There are 7 ways to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia 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
best- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
1h 48m$95–220Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Halkalı Marmaraybus Hvl-8
- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
16h 10m$18–97Bus via Edirne
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Edirnebus
- Take the bus from Edirne Bus Station to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
10h 30m$44–60Bus, train via Harmanli
- Take the bus from İstanbul Beşyüzevler to Harmanlibus
- Take the train from Harmanli to Sofiatrain Ic
10h 57m$29–32Airport Transfer
- Take the rideshare from Istanbul-IST to Sofia523.9 km
4h 40mDrive 523.9 km
- Drive from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofiacar 523.9 km
4h 40m$83–120Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogaribus Hvl-3
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus FlixBus N1999
10h 45m$19–47
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia is to bus and train via Harmanli which costs $28 - $32 and takes 10h 57m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia is to fly which takes 1h 48m and costs $95 - $220.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul Airport Bus and arriving at Sofia Serdica Bus Station via Edirne Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 30m.
The distance between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sofia is 481 km. The road distance is 523.9 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia without a car is to bus via Edirne which takes 10h 30m and costs $40 - $60.
It takes approximately 1h 48m to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia, including transfers.
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia bus services, operated by Istanbul Seyahat, depart from Istanbul Airport Bus station.
The best way to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia is to fly which takes 1h 48m and costs $95 - $220. Alternatively, you can bus via Edirne, which costs $40 - $60 and takes 10h 30m.
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia bus services, operated by Istanbul Seyahat, arrive at Edirne station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia is 524 km. It takes approximately 4h 40m to drive from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia.
What companies run services between Istanbul Airport (IST), Turkey and Sofia, Bulgaria?
Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Sofia Serdica Bus Station via Edirne Bus Station in around 10h 30m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–210
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Harmanli to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $4–7
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- $4–7
- 1st Class
- $5–7
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–87
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Double Room
- $48
- Single Room
- $87
- Four Person Room
- $43
- Phone
- 0850 222 59 59
- [email protected]
- Website
- istanbulseyahat.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Edirne
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $15
- Schedules at
- istanbulseyahat.com.tr
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Edirne Bus Station to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–45
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- 0545 792 30 02
- [email protected]
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Beşyüzevler to Harmanli
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $23
- Schedules at
- luksyonca.com.tr
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- [email protected]
- Website
- hava.ist
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–7
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Halkalı Marmaray
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–7
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=en
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $16–22
- 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/
- Website
- https://www.mozio.com
Rideshare from Istanbul-IST to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- On demand
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More Questions & Answers
There are 2300+ hotels available in Sofia.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sofia. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.