The cheapest and fastest buses from Sofia to Istanbul
Cheapest price
€34
Average price
€36
Fastest journey
6 h 59 m
Average duration
7 h 48 m
Buses per day
7
Distance
502 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Sofia to Istanbul is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Sofia to Istanbul will cost around €36 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €34.
Of the 7 buses that leave Sofia for Istanbul on Mon, Nov 17, 7 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 7 h 48 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 6 h 59 m .
On Mon, Nov 17 the slowest buses will take 8 h 25 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.
6261625
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0
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6260223
6261625
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FlixBus
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6260223Travel 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: 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.
Live departures
Sofia to Istanbul bus times
The table below shows live departures for Sofia to Istanbul buses for today, Sunday, November 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6260223 | 9:59 PM София, (Sofia) | 8h46 | 6:45 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
6260223 | 10:20 PM Sofiya Airport - Terminal T1 | 8h25 | 6:45 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Monday, November 17 | |||||
FlixBus | 9:00 AM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 8h30 | 5:30 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 11:30 AM София, (Sofia) | 7h30 | 7:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 5:00 PM София, (Sofia) | 8h05 | 1:05 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
6261625 | 8:00 PM София, (Sofia) | 6h59 | 2:59 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 9:00 PM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 8h00 | 5:00 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Sofia to Istanbul 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 16
Nov 17
Nov 18
Nov 19
Nov 20
Nov 21
Nov 22
Nov 23
Nov 24
Nov 25
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Nov 29
Nov 30
Dec 01
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Dec 06
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Sofia to Istanbul
Buses from Sofia to Istanbul run on average 5 times per day, taking around 8h 31m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €29 if you book in advance.
There are 5 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:20, the last at 23:30. The fastest bus covers the 502 km distance in 6h 59m.
Distance 502 km |
Average bus duration 8h 31m |
Cheapest ticket price €29 |
Buses per day 5 |
Direct buses 5 |
Fastest bus 6h 59m |
First bus 00:20 |
Last bus 23:30 |
Bus providers: City Lines, ArdaTur, Infobus, FlixBus, Citylines, Alpar Turizm, Kamil Koc from Sofia to IstanbulYou can travel by bus between Sofia to Istanbul with City Lines, ArdaTur, Infobus, FlixBus, Citylines, Alpar Turizm, Kamil Koc for as low as €29. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
City Lines
Infobus
FlixBus
ArdaTur
Citylines
Alpar Turizm
Kamil Koc
FAQs: Bus from Sofia to Istanbul
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Sofia to Istanbul 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 Istanbul, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

When departing from Sofia, you have various coach station options to start your route from including Sofia, Centralna Avtogara (София, Централна Автогара) and София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2). When arriving in Istanbul, you can end your route in coach stations like Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) and Istanbul, Esenler Otogarı (Metro Bulgaria).
Passengers board the coach most frequently from Sofia, Centralna Avtogara (София, Централна Автогара), which is located around 1.3 miles (2.1 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler), located 4.8 miles (7.8 km) away from the city centre.
To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Sofia to Istanbul, follow these tips:
Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Sofia to Istanbul
- 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
- 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
Most popular bus connections from Sofia
More options for your journey from Sofia to Istanbul
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