There are 8 ways to get from Sofia to Turkey 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 Veznecilertrain
4h 53m₺4,273–12,557Train
cheapest- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 27m₺783–4,192Bus
- Take the bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus FlixBus N1999
8h 16m₺817–1,897Drive 546.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Istanbulcar 546.4 km
4h 56m₺4,282–6,185Fly 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₺5,953–17,457Fly to İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB)plane SOF - ADB
4h 50m₺7,709–13,195Fly to Antalya Airport
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Antalya Airport (AYT)plane SOF - AYT
5h 50m₺4,645–13,397Bus via Bayrampaşa Devlet Hastanesi
- Take the bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h 44m₺1,289–1,960
Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Turkey is to bus which costs 800 ₺ - 1.900 ₺ and takes 8h 16m.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Turkey is to fly which takes 4h 50m and costs 7.500 ₺ - 14.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Sofia to Turkey station. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at İstanbul Esenler bus station via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 16m.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Turkey. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Yenikapi via Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 27m.
The distance between Sofia and Turkey is 525 km. The road distance is 546.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Turkey without a car is to bus which takes 8h 16m and costs 800 ₺ - 1.900 ₺.
It takes approximately 4h 53m to get from Sofia to Turkey, including transfers.
Sofia to Turkey bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, depart from Sofia station.
Sofia to Turkey train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Turkey is to bus which takes 8h 16m and costs 800 ₺ - 1.900 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 750 ₺ - 4.200 ₺ and takes 12h 27m, you could also fly, which costs 7.500 ₺ - 14.000 ₺ and takes 4h 50m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Turkey?
Kamil Koç operates a bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station twice daily. Tickets cost ₺750–1,100 and the journey takes 8h. Alpar Turizm also services this route once daily. 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
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport via Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺8,000–14,000
- 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
Flights from Sofia Airport to İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,000–18,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Tuesday, Friday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–16,000
- Website
- sunexpress.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Wednesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺2,700–14,000
Flights from Sofia Airport to Antalya Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,400–11,000
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 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
- ₺750–4,148
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,302
- Single Room
- ₺4,148
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,024
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Sofia to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,900
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- 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
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Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
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Booking & Getting There
Sofia to Turkey bus services, operated by Kamil Koç, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
Turkey is 1h ahead of Sofia. It is currently 4:10 PM in Sofia and 5:10 PM in Turkey.
Sofia to Turkey train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Turkey is 546 km. It takes approximately 4h 56m to drive from Sofia to Turkey.
There are 4137+ hotels available in Turkey.