There are 7 ways to get from Sofia to Instabul 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 Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogaribus Citylines 40 / ...
8h₺750–1,900Train
- Take the train from Sofia to Halkalıtrain
12h 45m₺825–4,227Drive 541.4 km
- Drive from Sofia to Instabulcar 541.4 km
4h 53m₺4,218–6,092Fly to Istanbul, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SOF - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Yenikapitrain
- Take the train from Yenikapi to Esenler Otogartrain
5h 17m₺4,361–12,962Bus via Летище София
- Take the bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogaribus Arda-Tur
8h 57m₺4,094Bus via Bayrampaşa
- Take the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşabus
10h 40m₺1,400–2,250Fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Metro
- Fly from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane SOF - SAW
- Take the train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesitrain
5h 18m₺6,296–18,318
Sofia to Instabul by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sofia to Instabul is to bus which costs 750 ₺ - 1.900 ₺ and takes 8h.
The fastest way to get from Sofia to Instabul is to drive which takes 4h 53m and costs 4.200 ₺ - 6.500 ₺.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Sofia Serdica Bus Station station and arriving at Istanbul Büyük Otogari. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 8h.
No, there is no direct train from Sofia to Instabul. However, there are services departing from Sofia and arriving at Esenler Otogar via Halkali and Yenikapi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 45m.
The distance between Sofia and Instabul is 562 km. The road distance is 541.4 km.
The best way to get from Sofia to Instabul without a car is to bus which takes 8h and costs 750 ₺ - 1.900 ₺.
The bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari takes 8h including transfers and departs every four hours.
Sofia to Instabul bus services, operated by Citylines, depart from Sofia Serdica Bus Station.
Sofia to Instabul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), depart from Sofia station.
The best way to get from Sofia to Instabul is to bus which takes 8h and costs 750 ₺ - 1.900 ₺. Alternatively, you can train, which costs 800 ₺ - 4.300 ₺ and takes 12h 45m.
What companies run services between Sofia, Bulgaria and Instabul, Turkey?
Citylines operates a bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari 3 times a day. Tickets cost ₺1,700–2,400 and the journey takes 8h. Five other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Turkish Railways (TCDD) operates a train from Sofia to Halkalı once daily. Tickets cost ₺750–4,140 and the journey takes 11h 49m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺4,200–13,000
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ₺5,000–16,000
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,100–14,000
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
Train from Sofia to Halkalı
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–4,140
- Website
- Turkish Railways (TCDD)
- Double Room
- ₺2,298
- Single Room
- ₺4,140
- Four Person Room
- ₺2,020
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Yenikapi
- Ave. Duration
- 18 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Yenikapi to Esenler Otogar
- Ave. Duration
- 14 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺1,700–2,400
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,500–3,900
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- Kamil Koç
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺750–1,100
- Schedules at
- Kamil Koç
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,057
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,066
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,900
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Sofia Serdica Bus Station to Istanbul Büyük Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 54m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,200–1,900
- Website
- Huntur
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- MetroTurizm
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bayrampaşa
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺1,400–2,250
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- ₺1,400–2,100
Want to know more about travelling around Türkiye
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 guideBooking & Getting There
Sofia to Instabul bus services, operated by Citylines, arrive at Istanbul Büyük Otogari station.
Sofia to Instabul train services, operated by Turkish Railways (TCDD), arrive at Halkalı station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sofia to Instabul is 541 km. It takes approximately 4h 53m to drive from Sofia to Instabul.
Book your Sofia to Instabul bus tickets online with Omio, Distribusion and FlixBus.
There are 4294+ hotels available in Instabul.