How to get from Ankara to Sofia
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Ankara to Sofia. The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes 5h 25m, not counting the trip to and from the airports. The two cities are about 857 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
The lowest we recorded in the last 14 days was €44, on Sat, Sep 5.
This fare comes from a search on August 21, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
857 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €125Checked Sep 19 | 15h2 transfers | See Flight details |
| Bus | €61Reading date not recorded | 17h 30m1 transfer | See Bus details |
- Flight€125Checked Sep 1915h · 2 transfersSee Flight details
- Bus€61Reading date not recorded17h 30m · 1 transferSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Ankara to Sofia: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Ankara Esenboğa Airport → Sabiha Gökçen Airportflight
AJet·1h 10m - 2Sabiha Gökçen Airport → Sofia Airportflight
Pegasus Airlines·1h 20m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateWhich date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Flight calendar
Flight prices by day, Ankara to Sofia
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€81Departure and arrival
Operators seen on these journeys
AJetAnkara Esenboğa Airport-Sabiha Gökçen AirportSee live options and dates →Pegasus AirlinesSabiha Gökçen Airport-Sofia AirportSee live options and dates →
FlixBusAnkara-İstanbul Alibeyköy, Ankara-İstanbul Esenler Otogarı, İstanbul Esenler Otogarı-SofiaBook →
Havaist + Metroİstanbul Alibeyköy-Istanbul AirportBook →
Turkish AirlinesIstanbul Airport-Sofia AirportSee live options and dates →On this route you travel with AJet, Pegasus Airlines, FlixBus, Havaist + Metro, Turkish Airlines; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Ankara to Sofia works
Start with a AJet flight from Ankara to Istanbul, about 1h 10m. Transfer in Istanbul and continue by Pegasus Airlines flight on to Sofia (1h 20m). In total it's roughly €83 over 5h 25m, 1 transfer.
Ankara to Sofia: common questions
How long does it take to get from Ankara to Sofia?
The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes about 5h 25m. Getting to and from the airports is on top of that.
How far is Sofia from Ankara?
About 857 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Ankara to Sofia cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €83. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Are there direct flights from Ankara to Sofia?
The most useful route we found connects: 1 transfer, 5h 25m in total. On flexible dates a live search sometimes turns up a nonstop.
How long is the flight from Ankara to Sofia?
About 5h 25m, and that is the flight itself. Getting to and from the airports is on top of it.
What are the airport codes for Ankara and Sofia?
Ankara is ESB and Sofia is SOF, so this route is usually written ESB to SOF.
Which operators run Ankara to Sofia?
On this route you travel with AJet, Pegasus Airlines, FlixBus, Havaist + Metro, Turkish Airlines.
What is the cheapest way to get from Ankara to Sofia?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Ankara to Sofia
- how to get from Ankara to Sofia
- Ankara to Sofia travel time
- Ankara to Sofia distance
- cheapest way from Ankara to Sofia
- Ankara to Sofia flight time
- flights from Ankara to Sofia
- Ankara Sofia direct flights
- ESB to SOF
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: AJet, Pegasus Airlines
Route calculated: 28 Aug 2026
Prices checked: 21 Aug 2026