There are 7 ways to get from Sofia to Istanbul Otogar by plane, train, 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.
Fly to Istanbul, Metro
best- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Yenikapitrain
- Take the train from Yenikapi to Esenler Otogartrain
5h 17m₺4,354–12,941Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 29 / ...
9h₺750–1,900Bus via Летище София
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogaribus Arda-Tur
8h 57m₺4,079Train
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 45m₺825–4,212Drive 541.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbul Otogarcar 541.4 km
4h 53m₺4,211–6,082Fly 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₺6,286–18,287Bus #2
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşabus
10h 40m₺1,400–2,250
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 534 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 4.080 ₺.
It takes approximately 5h 17m 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 4.080 ₺. 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 ₺4,051 and the journey takes 7h 30m. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺750–4,125 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,200–13,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺5,000–16,000
- 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
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Yenikapi
- Ave. Duration
- 18 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Yenikapi to Esenler Otogar
- Ave. Duration
- 14 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- 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
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–4,125
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,289
- Single Room
- ₺4,125
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,013
- 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
- ₺4,051
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,042
- Website
- Arda Tur
- 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
- ₺2,600–3,900
- 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.
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 4300+ hotels available in Istanbul Otogar.