There are 9 ways to get from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria 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.
Metro to Istanbul, fly to Sofia Airport
best- Take the train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
5h 17m$104–234Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 22m$17–24Bus via Haskovo
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo Central Bus Station to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus Group Plus 1705 / ...
9h 34m$36–53Drive 550.5 km
- Drive from Sultanahmet to Sofiacar 550.5 km
5h 1m$87–126Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly to Sofia Airport
- 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 18m$123–303Metro to Istanbul, fly to Varna Airport
- Take the train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane IST - VAR
5h 18m$218–463Fly Istanbul to Bucharest Otopeni, bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP)plane IST - OTP
- Take the bus from Buchurest to Rusebus
7h 31m$72–190Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
10h 41m$28–42Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
10h 46m$48–78
Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria is to train which costs $17 - $24 and takes 15h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria is to drive which takes 5h 1m and costs $85 - $130.
No, there is no direct bus from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Sofia Central Bus Station via Haskovo Central Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 34m.
No, there is no direct train from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria. However, there are services departing from Sirkeci and arriving at Serdika via Halkalı and Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 22m.
The distance between Sultanahmet and Bulgaria is 529 km. The road distance is 550.5 km.
The best way to get from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 34m and costs $35 - $55.
It takes approximately 5h 17m to get from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria, including transfers.
Sultanahmet to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Sultanahmet to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 34m and costs $35 - $55. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $17 - $24 and takes 15h 22m.
What companies run services between Sultanahmet, Turkey and Bulgaria?
You can take a vehicle from Sultanahmet to Serdika via Yusufpaşa, Aksaray, Esenler Otogar, Istanbul, Haskovo Central Bus Station, Sofia Central Bus Station, and Central Station in around 9h 34m. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Halkalı to Sofia once daily. Tickets cost $15–21 and the journey takes 13h 40m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–210
Flights from Istanbul to Varna Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–310
Flights from Istanbul to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–170
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Istanbul to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–170
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–200
- Website
- animawings.com
Flights from Istanbul to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $80–170
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–21
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Haskovo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–23
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- +359 889 59 00 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- union-ivkoni.com
Bus from Haskovo Central Bus Station to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–27
- Website
- https://union-ivkoni.com/en
- Phone
- +359 899199328
- [email protected]
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Buchurest to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $8–11
- Schedules at
- bgrazpisanie.com
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–95
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- huntur.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Website
- https://www.huntur.com.tr/?l=EN
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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More Questions & Answers
Sultanahmet to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Sultanahmet to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sultanahmet to Bulgaria is 550 km. It takes approximately 5h 1m to drive from Sultanahmet to Bulgaria.
There are 2302+ hotels available in Bulgaria.


































