How to get from Istanbul to Sofya
- 503 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 3h 25m
- 1 train departures a day with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
3h 20m
1 transfer
Flight + Bus
€72
Cheapest
10h
1 transfer
Bus
€35
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 25 Sept 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Istanbul to Sofya. The most useful door-to-door route takes 3h 25m by flight, bus, 1 transfer. The two cities are about 503 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 €35, on Fri, Sep 25.
This fare comes from a search on September 25, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
503 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €59Checked Sep 25 | 3h 25m1 transfer | See Flight details |
| Train | €62Reading date not recorded | 15h 48mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €28Omio catalogue, Sep 26 | 10h1 transfer | See Bus details |
- Flight€59Checked Sep 253h 25m · 1 transferSee Flight details
- Train€62Reading date not recorded15h 48m · directSee Train details
- Bus€28Omio catalogue, Sep 2610h · 1 transferSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Istanbul to Sofya: 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.
- 1Sabiha Gökçen Airport → Sofia Airportflight
Pegasus Airlines·1h 20m - 2Sofia Airport → SofyabusAirport shuttle bus·35m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateDepartures from Istanbul to Sofya
TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. runs 1 scheduled departures a day, the first at 20:00 and the last at 20:00.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.train | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
- Bus· 7h 35m€28Book
Omio last refreshed these on Sat, Sep 26
Operators seen on these journeys
Pegasus AirlinesSabiha Gökçen Airport-Sofia AirportSee live options and dates →Airport shuttle busSofia Airport-SofyaSee live options and dates →
ArdaTurIstanbul-SofiaBook →
Turkish AirlinesIstanbul Airport-Sofia AirportSee live options and dates →
TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.Istanbul-SofyaBook →On this route you travel with Pegasus Airlines, Airport shuttle bus, ArdaTur, Turkish Airlines, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Istanbul to Sofya works
Start with a Pegasus Airlines flight from Istanbul to Sofia, about 1h 20m. Transfer in Sofia and continue by Airport shuttle bus bus on to Sofya (35 min). In total it's roughly €59 over 3h 25m, 1 transfer.
Istanbul to Sofya: common questions
How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Sofya?
The most useful route takes about 3h 25m by flight, bus, 1 transfer.
When is the first train from Istanbul to Sofya?
The first train with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. leaves at 20:00 and the last at 20:00, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Istanbul to Sofya?
1 a day with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş., between 20:00 and 20:00.
Is there a bus from Istanbul to Sofya?
Our route search found a bus option, but we hold no verified timetable for this route yet. Check the operator's own timetable for departure times.
How far is Sofya from Istanbul?
About 503 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Istanbul to Sofya cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €59. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Are there direct flights from Istanbul to Sofya?
The most useful route we found connects: 1 transfer, 3h 25m in total. On flexible dates a live search sometimes turns up a nonstop.
How long is the flight from Istanbul to Sofya?
Counting the whole door-to-door trip we measured about 3h 25m. About 1h 30m of that is waiting between legs.
Which operators run Istanbul to Sofya?
On this route you travel with Pegasus Airlines, Airport shuttle bus, ArdaTur, Turkish Airlines, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş..
Can you get from Istanbul to Sofya without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 7h 35m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Sofya?
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 Istanbul to Sofya
- how to get from Istanbul to Sofya
- Istanbul to Sofya travel time
- Istanbul to Sofya distance
- cheapest way from Istanbul to Sofya
- Istanbul to Sofya flight time
- flights from Istanbul to Sofya
- Istanbul Sofya direct flights
- Istanbul to Sofya by bus
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: Pegasus Airlines, Airport shuttle bus
Route calculated: 25 Sep 2026
Prices checked: 25 Sep 2026