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Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Istanbul to Sofia
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 an average ticket price of $38 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 19m. 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 $38, while a flight costs an average of $430.
Distance: 311 miles (502 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$38 Average price Cheapest | $430 Average price | $105 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
9h 21m Average total duration 8h 51m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 19m Average total duration Fastest 3h 19m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 25m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Istanbul to Sofia:
A bus is $392 (€329) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Istanbul to Sofia costing on average $430 (€361).
Other travel options to Sofia take longer:
Bus takes on average 9h 21m.
Tickets start at around $38 (€32) compared to roughly $105 (€88) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $67 (€56). The journey takes 8h 51m versus 5h 25m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
Travel optionsfrom Istanbul to Sofia
How to get from Istanbul to Sofia by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Istanbul to Sofia is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 09:00 PM9h00Istanbul6:00 AMSofia$331One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- 09:00 PM9h00Istanbul6:00 AMSofia$331One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- TK10311:45 PM1h15Istanbul Airport3:00 PMSofia Airport$3001One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 762018211:30 PM8h10Istanbul7:40 AMSofia$371One-way0 transfers
- 76074912:00 PM8h00Istanbul10:00 PMSofia$381One-way0 transfers
FlixBus11:00 AM8h30Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)7:30 PMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)$451One-way0 transfers
PC27111:25 AM1h20Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport12:45 PMSofia Airport$1081One-way0 transfers- TK10296:55 PM1h25Istanbul Airport8:20 PMSofia Airport$3001One-way0 transfers
LH1743 · LH17023:45 AM8h25Istanbul Airport12:10 PMSofia Airport$3191One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Compare bus and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
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FAQs: Travel from Istanbul 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 Istanbul to Sofia.
This is compared to other travel options from Istanbul to Sofia:
A bus is $392 (€329) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Istanbul to Sofia costing on average $430 (€361).
Other travel options to Sofia take longer:
Bus takes on average 9h 21m.
- Around 14 flights per day.
- Around 5 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Istanbul and Sofia as scheduled services by bus and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Istanbul Airport and arrive in Sofia Airport.
- Buses mostly depart from Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) and arrive in Sofia (София).
- Travel with Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, Air Serbia, tarom, Lot Polish Airlines, Aegean Airlines, CitizenPlane, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways to go to Sofia by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, ArdaTur, City Lines, Infobus, Mybus Sofia to go to Sofia by bus.
- 4 direct flights per day with Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, CitizenPlane.
- 5 direct buses per day with FlixBus, ArdaTur, City Lines, Infobus, Mybus Sofia.
Travelling from Istanbul to Sofia: related information
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