There are 9 ways to get from Sirkeci to Bulgaria by train, plane, bus, 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.
Train, Metro to Istanbul Airport, fly to Sofia Airport
best- Take the train from Sirkeci to Halkalitrain
- Take the train from Halkali to Istanbul Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
5h 26m$83–284Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 22m$16–23Bus via Haskovo
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus
9h 23m$24–43Drive 550.5 km
- Drive from Sirkeci to Sofiacar 550.5 km
5h 1m$90–130Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly to Sofia Airport
- Take the train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane SAW - SOF
5h 18m$113–353Train, Metro to Istanbul Airport, fly to Varna Airport
- Take the train from Sirkeci to Halkalitrain
- Take the train from Halkali to Istanbul Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane IST - VAR
5h 28m$207–483Metro to Istanbul Airport, fly to Bucharest Otopeni, train
- Take the train from Halkali to Istanbul Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP)plane IST - OTP
- Take the train from Bucuresti Nord to Rusetrain
8h 59m$71–273Bus
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus FlixBus N1999
10h 17m$17–42Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
10h 36m$27–43
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sirkeci to Bulgaria is to train which costs $16 - $23 and takes 15h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Sirkeci to Bulgaria is to drive which takes 5h 1m and costs $85 - $130.
No, there is no direct bus from Sirkeci to Bulgaria station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Sofia Central Bus Station via Haskovo. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 23m.
No, there is no direct train from Sirkeci to Bulgaria. However, there are services departing from Sirkeci and arriving at Serdika via Halkalı and Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 22m.
The distance between Sirkeci and Bulgaria is 551 km. The road distance is 550.5 km.
The best way to get from Sirkeci to Bulgaria without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 23m and costs $23 - $45.
It takes approximately 5h 26m to get from Sirkeci to Bulgaria, including transfers.
Sirkeci to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Sirkeci to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Sirkeci to Bulgaria is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 23m and costs $23 - $45. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $16 - $23 and takes 15h 22m.
What companies run services between Sirkeci, Turkey and Bulgaria?
You can take a train from Sirkeci to Serdika via Yenikapi, Esenler Otogar, Istanbul, Haskovo, Sofia Central Bus Station, and Central Station in around 9h 23m. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Halkalı to Sofia once daily. Tickets cost $14–20 and the journey takes 13h 40m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–260
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Varna Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–340
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–240
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–240
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- Website
- animawings.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $95–190
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sirkeci to Halkali
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–20
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sirkeci to Halkali
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Halkali to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- istairport.com
Train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Halkali to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- istairport.com
Train from Halkali to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- istairport.com
- Phone
- 0219521
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
Train from Bucuresti Nord to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $13–15
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Istanbul to Haskovo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- [email protected]
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Haskovo to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $6–18
- Schedules at
- bgrazpisanie.com
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–21
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $82
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Website
- Huntur
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Sirkeci to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Bulgaria is 1h behind Sirkeci. It is currently 8:12 PM in Sirkeci and 7:12 PM in Bulgaria.
Sirkeci to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sirkeci to Bulgaria is 550 km. It takes approximately 5h 1m to drive from Sirkeci to Bulgaria.
There are 2280+ hotels available in Bulgaria.














































