There are 9 ways to get from Taksim to Bulgaria by train, plane, bus, car, or ferry
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 Airport, fly to Sofia Airport
best- Take the train from Taksim to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
5h$83–283Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus FlixBus N1999
10h 14m$16–41Bus via Haskovo
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the bus from Haskovo to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus
9h 29m$24–43Train
- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
15h 35m$17–24Drive 551.3 km
- Drive from Taksim to Sofiacar 551.3 km
5h$90–130Ferry, Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly to Sofia Airport
- Take the ferry from Kabataş to Kadıköyferry
- Take the train from Kadikoy to Sabiha Gokcen Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane SAW - SOF
5h 31m$112–352Metro to Istanbul Airport, fly to Varna Airport
- Take the train from Taksim to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane IST - VAR
5h 2m$207–482Fly Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni, train
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP)plane IST - OTP
- Take the train from Bucuresti Nord to Rusetrain
8h 28m$71–272Bus #2
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Citylines 19 / ...
10h 51m$26–42
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Taksim to Bulgaria is to train which costs $16 - $24 and takes 15h 35m.
The fastest way to get from Taksim to Bulgaria is to Metro and fly which takes 5h and costs $80 - $290.
No, there is no direct bus from Taksim to Bulgaria station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Sofia Central Bus Station via Haskovo. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 29m.
No, there is no direct train from Taksim to Bulgaria. However, there are services departing from Taksim and arriving at Serdika via Yenikapi, Halkalı and Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 35m.
The distance between Taksim and Bulgaria is 524 km. The road distance is 551.3 km.
The best way to get from Taksim to Bulgaria without a car is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 29m and costs $23 - $45.
It takes approximately 5h to get from Taksim to Bulgaria, including transfers.
Taksim to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Taksim to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Halkalı station.
The best way to get from Taksim to Bulgaria is to bus via Haskovo which takes 9h 29m and costs $23 - $45. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $16 - $24 and takes 15h 35m.
What companies run services between Taksim, Turkey and Bulgaria?
You can take a train from Taksim to Serdika via Yenikapi, Esenler Otogar, Istanbul, Haskovo, Sofia Central Bus Station, and Central Station in around 9h 29m. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Halkalı to Sofia once daily. Tickets cost $14–20 and the journey takes 13h 40m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–260
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Varna Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–340
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–240
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–240
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- Website
- animawings.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $95–190
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Taksim to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 9 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Kadikoy to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Taksim to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 9 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–20
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Phone
- 0219521
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
Train from Bucuresti Nord to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $13–15
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Istanbul to Haskovo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- [email protected]
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Haskovo to Sofia Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $6–18
- Schedules at
- bgrazpisanie.com
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–21
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $83
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- [email protected]
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Website
- Huntur
- Phone
- 0212313800010
- [email protected]
- Website
- sehirhatlari.istanbul
Ferry from Kabataş to Kadıköy
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Schedules at
- sehirhatlari.istanbul
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.
Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Taksim to Bulgaria bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Haskovo station.
Bulgaria is 1h behind Taksim. It is currently 2:28 AM in Taksim and 1:28 AM in Bulgaria.
Taksim to Bulgaria train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Sofia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Taksim to Bulgaria is 551 km. It takes approximately 5h to drive from Taksim to Bulgaria.
There are 2283+ hotels available in Bulgaria.




















































