Istanbul to Sofia

Istanbul to Sofia

Istanbul
Sofia
Sun, Jun 14
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2 Passengers
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Istanbul to Sofia Destination Reviews

MP
Martyn P
2 hours late arrival. No excuse. Road conditions were fine, customs and passport control no busier than expected. So, advertised journey time was a blatant lie to sell tickets. Not good enough. Never again.
Istanbul to Sofia, Bus Standard 2X1, Luks Yonca Turizm, Sep 22, 2025
A
Anonymous
Quick and efficient bus trip. Staff were very nice and we were provided with a snack and water. The bus left on time and we got to Sofia very early, like almost 3hrs early!! Getting to Sofia at 3:45am when it was meant to be 6am.
Istanbul to Sofia, Bus Standard AC, Domino Line (Domino Line), Oct 31, 2023
M
Martin
Don't use this company. 11 hours trip, okay, we waited 1 hour on the Turkish-Bulgarian border. In the bus it was too hot. Driver also decided to stop 2 times to smoke but this was not enough for him. Alongside the Turkish oriental music we were made to listen through the whole trip, we were also surprised from the cigarette smoke. Yes, the second driver lit his cigarette two times. He couldn't wait for the next stop. Do you recognise yourself, driver? If, not still, it was the one missing 4 front teeth. Not to mention, none of the 3 Arda Tur drivers/employees knew any other language than Turkish.
Istanbul to Sofia, Bus Standard AC, Arda Tur (Arda Tur), Mar 19, 2023
JS
Jonathan S
Efficient journey. Driver needs to publicise WIFI password and keep passengers updated in English in regards to timings off toilet breaks. Comfortable seats but not tall enough for tall people. Hurt my neck sleeping. Overall quite satisfied. However the timing is bad. Would prefer to set off later and not arrive at such an awkward hour when nothing is open.
Istanbul to Sofia, Bus Standard 2X2, Alpar Turizm, Aug 13, 2022
4.4
32 customer reviews
5
59%
4
28%
3
0%
2
13%
1
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Istanbul to Sofia Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
00:10
12:10
$276.72
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
00:30
08:40
$130.54
Flight
Ajet
Economy
01:00
08:40
$130.54
Flight
Turkish Airlines
Economy
01:30
08:40
$151.34
Flight
FlyDubai
Economy
02:10
14:25
$604.74
Flight
Air Serbia
Economy
04:20
15:35
$125.92
Flight
Air Serbia
Economy
05:20
16:30
$159.98
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
05:45
11:15
$186.57
Flight
Lufthansa
Economy
06:10
17:50
$633.11
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
06:30
12:10
$264.35
Flight
Tarom
Economy
06:50
19:15
$365.47
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
07:15
12:10
$274.66
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
07:40
16:40
$259.36
Bus
Metro Turizm
Standard 2X2
08:00
19:00
$35.55
Flight
Air Serbia
Economy
08:20
16:30
$158.27
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
08:50
11:25
$229.32
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
09:10
00:30
$149.03
Flight
Pegasus Airlines
Economy
09:30
10:50
$64.69
Flight
Ajet
Economy
09:55
19:40
$82.02
Flight
Tarom
Economy
10:15
12:30
$279.57

How to get from Istanbul to Sofia

When you want to get from Istanbul to Sofia, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Flight. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Flight ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Bus ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 63.57. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 49.45.

How far is Istanbul from Sofia?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Istanbul to Sofia. Your trip will be a total of 346 miles (556 km). The flying distance is 409 miles (657 km).

How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Sofia?

The travel time from Istanbul to Sofia can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 2 to 29 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Istanbul to Sofia?

The cost of the trip from Istanbul to Sofia varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Citylines: travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 49.45 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Bus - a one-way Bus ticket can cost as much as USD 63.57.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Istanbul to Sofia:

  • Bus tickets - USD 49.44 to USD 63.58;
  • Plane tickets - USD 122.93 to USD 802.47;

How many trips per day are there between Istanbul and Sofia?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Buses start plying the route from 09:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 23:00. There are 4 available bus trips every day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Istanbul to Sofia. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 122.93.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Istanbul to Sofia

Ajet, LOT Polish Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines

Buses

Taking a bus from Istanbul to Sofia is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
    .

The most popular transport from Istanbul to Sofia

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Istanbul to Sofia? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 100% decided to go for a bus.

Transportation from Istanbul to Sofia

Facts about the transport from Istanbul to Sofia

Cheapest Transport$50
Fastest Transport1h 15m
Earliest Departure1:45 AM
Latest Departure11:00 PM
Departures per day4
Distance556 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAjet, Citylines, LOT Polish Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines