The cheapest and fastest coaches from Sofia to Istanbul
Cheapest price
30S$
Average price
35S$
Fastest journey
8 h
Average duration
8 h 52 m
Buses per day
5
Distance
502 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Sofia to Istanbul is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Sofia to Istanbul will cost around 35S$ if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only 30S$.
Of the 5 buses that leave Sofia for Istanbul every day 5 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 52 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 8 h .
The slowest buses will take 10 h 16 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.
710113111:59 PM10h16Sofia (София)10:15 AMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)30 S$1One-way0 changes
07:00 PM9h05Sofia (София)4:05 AMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)33 S$1One-way0 changes
01:30 PM8h30Sofia (София)10:00 PMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)37 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 PM8h00София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)7:00 AMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)38 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 AM8h30София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)7:30 PMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)38 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 PM8h00София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)7:00 AMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)38 S$1One-way0 changes
FlixBus11:00 AM8h30София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2)7:30 PMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)38 S$1One-way0 changes
01:30 PM8h30Sofia (София)10:00 PMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)37 S$1One-way0 changes
07:00 PM9h05Sofia (София)4:05 AMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)33 S$1One-way0 changes
710113111:59 PM10h16Sofia (София)10:15 AMIstanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler)30 S$1One-way0 changes
Travel Information
Compare coach and flight for Sofia to Istanbul
Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Sofia to Istanbul among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from 30S$. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 4h 15m. 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$, and a flight costs an average of 50S$.
Distance: 502 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Coach | Flight |
|---|---|
33S$ Average Price Cheapest | 136S$ Average Price |
7h 17m Average total duration 6h 47m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 15m Average total duration Fastest 4h 15m 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 coaches for today, Monday, 15 June. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 11:00 AM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 8h30 | 7:30 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 changesdirect | |
7084947 | 1:30 PM Sofia (София) | 8h30 | 10:00 PM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 changesdirect | |
0 | 7:00 PM Sofia (София) | 9h05 | 4:05 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 11:00 PM София, Централна Aвтогара 2 (Sofia, Centralna Avtogara 2) | 8h00 | 7:00 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 changesdirect | |
0 | 11:59 PM Sofia (София) | 10h16 | 10:15 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 0 changesdirect |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Sofia to Istanbul 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.
15 Jun
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Why should you book Sofia to Istanbul coaches with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs ArdaTur?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for ArdaTur, but also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus, City Lines, Infobus or Citylines to find the best option for your trip from Sofia to Istanbul.
- 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 ArdaTur with all available travel options, which are bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Sofia to Istanbul.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Sofia to Istanbul
Buses from Sofia to Istanbul run on average 5 times per day, taking around 6h 47m. 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 6h 59m.
Distance 502 km |
Average bus duration 6h 47m |
Cheapest ticket price 30S$ |
Buses per day 5 |
Direct buses 5 |
Fastest bus 6h 59m |
First bus 12:20 AM |
Last bus 11:30 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 70 days |
Bus providers: ArdaTur, FlixBus, City Lines, Infobus, Citylines, Huntur, Luks Yonca from Sofia to IstanbulYou can travel by bus between Sofia to Istanbul with ArdaTur, FlixBus, City Lines, Infobus, Citylines, Huntur, Luks Yonca 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
Huntur
Luks Yonca
FAQs: Sofia to Istanbul coach
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Sofia to Istanbul 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 Istanbul, 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 Sofia and Istanbul
- 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
More options for your journey from Sofia to Istanbul
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

