There are 6 ways to get from Istanbul Airport to Sofia by plane, bus, train, 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
best- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
1h 52m$85–260Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Halkalı Marmaraybus Hvl-8
- Take the train from Halkalı to Sofiatrain
16h 14m$16–91Bus via Edirne
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Edirnebus
- Take the bus from Edirne Bus Station to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
10h 34m$66Bus, train via Harmanli
- Take the bus from İstanbul Beşyüzevler to Harmanlibus
- Take the train from Harmanli to Sofiatrain Ic
10h 57m$28–31Drive 523.8 km
- Drive from Istanbul Airport to Sofiacar 523.8 km
4h 40m$83–120Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogaribus Hvl-3
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofiabus FlixBus N1999
10h 49m$18–47
Istanbul Airport to Sofia by foot and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul Airport to Sofia is to bus and train via Harmanli which costs $27 - $31 and takes 10h 57m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul Airport to Sofia is to fly which takes 1h 52m and costs $85 - $260.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul Airport to Sofia station. However, there are services departing from Istanbul Airport Bus and arriving at Sofia Serdica Bus Station via Edirne Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 34m.
The distance between Istanbul Airport and Sofia is 481 km. The road distance is 523.8 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul Airport to Sofia without a car is to bus via Edirne which takes 10h 34m and costs $67.
It takes approximately 1h 52m to get from Istanbul Airport to Sofia, including transfers.
Istanbul Airport to Sofia bus services, operated by Istanbul Seyahat, depart from Istanbul Airport Bus station.
The best way to get from Istanbul Airport to Sofia is to fly which takes 1h 52m and costs $85 - $260. Alternatively, you can bus via Edirne, which costs $67 and takes 10h 34m.
Istanbul Airport to Sofia bus services, operated by Istanbul Seyahat, arrive at Edirne station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul Airport to Sofia is 524 km. It takes approximately 4h 40m to drive from Istanbul Airport to Sofia.
What companies run services between Istanbul Airport, Turkey and Sofia, Bulgaria?
Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Istanbul Airport to Sofia Serdica Bus Station via Istanbul Airport Bus and Edirne Bus Station in around 10h 34m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–260
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- bdz_passengers@bdz.bg
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Train from Harmanli to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $4–7
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- $4–6
- 1st Class
- $5–7
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Halkalı to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–84
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- $47
- Single Room
- $84
- Four Person Room
- $41
- Phone
- 0850 222 59 59
- info@istanbulseyahat.com.tr
- Website
- istanbulseyahat.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Edirne
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $17
- Schedules at
- istanbulseyahat.com.tr
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Edirne Bus Station to Sofia Serdica Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- 0545 792 30 02
- info@luksyonca.com.tr
- Website
- luksyonca.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Beşyüzevler to Harmanli
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $22
- Schedules at
- luksyonca.com.tr
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- info@hava.ist
- Website
- HAVAİST
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–7
- Website
- HAVAİST
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Halkalı Marmaray
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–7
- Website
- HAVAİST
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Sofia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- Phone
- +90 212 372 22 22
- iett@iett.gov.tr
- Website
- İstanbul Elektrik Tramvay ve Tünel İşletmeleri (İETT)
Bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Halkalı Marmaray
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- İstanbul Elektrik Tramvay ve Tünel İşletmeleri (İETT)
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