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Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Sofia to Istanbul
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Sofia to Istanbul among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €29. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 7m. 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 €29, and a flight costs an average of €45.
Distance: 311 miles (502 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight |
|---|---|
€32 Average price Cheapest | €158 Average price |
9h 1m Average total duration 8h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 7m Average total duration Fastest 2h 7m 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.
Travel optionsfrom Sofia to Istanbul
How to get from Sofia to Istanbul by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Sofia to Istanbul is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
0Cheapest
6481273Fastest
PC272Other options
FlixBus
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FAQs: Travel from Sofia to Istanbul
Travel to Istanbul 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 Sofia to Istanbul.
There are 2 options to travel from Sofia to Istanbul including taking a bus or flight.
The cheapest way to go to Istanbul from Sofia is by taking a bus, which costs on average $32 (€29).
This is compared to other ways of getting from Sofia to Istanbul:
Taking a bus costs $12 (€11) less than taking a flight, which costs on average $44 (€40) for the same trip.
The quickest way to travel between Sofia and Istanbul is by flight, which takes on average 1 h 15 min compared to other travel options that take longer:
Taking a bus requires on average 6 h 59 min of travel time.
The Sofia to Istanbul distance is around 311 miles (501 km).
The average frequency per day from Sofia to Istanbul is:
- 6 buses a day.
- Around 14 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your trip from Sofia to Istanbul as scheduled services by bus or flight can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Sofia to Istanbul:
- Buses mostly depart from Sofia, Centralna Avtogara (София, Централна Автогара) and arrive in Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler).
- Flights most often depart from Sofia at Sofia Airport and arrive in Istanbul at Istanbul Airport.
Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Sofia to Istanbul:
- You can travel to Istanbul from Sofia by bus with Arda Tur, City Lines, Infobus, FlixBus, Citylines or Alpar Turizm. You can find cheap tickets on Omio for $32 (€29) with FlixBus from Sofia to Istanbul.
- You can take a flight from Sofia to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Aegean Airlines or Air Serbia. Cheap tickets can be found for $44 (€40) with Pegasus Airlines from Sofia to Istanbul.
Yes, there are direct services available from Sofia to Istanbul with the following travel companies:
- 6 direct buses per day with Arda Tur, City Lines, Infobus, FlixBus, Citylines or Alpar Turizm.
- 3 direct flights per day with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus Airlines.
Direct services tend to save you time and add more convenience in getting you to Istanbul as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking your tickets to Istanbul from Sofia.
Travelling from Sofia to Istanbul: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
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