There are 6 ways to get from Sofia to Ankara by plane, 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.
Fly
best- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Ankara Esenboğa International Airport (ESB)plane SOF - ESB
6h 56m₺6,656–12,783Train via Ankara Gar
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Istanbul(Halkali)train Ic
- Take the train from Istanbul(Halkali) to Ankara Gartrain Hst / ...
21h 7m₺1,201–1,715Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogari to Ankarabus
15h 35m₺2,349–3,600Train
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
- Take the train from Halkali to Ankaratrain Yht / ...
17h 50m₺1,454–5,147Drive 993.2 km
- Drive from Sofia to Ankaracar 993.2 km
8h 57m₺7,783–11,242Train via Istanbul
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
- Take the train from Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme to Ankaratrain Yht / ...
18h 7m₺1,546–5,310
Sofia to Ankara by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Ankara is to train via Ankara Gar which costs 1.200 ₺ - 1.800 ₺ and takes 21h 7m.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Ankara is to fly which takes 6h 56m and costs 6.500 ₺ - 13.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Sofia station to Ankara. However, there are services departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station and arriving at Ankara via Istanbul Otogari. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 35m.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Ankara. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Ankara via Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 17h 50m.
The distance between Sofia and Ankara is 892 km. The road distance is 993.2 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Ankara without a car is to bus which takes 15h 35m and costs 2.300 ₺ - 3.600 ₺.
It takes approximately 6h 56m to get from Sofia to Ankara, including transfers.
Sofia to Ankara bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Sofia to Ankara train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Ankara is to fly which takes 6h 56m and costs 6.500 ₺ - 13.000 ₺. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs 2.300 ₺ - 3.600 ₺ and takes 15h 35m, you could also train, which costs 1.400 ₺ - 5.500 ₺ and takes 17h 50m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Ankara, Turkey?
Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Ankara Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Ankara via Istanbul Otogari in around 15h 35m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Ankara Esenboğa International Airport via Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺5,500–19,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Ankara Esenboğa International Airport via Sabiha Gokcen
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Friday, and Monday
- Estimated price
- ₺2,500–15,000
- Website
- ajet.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Ankara Esenboğa International Airport via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- When
- Wednesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,300–14,000
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–4,148
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,302
- Single Room
- ₺4,148
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,024
Train from Halkali to Ankara
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 1m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺700–1,000
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–4,148
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,302
- Single Room
- ₺4,148
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,024
Train from Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme to Ankara
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Istanbul(Halkali) to Ankara Gar
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 1m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Train from Sofia to Istanbul(Halkali)
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺450–650
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺450–650
- 1st Class
- ₺480–650
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–2,400
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–4,100
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,064
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 54m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,900
- Website
- Huntur
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- MetroTurizm
Bus from Istanbul Otogari to Ankara
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺1,100–1,700
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- ₺1,100–1,700
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Booking & Getting There
Sofia to Ankara bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Ankara is 1h ahead of Sofia. It is currently 10:55 PM in Sofia and 11:55 PM in Ankara.
Sofia to Ankara train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Ankara is 993 km. It takes approximately 8h 57m to drive from Sofia to Ankara.
Book your Sofia to Ankara bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 240+ hotels available in Ankara.