The cheapest and fastest buses from Istanbul to Sofia
Cheapest price
€34
Average price
€37
Fastest journey
8 h 30 m
Average duration
8 h 54 m
Buses per day
6
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 €37 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €34.
Of the 6 buses that leave Istanbul for Sofia on Mon, Nov 17, 6 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Nov 17 the direct buses cover the 502 km distance in an average of 8 h 54 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 8 h 30 m .
On Mon, Nov 17 the slowest buses will take 9 h 10 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.
6261812
6249138
6249138
6263382
FlixBus
FlixBus
6249138
6263382
FlixBus
6249138Travel 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 prices starting from €20. 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 €20, and a flight costs an average of €37.
Distance: 502 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight |
|---|---|
€32 Average price Cheapest | €192 Average price |
9h 52m Average total duration 9h 22m 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.
Live departures
Istanbul to Sofia bus times
The table below shows live departures for Istanbul to Sofia buses for tomorrow, Monday, November 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 8:00 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 8h30 | 4:30 PM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 transfersDirect | |
6263382 | 11:30 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 9h00 | 8:30 PM София, (Sofia) | 0 transfersDirect | |
6261812 | 5:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 10h31 | 3:31 AM София, (Sofia) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 9h00 | 5:00 AM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 transfersDirect | |
6249138 | 8:30 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 9h10 | 5:40 AM София, (Sofia) | 0 transfersDirect | |
6249138 | 8:30 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 8h50 | 5:20 AM Sofiya Airport - Terminal T1 | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Istanbul 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.
Nov 17
Nov 18
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Journey information
Overview: Bus from Istanbul to Sofia
Buses from Istanbul to Sofia run on average 6 times per day, taking around 9h 22m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €20 if you book in advance.
There are 6 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:20, the last at 23:30. The fastest bus covers the 502 km distance in 7h 50m.
Distance 502 km |
Average bus duration 9h 22m |
Cheapest ticket price €20 |
Buses per day 6 |
Direct buses 6 |
Fastest bus 7h 50m |
First bus 00:20 |
Last bus 23:30 |
Bus providers: ArdaTur, City Lines, FlixBus, Infobus, Citylines, Alpar Turizm, Kamil Koc from Istanbul to SofiaYou can travel by bus between Istanbul to Sofia with ArdaTur, City Lines, FlixBus, Infobus, Citylines, Alpar Turizm, Kamil Koc for as low as €20. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
City Lines
FlixBus
Infobus
ArdaTur
Citylines
Alpar Turizm
Kamil Koc
FAQs: Bus from Istanbul to Sofia
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Istanbul 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.

When departing from Istanbul, you have various coach station options to start your route from including Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) and Istanbul, Esenler Otogarı (Metro Bulgaria). When arriving in Sofia, you can end your trip in coach stations like Sofia, Centralna Avtogara (София, Централна Автогара) and София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2).
Passengers board the coach 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 coach 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:
Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Istanbul to Sofia
- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafeteria Terminal (in the station)
- Kebab Express (0.2 km)
- Simit Sarayı (0.3 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Metro: M1A Bus: 83O, 91E, 97G
- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafeteria Alibeyköy (in the station)
- Kebab House (0.2 km)
- Simit Sarayı (0.5 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 36CE, 49T, 49Z Metro: M7
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 213, 305, 404 Metro: M2 Train: Sofia Central Station
- 00:00-23:59
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafeteria Serdika (in the station)
- Bistro Bulgaria (0.2 km)
- Sofia Grill House (0.5 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 213, 305, 404 Metro: M1, M2 Train: Sofia Central Station
Most popular bus connections from Istanbul
More options for your journey from Istanbul to Sofia
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