There are 6 ways to get from Varna to Istanbul by bus, train, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 49 / ...
6h 45m₺1,100–2,300Train
cheapest- Take the train from Varna to Dimitrovgradtrain Ic
- Take the train from Dimitrovgrad to Svilengradtrain Re / ...
- Take the train from Svilengrad to Halkalıtrain
13h 23m₺719–1,040Drive 425.6 km
- Drive from Varna to Istanbulcar 425.6 km
5h 54m₺3,426–4,949Fly, Metro
- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul Airport (IST)plane VAR - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
4h 23m₺9,809–22,462Bus via Burgas
- Take the bus from Varna to Burgas Southbus
- Take the bus from Burgas to Istanbulbus Istanbul-Burgas / ...
8h₺2,175–2,295Bus via Nesebar
- Take the bus from Varna to Sunny Beachbus
- Take the bus from Sunny Beach to Istanbul Otogaribus
8h 59m₺1,178–2,871
Varna to Istanbul by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Varna to Istanbul is to train which costs 700 ₺ - 1.100 ₺ and takes 13h 23m.
The fastest way to get from Varna to Istanbul is to fly and Metro which takes 4h 23m and costs 9.500 ₺ - 23.000 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Varna Central Bus Station station and arriving at Istanbul Büyük Otogari. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h 45m.
No, there is no direct train from Varna to Istanbul. However, there are services departing from Varna and arriving at Yenikapi via Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 23m.
The distance between Varna and Istanbul is 423 km. The road distance is 425.6 km.
The best way to get from Varna to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 6h 45m and costs 1.100 ₺ - 2.300 ₺.
The bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari takes 6h 45m including transfers and departs four times a day.
Varna to Istanbul bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Varna Central Bus Station.
Varna to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), depart from Varna station.
The best way to get from Varna to Istanbul is to bus which takes 6h 45m and costs 1.100 ₺ - 2.300 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 700 ₺ - 1.100 ₺ and takes 13h 23m.
What companies run services between Varna, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey?
Citylines operates a bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari twice daily. Tickets cost ₺1,300–1,800 and the journey takes 6h 45m. Three other operators also service this route. Alternatively, you can take a train from Varna to Yenikapi via Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad, and Halkali in around 13h 23m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺5,500–17,000
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Train from Varna to Dimitrovgrad
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺260–380
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺260–360
- 1st Class
- ₺300–380
Train from Dimitrovgrad to Svilengrad
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺45–65
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺45–65
- 1st Class
- ₺45–60
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- [email protected]
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Svilengrad to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺380–550
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- 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
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- [email protected]
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,800
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺3,070
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +38(098) 343 8282
- [email protected]
- Website
- likebus.ua
Bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 34m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- likebus.ua
Bus from Burgas to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,648
- Schedules at
- likebus.ua
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- MetroTurizm
Bus from Varna Central Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,100–2,300
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- ₺1,100–1,600
Bus from Sunny Beach to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,000–2,217
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- ₺1,000–1,400
- Phone
- +359 0882455155
- [email protected]
- Website
- Burgas Bus
Bus from Varna to Burgas South
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₺500–650
- Website
- Burgas Bus
- Phone
- +359 056 846081
- [email protected]
- Website
- mbus-bg.com
Bus from Varna to Sunny Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₺400–440
- Schedules at
- mbus-bg.com
- Phone
- +359 886 618 849
- [email protected]
- Website
- autogaravn.com
Bus from Varna to Sunny Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 46m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺410–600
- Schedules at
- autogaravn.com
- Phone
- 042 605 349
- [email protected]
- Website
- avtogara.starazagora.bg
Bus from Varna to Sunny Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 42m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺170–220
- Schedules at
- starazagora.bg
- Phone
- +359 88 949 0000
- [email protected]
- Website
- Union Ivkoni
Bus from Varna to Sunny Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺250–360
- Website
- Union Ivkoni
- [email protected]
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Varna to Sunny Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺180–260
- Schedules at
- bgrazpisanie.com
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Train travel in France: A guide to SNCF, Travelling Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast by boat, bus, car and train, and Train travel in Spain: A guide to Renfe - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Booking & Getting There
Varna to Istanbul bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Istanbul is 1h ahead of Varna. It is currently 7:35 PM in Varna and 8:35 PM in Istanbul.
Varna to Istanbul train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), arrive at Dimitrovgrad station.
Yes, the driving distance between Varna to Istanbul is 426 km. It takes approximately 5h 54m to drive from Varna to Istanbul.
Book your Varna to Istanbul bus tickets online with Omio and Distribusion.
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