There are 10 ways to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) by plane, bus, train, rideshare, 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 Varna Airport to Istanbul
best- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul (IST)plane VAR - IST
3h 41m₺10,262–20,786Train, bus
cheapest- Take the train from Poduyane to Istanbul(Halkali)train Ic
- Take the bus from Istanbul Halkalı Marmaray to Istanbul Airport Busbus Hvl-8
18h 3m₺498–930Fly Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, bus
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
- Take the bus from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Istanbul Airport Busbus
6h 40m₺6,178–14,508Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Busbus Hvl-3
9h 46m₺1,379–2,240Train
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
14h 31m₺891–4,357Fly Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
4h 17m₺4,728–11,028Bus to Bucharest Otopeni, fly to Istanbul
- Take the bus from Ruse to Buchurestbus
- Fly from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Istanbul (IST)plane OTP - IST
5h 30m₺3,327–8,775Bus via Edirne
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Edirne Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
- Take the bus from Edirne to Istanbul Airport Busbus
10h 47m₺2,128–2,828Airport Transfer
- Take the rideshare from Sofia to Istanbul-IST525 km
4h 43mDrive 525 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbul Airport (IST)car 525 km
4h 43m₺3,962–5,723
Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) is to train and bus which costs 490 ₺ - 950 ₺ and takes 18h 3m.
The fastest way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) is to fly which takes 3h 41m and costs 10.000 ₺ - 21.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Bulgaria station to Istanbul Airport (IST). However, there are services departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station and arriving at Istanbul Airport Bus via Istanbul Otogari. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 46m.
No, there is no direct train from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST). However, there are services departing from Serdika and arriving at Istanbul Airport via Sofia, Halkali, Yenikapi and Gayrettepe. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 31m.
The distance between Bulgaria and Istanbul Airport (IST) is 278 km. The road distance is 525 km.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) without a car is to bus which takes 9h 46m and costs 1.300 ₺ - 2.300 ₺.
It takes approximately 3h 41m to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST), including transfers.
Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) is to fly which takes 3h 41m and costs 10.000 ₺ - 21.000 ₺. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs 1.300 ₺ - 2.300 ₺ and takes 9h 46m, you could also train, which costs 850 ₺ - 4.400 ₺ and takes 14h 31m.
What companies run services between Bulgaria and Istanbul Airport (IST), Turkey?
Turkish Airlines flies from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul (IST) twice daily. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Airport Bus via Istanbul Büyük Otogari and Istanbul Otogari in around 9h 46m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺8,500–14,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,800–10,000
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–8,000
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–8,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,800–12,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺6,000–11,000
- Website
- animawings.com
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,000–8,000
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–4,138
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- ₺2,296
- Single Room
- ₺4,138
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,019
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Poduyane to Istanbul(Halkali)
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 58m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺440–650
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- ₺440–650
- 1st Class
- ₺480–650
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- [email protected]
- Website
- hava.ist
Bus from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺150–480
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
Bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺130–340
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
Bus from Istanbul Halkalı Marmaray to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺130–320
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–2,400
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–4,500
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- 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
- ₺2,300–3,500
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
Bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Edirne Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,400–2,100
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 54m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,900
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
- Phone
- +359 899199328
- [email protected]
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Ruse to Buchurest
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- ₺380–550
- Schedules at
- bgrazpisanie.com
- Phone
- 0850 222 59 59
- [email protected]
- Website
- istanbulseyahat.com.tr
Bus from Edirne to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺700
- Schedules at
- istanbulseyahat.com.tr
- Phone
- +90 212 372 22 22
- [email protected]
- Website
- iett.istanbul
Bus from Istanbul Halkalı Marmaray to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 59 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺50–110
- Website
- https://iett.istanbul/en
- Website
- https://www.mozio.com
Rideshare from Sofia to Istanbul-IST
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 43m
- Frequency
- On demand
Want to know more about travelling around Türkiye
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Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST) is 525 km. It takes approximately 4h 43m to drive from Bulgaria to Istanbul Airport (IST).
There are 4431+ hotels available in Istanbul Airport (IST).
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Bulgaria and Istanbul Airport (IST). A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.