There are 5 ways to get from Ankara to Sofia by plane, bus, train, 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$31–43Bus via Maltepe
- Take the bus from Ankara bus station to İstanbul Dudullu bus stationbus FlixBus KK0604 / ...
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus FlixBus N1999
16h 31m$33–65Drive 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 Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
16h 36m$51–75
Ankara to Sofia by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ankara to Sofia is to train which costs $30 - $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 station to Sofia. However, there are services departing from Ankara bus station and arriving at Sofia via İstanbul Dudullu bus station and İstanbul Esenler bus station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 31m.
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 bus via Maltepe which takes 16h 31m and costs $30 - $65.
It takes approximately 7h 6m to get from Ankara to Sofia, including transfers.
Ankara to Sofia bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, depart from Ankara bus 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 bus via Maltepe, which costs $30 - $65 and takes 16h 31m, you could also train, which costs $30 - $45 and takes 19h 37m.
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 bus from Ankara bus station to Sofia via İstanbul Dudullu bus station and İstanbul Esenler bus station in around 16h 31m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–230
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Sabiha Gokcen
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–250
Flights from Ankara Esenboğa International Airport to Sofia Airport via Antalya
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $60–300
- 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
- $75–290
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Ankara to Halkali
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–21
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from Ankara bus station to İstanbul Dudullu bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $13–18
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $16–23
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Ankara to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 36m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $25–35
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- $25–35
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–95
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
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More Questions & Answers
Ankara to Sofia bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, arrive at İstanbul Dudullu bus 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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