at
- varan.com.tr
- Phone
- 0(850) 244 33 33
- [email protected]
- Website
- mersinnurturizm.com
Bus from Ankara to İstanbul Dudullu
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 46m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Schedules at
- mersinnurturizm.com
- Phone
- 0850 811 5959
- [email protected]
- Website
- kaleseyahat.com.tr
Bus from Ankara to İstanbul Dudullu
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $28
- Schedules at
- kaleseyahat.com.tr
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–80
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- Huntur
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
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More Questions & Answers
Ankara to Sofia bus services, operated by Metro Turizm, arrive at Istanbul Otogari station.
Ankara to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkali station.
Yes, the driving distance between Ankara to Sofia is 992 km. It takes approximately 8h 52m to drive from Ankara to Sofia.
Book your Ankara to Sofia bus tickets online with Omio.
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