The cheapest and fastest buses from Athens to Sofia
Cheapest price
€49
Average price
€56
Fastest journey
11 h 30 m
Average duration
12 h 17 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
525 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Athens to Sofia is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Athens to Sofia will cost around €56 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €49.
Of the 3 buses that leave Athens for Sofia on Mon, Aug 03, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Aug 03 the direct buses cover the 525 km distance in an average of 12 h 17 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 11 h 30 m .
On Mon, Aug 03 the slowest buses will take 12 h 45 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.
FlixBus5:35 PM12h35Athens, Lagoumitzi / Ilia Iliou (Αθήνα, Λαγουμιτζή / Ηλία Ηλιού)6:10 AMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)€491One-way0 transfers
8:15 AM12h45Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη)9:00 PMSofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика)€601One-way0 transfers
6:00 PM11h30Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη)5:30 AMSofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика)€601One-way0 transfers
6:00 PM11h30Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη)5:30 AMSofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика)€601One-way0 transfers
FlixBus5:35 PM12h35Athens, Lagoumitzi / Ilia Iliou (Αθήνα, Λαγουμιτζή / Ηλία Ηλιού)6:10 AMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)€491One-way0 transfers
8:15 AM12h45Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη)9:00 PMSofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика)€601One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Athens to Sofia
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Athens to Sofia among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €40. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 39m. 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 €40, and a flight costs an average of €75.
Distance: 525 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight |
|---|---|
€58 Average price Cheapest | €219 Average price |
12h 38m Average total duration 12h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 39m Average total duration Fastest 2h 39m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.6 - 3.1kg 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.
Live departures
Athens to Sofia bus times
The table below shows live departures for Athens to Sofia buses for tomorrow, Monday, August 3. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:15 AM Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη) | 12h45 | 9:00 PM Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 5:35 PM Athens, Lagoumitzi / Ilia Iliou (Αθήνα, Λαγουμιτζή / Ηλία Ηλιού) | 12h35 | 6:10 AM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 6:00 PM Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη) | 11h30 | 5:30 AM Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика) | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Athens to Sofia by bus or flight
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.
Aug 02
Aug 03
Aug 04
Aug 05
Aug 06
Aug 07
Aug 08
Aug 09
Aug 10
Aug 11
Aug 12
Aug 13
Aug 14
Aug 15
Aug 16
Aug 17
Aug 18
Aug 19
Aug 20
Aug 21
Aug 22
Why should you book Athens to Sofia buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Union Ivkoni International?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Union Ivkoni International, but also compare tickets for the likes of City Lines, Infobus, ArdaTur or Euroticket to find the best option for your trip from Athens to Sofia.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Union Ivkoni International with all available travel options, which are bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Athens to Sofia.
Why book with Omio over Checkmybus, Wanderu or Busbud?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of City Lines, Infobus, ArdaTur or Euroticket to find the best option for your trip from Athens to Sofia.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Athens to Sofia.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Athens to Sofia
Buses from Athens to Sofia run on average 3 times per day, taking around 12h 8m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €40 if you book in advance.
There are 3 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 04:00, the last at 23:44. The fastest bus covers the 525 km distance in 10h 50m.
Distance 525 km |
Average bus duration 12h 8m |
Cheapest ticket price €40 |
Buses per day 3 |
Direct buses 3 |
Fastest bus 10h 50m |
First bus 4:00 AM |
Last bus 11:44 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 56 days |
Bus providers: Union Ivkoni International, City Lines, Infobus, ArdaTur, Euroticket, FlixBus from Athens to SofiaYou can travel by bus between Athens to Sofia with Union Ivkoni International, City Lines, Infobus, ArdaTur, Euroticket, FlixBus for as low as €40. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
City Lines
Infobus
FlixBus
Union Ivkoni International
ArdaTur
Euroticket
FAQs: Bus from Athens to Sofia
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Athens to Sofia by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Sofia, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- City Lines
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Accessible restrooms.
- Infobus
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Transport for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Union Ivkoni International
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Service animals allowed.
- City Lines
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours incur a 20% fee.
- Infobus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a partial refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee.
- Union Ivkoni International
- You can cancel your ticket up to 30 minutes before departure for a full refund in the form of a travel credit.
- City Lines
- One carry-on bag up to 8kg (55x35x25) and one checked bag up to 25kg (70x50x30).
- Infobus
- One carry-on bag up to 5kg (40x20x25) and one checked bag up to 20kg (50x30x80).
- Union Ivkoni International
- One carry-on bag up to 25 lbs and one checked bag up to 50 lbs.
- City Lines
- 10€ per additional bag up to 25 kg.
- Infobus
- 10€ per additional bag.
- Union Ivkoni International
- 10 USD per additional bag.
- City Lines
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets must be leashed and muzzled.
- Infobus
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets may require a separate ticket.
- Euroticket
- Small pets (under 6kg) in carriers (max 45x30x25cm) travel free on some routes, larger dogs require a ticket and must be leashed and muzzled, but pets are not allowed on trains to and from London, between Brussels and Lille, or on Eurostar Sun and Snow routes.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Athens to Sofia
Most Athens to Sofia buses use the Athens (Αθήνα) to София, (Sofia) station pair, with some services arriving at Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика). Use this guide to compare Athens and Sofia bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Getting to Athina, Platia Karaizkaki (Αθήνα, Πλατεία Καραϊσκάκη) from Athens city centre
Getting to Athens Chiou from Athens city centre
Getting to София, (Sofia) from Sofia city centre
Getting to Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика) from Sofia city centre
Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика) is 1 km from Sofia city centre. Public transport options include:
Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика) bus station facilities and services
Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food and drink
Food options include: Cafeteria Serdika (in the station), Bistro Bulgaria (0.2 km), Sofia Grill House (0.5 km).
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика).
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika (София, Автогара Сердика): Elevators, ramps.
Getting to София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) from Sofia city centre
More options for your journey from Athens to Sofia
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

