Cheapest price
$42
Average price
$47
Fastest journey
8 h 30 m
Average duration
9 h
Buses per day
3
Distance
502 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Istanbul to Sofia is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Istanbul to Sofia will cost around $47 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $42.
Of the 3 buses that leave Istanbul for Sofia on Wed, Jul 09, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jul 09 the direct buses cover the 502 km distance in an average of 9 h but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 8 h 30 m .
On Wed, Jul 09 the slowest buses will take 9 h 31 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Istanbul to Sofia among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €30. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 36m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the bus is your best bet as it emits only 0.5 - 1.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €30, and a flight costs an average of €41.
Distance: 311 miles (502 km)
Most popular Bus | Flight |
---|---|
€31 Average price Cheapest | €208 Average price |
9h 49m Average total duration 9h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 36m Average total duration Fastest 2h 36m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:00 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 8h30 | 4:30 PM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 5:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 9h31 | 2:31 AM София, (Sofia) | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 8:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 9h00 | 5:00 AM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Distance 311 miles (502 km) |
Average bus duration 9h 19m |
Cheapest ticket price $38 (€30) |
Buses per day 7 |
Direct buses 7 |
Fastest bus 9h 0m |
First bus 09:00 |
Last bus 23:00 |
Arda Tur, Eurolines Deutschland and City Lines buses will get you to Sofia from Istanbul from $34 (€27). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best bus times and tickets for your trip.
FlixBus is one of the most popular low-cost bus companies in Europe. Founded in Germany, FlixBus has expanded its services throughout Europe and even to the United States, giving travelers in both continents the option to take a long-distance bus at an affordable price. FlixBus also operates overnight buses on select routes throughout Europe. FlixBus offers only the Standard ticket for all its routes, which allows you to bring one carry-on bag and one checked bag per person. Additional fees apply for bringing extra luggage and making specific seat reservations, such as if you want to book an Extra Seat, Table Seat or the Panorama Seat. Standard amenities onboard include free Wi-Fi, power outlets to charge your phone, tablet or laptop during long bus journeys, extra legroom, luggage space and toilets.
Bus information from Istanbul to Sofia with FlixBus:
When departing from Istanbul, you have various bus station options to start your journey from including Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) and Istanbul, Esenler Otogarı (Metro Bulgaria). When arriving in Sofia, you can end your trip in bus stations like Sofia, Centralna Avtogara (София, Централна Автогара) and София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2).
Passengers board the bus most frequently from Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler), which is located around 4.8 miles (7.8 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the bus at Sofia, Centralna Avtogara (София, Централна Автогара), located 1.3 miles (2.1 km) away from the city centre.
To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Istanbul to Sofia, follow these tips:
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