There are 7 ways to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar by bus, train, 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.
Bus via Летище София
best- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogaribus Arda-Tur
8h 57m₺4,101Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 29 / ...
9h₺750–1,900Train
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 45m₺825–4,234Drive 541.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbul Otogarcar 541.4 km
4h 53m₺4,243–6,129Fly to Istanbul, bus
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogaribus
5h 38m₺4,319–12,813Bus #2
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşabus
10h 40m₺1,400–2,250Fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
- Take the train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesitrain
5h 18m₺5,995–17,499
Sofia to Istanbul Otogar by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar is to bus which costs 750 ₺ - 1.900 ₺ and takes 9h.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar is to drive which takes 4h 53m and costs 4.200 ₺ - 6.500 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Istanbul Büyük Otogari. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Esenler Otogar via Halkali and Yenikapi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 45m.
The distance between Sofia and Istanbul Otogar is 578 km. The road distance is 541.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar without a car is to bus via Летище София which takes 8h 57m and costs 4.102 ₺.
It takes approximately 8h 57m to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar, including transfers.
Sofia to Istanbul Otogar bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Sofia to Istanbul Otogar train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar is to bus via Летище София which takes 8h 57m and costs 4.102 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 800 ₺ - 4.300 ₺ and takes 12h 45m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Istanbul Otogar, Turkey?
Arda Tur operates a bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogari once daily. Tickets cost ₺4,073 and the journey takes 7h 30m. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺750–4,148 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- 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
- +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
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
#/media/File:M5_K%C4%B1s%C4%B1kl%C4%B1_Metro_%C4%B0stasyonu.jpg "Uskudar-Cekmekoy Metro train")
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,073
- 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
- 0850 888 33 34
- [email protected]
- Website
- HAVAİST
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺130–340
- Website
- HAVAİST
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–2,400
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- 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
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,900
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- 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 Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşa
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,400–2,250
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- ₺1,400–2,100
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Booking & Getting There
Sofia to Istanbul Otogar bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Istanbul Otogar is 1h ahead of Sofia. It is currently 12:08 PM in Sofia and 1:08 PM in Istanbul Otogar.
Sofia to Istanbul Otogar train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Istanbul Otogar is 541 km. It takes approximately 4h 53m to drive from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar.
Book your Sofia to Istanbul Otogar bus tickets online with Omio, Distribusion and FlixBus.
There are 4173+ hotels available in Istanbul Otogar.