There are 5 ways to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul by 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.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
6h 57m₺600–1,600Train
cheapest- Take the train from Plovdiv to Istanbul(Halkali)train Ic
13h 53m₺400–565Train via Svilengrad
- Take the train from Plovdiv to Svilengradtrain Re / ...
- Take the train from Svilengrad to Halkalıtrain
9h 7m₺533–799Drive 410.3 km
- Drive from Plovdiv to Istanbulcar 410.3 km
3h 52m₺3,265–4,716Bus via Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Take the bus from Plovdiv Hristo Botev to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
7h 2m₺1,300–3,100
Plovdiv to Istanbul by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul is to train which costs 400 ₺ - 600 ₺ and takes 13h 53m.
The fastest way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul is to drive which takes 3h 52m and costs 3.200 ₺ - 4.800 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Plovdiv to Istanbul station. However, there are services departing from Тунела Север - запад and arriving at İstanbul Esenler bus station via Plovdiv Bus Station South. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 57m.
No, there is no direct train from Plovdiv to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Plovdiv and arriving at Yenikapi via Svilengrad and Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 7m.
The distance between Plovdiv and Istanbul is 410 km. The road distance is 410.3 km.
The best way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 6h 57m and costs 600 ₺ - 1.600 ₺.
It takes approximately 6h 57m to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul, including transfers.
Plovdiv to Istanbul bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, depart from Plovdiv Bus Station South.
Plovdiv to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), depart from Plovdiv station.
The best way to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul is to bus which takes 6h 57m and costs 600 ₺ - 1.600 ₺. Alternatively, you can train via Svilengrad, which costs 500 ₺ - 800 ₺ and takes 9h 7m.
What companies run services between Plovdiv, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
Kamil Koç operates a bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler bus station twice daily. Tickets cost ₺600–850 and the journey takes 5h 45m. Alpar Turizm also services this route once daily. Alternatively, you can take a train from Plovdiv to Yenikapi via Svilengrad and Halkali in around 9h 7m.
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Train from Plovdiv to Svilengrad
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺120–210
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺120–170
- 1st Class
- ₺160–210
Train from Plovdiv to Istanbul(Halkali)
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 1m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺340–480
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺340–460
- 1st Class
- ₺370–480
- 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)
- 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
- Twice daily
- 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
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Plovdiv Hristo Botev to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,800
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Plovdiv Hristo Botev to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,025
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Plovdiv Hristo Botev to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,000–3,100
- Website
- Flixbus
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
Booking & Getting There
Plovdiv to Istanbul bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
Istanbul is 1h ahead of Plovdiv. It is currently 8:46 PM in Plovdiv and 9:46 PM in Istanbul.
Plovdiv to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), arrive at Svilengrad station.
Yes, the driving distance between Plovdiv to Istanbul is 410 km. It takes approximately 3h 52m to drive from Plovdiv to Istanbul.
There are 4249+ hotels available in Istanbul.









































