There are 7 ways to get from Sultanahmet to Sofia 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
best- Take the train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
5h$103–233Train
cheapest- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 15m$16–23Bus 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 26m$35–52Drive 550.5 km
- Drive from Sultanahmet to Sofiacar 550.5 km
5h 1m$87–126Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly
- 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 1m$122–302Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Serdika Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
10h 36m$52–77Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
10h 41m$28–42
Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sultanahmet to Sofia is to train which costs $16 - $23 and takes 15h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Sultanahmet to Sofia is to Metro and fly which takes 5h and costs $100 - $240.
No, there is no direct bus from Sultanahmet to Sofia 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 26m.
No, there is no direct train from Sultanahmet to Sofia. However, there are services departing from Sirkeci and arriving at Sofia via Halkalı. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 15m.
The distance between Sultanahmet and Sofia is 525 km. The road distance is 550.5 km.
The best way to get from Sultanahmet to Sofia without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 26m and costs $35 - $55.
It takes approximately 5h to get from Sultanahmet to Sofia, including transfers.
Sultanahmet to Sofia bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Sultanahmet to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Sultanahmet to Sofia is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 26m and costs $35 - $55. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $16 - $23 and takes 15h 15m.
What companies run services between Sultanahmet, Turkey and Sofia, Bulgaria?
You can take a vehicle from Sultanahmet to Sofia Central Bus Station via Yusufpaşa, Aksaray, Esenler Otogar, Istanbul, and Haskovo Central Bus Station in around 9h 26m. 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
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–200
- 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
- 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
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Serdika Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
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/
- 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
- +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
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More Questions & Answers
Sultanahmet to Sofia bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Sultanahmet to Sofia train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sultanahmet to Sofia is 550 km. It takes approximately 5h 1m to drive from Sultanahmet to Sofia.
There are 2302+ hotels available in Sofia.

































