There are 7 ways to get from Sirkeci to Sofia 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
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 9m$82–273Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 15m$15–22Bus via Haskovo
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus
9h 15m$23–42Drive 550.5 km
- Drive from Sirkeci to Sofiacar 550.5 km
5h 1m$90–130Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly
- 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 1m$112–352Bus
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus N1999
10h 17m$26–42Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Serdika Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
10h 38m$85
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sirkeci to Sofia is to train which costs $15 - $22 and takes 15h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Sirkeci to Sofia is to drive which takes 5h 1m and costs $85 - $130.
No, there is no direct bus from Sirkeci to Sofia station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Sofia Central Bus Station via Haskovo. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 15m.
No, there is no direct train from Sirkeci to Sofia. However, there are services departing from Sirkeci and arriving at Sofia via Halkalı. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 15m.
The distance between Sirkeci and Sofia is 546 km. The road distance is 550.5 km.
The best way to get from Sirkeci to Sofia without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 15m and costs $22 - $45.
It takes approximately 5h 9m to get from Sirkeci to Sofia, including transfers.
Sirkeci to Sofia bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Sirkeci to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Sirkeci to Sofia is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 15m and costs $22 - $45. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $15 - $22 and takes 15h 15m.
What companies run services between Sirkeci, Turkey and Sofia, Bulgaria?
You can take a train from Sirkeci to Sofia Central Bus Station via Yenikapi, Esenler Otogar, Istanbul, and Haskovo in around 9h 15m. 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
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- [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
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $81
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Serdika Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $83
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Website
- Huntur
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
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Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Sirkeci to Sofia bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Sofia is 1h behind Sirkeci. It is currently 7:24 PM in Sirkeci and 6:24 PM in Sofia.
Sirkeci to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sirkeci to Sofia is 550 km. It takes approximately 5h 1m to drive from Sirkeci to Sofia.
There are 2267+ hotels available in Sofia.


































