There are 8 ways to get from Karlovo to Istanbul by train, bus, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, bus
best- Take the train from Karlovo to Plovdivtrain Re / ...
- Take the bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h 5m₺669–1,735Train via Svilengrad
cheapest- Take the train from Karlovo to Plovdivtrain Re / ...
- Take the train from Plovdiv to Svilengradtrain Re / ...
- Take the train from Svilengrad to Halkalıtrain
11h 27m₺578–870Drive 444.2 km
- Drive from Karlovo to Istanbulcar 444.2 km
4h 47m₺3,580–5,171Train, fly to Istanbul Airport
- Take the train from Karlovo to Iskarsko Shosetrain
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Airport (IST)plane SOF - IST
7h 51m₺4,334–14,312Bus via Plovdiv
- Take the bus from Karlovo to Plovdivbus
- Take the bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus N1999
8h 5mBus
- Take the bus from Karlovo Bus Station to Kazanlak Bus Stationbus Union Ivkoni
- Take the bus from Kazanlak Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 31
9h 20m₺1,370–1,942Train
- Take the train from Karlovo to Plovdivtrain Re / ...
- Take the train from Plovdiv to Halkalıtrain
11h 37m₺648–3,480Train, fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Take the train from Karlovo to Iskarsko Shosetrain
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
7h 54m₺5,737–18,335
Karlovo to Istanbul by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Karlovo to Istanbul is to train via Svilengrad which costs 550 ₺ - 900 ₺ and takes 11h 27m.
The fastest way to get from Karlovo to Istanbul is to drive which takes 4h 47m and costs 3.500 ₺ - 5.500 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Karlovo to Istanbul station. However, there are services departing from Karlovo and arriving at İstanbul Esenler bus station via Plovdiv Bus Station South. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 5m.
No, there is no direct train from Karlovo to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Karlovo and arriving at Yenikapi via Plovdiv, Svilengrad and Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 27m.
The distance between Karlovo and Istanbul is 474 km. The road distance is 444.2 km.
The best way to get from Karlovo to Istanbul without a car is to train and bus which takes 8h 5m and costs 650 ₺ - 1.800 ₺.
It takes approximately 8h 5m to get from Karlovo to Istanbul, including transfers.
Karlovo to Istanbul bus services, operated by Karlovo Intermunicipal Transport, depart from Karlovo station.
Karlovo to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), depart from Karlovo station.
The best way to get from Karlovo to Istanbul is to train via Svilengrad which takes 11h 27m and costs 550 ₺ - 900 ₺. Alternatively, you can bus via Plovdiv, which costs and takes 8h 5m.
What companies run services between Karlovo, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
You can take a train from Karlovo to Yenikapi via Plovdiv, Svilengrad, and Halkali in around 11h 27m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Karlovo to İstanbul Esenler bus station via Plovdiv Bus Station South in around 8h 5m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,900–13,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,100–14,000
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Train from Karlovo to Plovdiv
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺65–140
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺65–95
- 1st Class
- ₺100–140
Train from Karlovo to Plovdiv
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺65–140
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺65–95
- 1st Class
- ₺100–140
Train from Plovdiv to Svilengrad
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺100–140
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺100–140
- 1st Class
- ₺100–140
Train from Karlovo to Iskarsko Shose
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺120–200
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺120–170
- 1st Class
- ₺150–200
Train from Karlovo to Plovdiv
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺65–140
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺65–95
- 1st Class
- ₺100–140
Train from Karlovo to Iskarsko Shose
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺120–200
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺120–170
- 1st Class
- ₺150–200
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Svilengrad to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺380–550
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Plovdiv to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 39m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺550–3,261
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺1,810
- Single Room
- ₺3,261
- Four Person Room
- ₺1,591
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺600–850
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺900–1,600
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- Website
- karlovo.bg
Bus from Karlovo to Plovdiv
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Schedules at
- karlovo.bg
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,000–3,000
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,800
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Kazanlak Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,700
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,975
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +359 88 949 0000
- [email protected]
- Website
- Union Ivkoni
Bus from Karlovo Bus Station to Kazanlak Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺170–250
- Website
- Union Ivkoni
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Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
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Booking & Getting There
Karlovo to Istanbul bus services, operated by Karlovo Intermunicipal Transport, arrive at Plovdiv station.
Istanbul is 1h ahead of Karlovo. It is currently 9:16 PM in Karlovo and 10:16 PM in Istanbul.
Karlovo to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), arrive at Plovdiv station.
Yes, the driving distance between Karlovo to Istanbul is 444 km. It takes approximately 4h 47m to drive from Karlovo to Istanbul.
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