The cheapest and fastest coaches from Istanbul to Sofia
Cheapest price
31S$
Average price
38S$
Fastest journey
8 h
Average duration
8 h 25 m
Buses per day
4
Distance
502 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Istanbul to Sofia is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Istanbul to Sofia will cost around 38S$ if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only 31S$.
Of the 4 buses that leave Istanbul for Sofia every day 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct buses cover the 502 km distance in an average of 8 h 25 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 8 h .
The slowest buses will take 9 h 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.
011:30 PM8h10Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)7:40 AMSofia (София)31 S$1One-way0 changes
02:00 PM8h00Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)10:00 PMSofia (София)32 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 PM9h00Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)8:00 AMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)44 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 AM8h30Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)7:30 PMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)44 S$1One-way0 changes
02:00 PM8h00Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)10:00 PMSofia (София)32 S$1One-way0 changes
011:30 PM8h10Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)7:40 AMSofia (София)31 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 AM8h30Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)7:30 PMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)44 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 PM9h00Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)8:00 AMСофия, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)44 S$1One-way0 changes
Travel Information
Compare coach and flight for Istanbul to Sofia
Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Istanbul to Sofia among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from 30S$. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 4h 40m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the coach is your best bet as it emits only 0.5 - 1.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of 30S$, and a flight costs an average of 54S$.
Distance: 502 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Coach | Flight |
|---|---|
33S$ Average Price Cheapest | 213S$ Average Price |
7h 42m Average total duration 7h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 40m Average total duration Fastest 4h 40m 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 coaches for today, Thursday, 18 June. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 11:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 9h00 | 8:00 AM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
7115972 | 11:30 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 8h10 | 7:40 AM Sofia (София) | 0 changesdirect | |
| Friday, 19 June | |||||
FlixBus | 11:00 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 8h30 | 7:30 PM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
0 | 2:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 8h00 | 10:00 PM Sofia (София) | 0 changesdirect | |
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 coach or flight
Compare coach 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.
18 Jun
19 Jun
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21 Jun
22 Jun
23 Jun
24 Jun
25 Jun
26 Jun
27 Jun
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30 Jun
01 Jul
02 Jul
03 Jul
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05 Jul
06 Jul
07 Jul
08 Jul
Why should you book Istanbul to Sofia coaches with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs FlixBus?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for FlixBus, but also compare tickets for the likes of ArdaTur, City Lines, Infobus or Citylines to find the best option for your trip from Istanbul 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 FlixBus with all available travel options, which are bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Istanbul to Sofia.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu, Trainline or Busbud?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Istanbul to Sofia.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Istanbul to Sofia
Buses from Istanbul to Sofia run on average 5 times per day, taking around 7h 12m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at 30S$ if you book in advance.
There are 5 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:20, the last at 23:30. The fastest coach covers the 502 km distance in 8h 10m.
Distance 502 km |
Average bus duration 7h 12m |
Cheapest ticket price 30S$ |
Buses per day 5 |
Direct buses 5 |
Fastest bus 8h 10m |
First bus 12:20 AM |
Last bus 11:30 PM |
Cheapest Month Sept |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 49 days |
Bus providers: FlixBus, ArdaTur, City Lines, Infobus, Citylines, Luks Yonca, Alpar Turizm, Kamil Koc from Istanbul to SofiaYou can travel by bus between Istanbul to Sofia with FlixBus, ArdaTur, City Lines, Infobus, Citylines, Luks Yonca, Alpar Turizm, Kamil Koc for as low as 30S$. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
City Lines
Infobus
ArdaTur
Citylines
Luks Yonca
Alpar Turizm
Kamil Koc
FAQs: Istanbul to Sofia coach
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Istanbul to Sofia by coach. 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 coach, 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.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- 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.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- 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).
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- City Lines
- 10€ per additional bag up to 25 kg.
- Infobus
- 10€ per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- 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.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Important Stations and Airports in Istanbul and 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
- 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
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

