How to travel from Athens to Sofia

Tue, Sep 29
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Travel Information

Compare bus and flight for Athens to Sofia

Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Athens to Sofia among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $64 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 15m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the bus is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.5 - 1.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $64, while a flight costs an average of $428.

Distance: 326 miles (525 km)

Compare flight with

Most popular
Flight
Bus
Driving

$428

Average price

$64

Average price

Cheapest

$238

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

5h 15m

Average total duration

Fastest

3h 15m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

12h 23m

Average total duration

11h 53m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

8h 43m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

1.6 - 3.1kg

CO2 emissions

0.5 - 1.3kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

-

CO2 emissions

Turkish Airlines

Most popular airline

Infobus

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Athens to Sofia is a bus with an average price of $64 (€53).

This is compared to other travel options from Athens to Sofia:

A bus is $364 (€301) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Athens to Sofia costing on average $428 (€354).

The fastest way to travel from Athens to Sofia is by flight with an average journey time of 5h 15m.

Other travel options to Sofia take longer:

Bus takes on average 12h 23m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Athens and Sofia including taking a bus and flight.
We recommend using the flight as it is the most popular way to get from Athens to Sofia among Omio's users.
Take the flight. It's the quicker way to make this trip, and the time saved usually justifies the slightly higher cost.

You'll arrive about 5h 28m sooner (3h 15m by flight vs 8h 43m by car). Tickets start at around $428 (€354) compared to roughly $238 (€196) in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you get time back and avoid a long drive.

Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group, want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.

Travel options
from Athens to Sofia

How to get from Athens to Sofia by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Athens to Sofia is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • Euroticket
    6:30 AM11h20
    Athens
    5:50 PMSofia
    $691One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • Euroticket
    6:30 AM11h20
    Athens
    5:50 PMSofia
    $691One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • Austrian AirlinesOS802 · OS775
    1:35 PM4h35
    Athens International Airport
    6:10 PMSofia Airport
    $3041One-way
    1 transfer

Other options

  • LikeBus
    6:30 AM11h20
    Athens
    5:50 PMSofia
    $691One-way
    0 transfers
  • LikeBus0
    6:30 AM11h20
    Athens
    5:50 PMSofia
    $711One-way
    0 transfers
  • Union Ivkoni International
    8:15 AM12h45
    Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη)
    9:00 PMSofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика)
    $731One-way
    0 transfers
  • LufthansaLH1751+Lufthansa City AirlinesLH4158
    12:45 PM5h55
    Athens International Airport
    6:40 PMSofia Airport
    $3031One-way
    1 transfer
  • LufthansaLH1757+Lufthansa City AirlinesLH4158
    6:00 AM12h40
    Athens International Airport
    6:40 PMSofia Airport
    $3031One-way
    1 transfer
  • Austrian AirlinesOS802 · OS779
    1:35 PM10h20
    Athens International Airport
    11:55 PMSofia Airport
    $3041One-way
    1 transfer

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Athens to Sofia

Travel to Sofia easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Athens to Sofia.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between Athens and Sofia including taking a bus and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Athens to Sofia is a bus with an average price of $64 (€53).

This is compared to other travel options from Athens to Sofia:

A bus is $364 (€301) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Athens to Sofia costing on average $428 (€354).

The fastest way to travel from Athens to Sofia is by flight with an average journey time of 5h 15m.

Other travel options to Sofia take longer:

Bus takes on average 12h 23m.

The distance from Athens to Sofia is approximately 326 miles (525 km).
The average frequency per day from Athens to Sofia is:
  • Around 24 flights per day.
  • Around 3 buses per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Athens and Sofia as scheduled services by bus and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Athens to Sofia:
  • Flights mostly depart from Athens International Airport and arrive in Sofia Airport.
  • Buses mostly depart from Athens (Αθήνα) and arrive in Sofia (София).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Athens to Sofia, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with CitizenPlane, Swiss, Qatar Airways, Austrian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Serbia, tarom, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Malta MedAir, Bulgaria Air, Turkish Airlines, Lot Polish Airlines, ITA, British Airways, Aegean Airlines to go to Sofia by flight.
  • Travel with LikeBus, FlixBus, ArdaTur, LikeBus, Infobus, Euroticket, Union Ivkoni International to go to Sofia by bus.
Yes, there are direct services available from Athens to Sofia with the following travel companies:
  • 2 direct flights per day with CitizenPlane, Bulgaria Air, Aegean Airlines.
  • 3 direct buses per day with LikeBus, FlixBus, ArdaTur, LikeBus, Infobus, Euroticket, Union Ivkoni International.
Omio customers who travel from Athens to Sofia often also extend their vacation to go to Plovdiv, Istanbul, Bucharest, Thessaloniki, Belgrade. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Sofia and these popular destinations at a great price.
Most travelers need at least three days in Sofia to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.
In Sofia, you can enjoy a leisurely walk or outdoor activities in Borisova Gradina, visit the Sofia Zoo to see a wide variety of animals, and learn about the city's past at the Sofia History Museum. Explore ancient Roman ruins at the Serdika Archaeological Complex or experience world-class performances at the Sofia Opera and Ballet. Don't miss the stunning Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, vibrant Vitosha Boulevard, and the National Palace of Culture. Visit the Boyana Church for its medieval frescoes and explore the Sofia Central Mineral Baths, a historic site with beautiful architecture.
Typically, spending 2 to 3 days in Sofia allows visitors to explore its main attractions, such as Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Vitosha Boulevard, and the National Palace of Culture, while also enjoying the local cuisine and culture.
HomeTravelTravel to SofiaHow to travel from Athens to Sofia

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