Bus and Coach from Sofia to Istanbul: Compare all prices

Compare all timetables for the bus from Sofia to Istanbul

Here is a selection of the cheapest bus trips from the schedule from Sofia to Istanbul from various bus operators like Arda Tur, Citylines or Metro Bulgaria for the next days.

today

£26

tomorrow

£25

Sunday

£26

Monday

£25

Tuesday

£25

Wednesday

£25

Thursday

£25

Cheapest bus trips today
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Citylines	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£26	A Bus from Citylines goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 05/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 06/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 05/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 06/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£27	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 05/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 05/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Arda Tur	8h 5m	19:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	04:05	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£27	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 05/12/2025 19:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 06/12/2025 04:05:00. 50 Economy ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 5m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 05/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 05/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m

Cheapest bus trips tomorrow
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Huntur	7h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	07:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£25	A Bus from Huntur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 06/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 07/12/2025 07:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £25 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Citylines	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£26	A Bus from Citylines goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 06/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 07/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£26	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 06/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 06/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 06/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 07/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 06/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 06/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m

Cheapest bus trips Sunday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Huntur	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£26	A Bus from Huntur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 07/12/2025 22:30:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 08/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£26	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 07/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 07/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 07/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 08/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 07/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 07/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Metro Bulgaria	9h 0m	09:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	19:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£34	A Bus from Metro Bulgaria goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 07/12/2025 09:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 07/12/2025 19:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £34 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 0m

Cheapest bus trips Monday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Huntur	7h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	07:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£25	A Bus from Huntur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 08/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 09/12/2025 07:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £25 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Citylines	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£26	A Bus from Citylines goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 08/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 09/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£26	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 08/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 08/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 08/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 09/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 08/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 08/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m

Cheapest bus trips Tuesday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Huntur	7h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	07:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£25	A Bus from Huntur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 09/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 10/12/2025 07:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £25 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Citylines	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£26	A Bus from Citylines goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 09/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 10/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 09/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 10/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£27	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 09/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 09/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 09/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 09/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m

Cheapest bus trips Wednesday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Huntur	7h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	07:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£25	A Bus from Huntur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 10/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 11/12/2025 07:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £25 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Citylines	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£26	A Bus from Citylines goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 10/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 11/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£26	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 10/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 10/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 10/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 11/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 10/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 10/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m

Cheapest bus trips Thursday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Citylines	8h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	08:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£25	A Bus from Citylines goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 11/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 12/12/2025 08:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £25 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m
Huntur	7h 30m	22:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	07:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Basic	£25	A Bus from Huntur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 11/12/2025 22:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 12/12/2025 07:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £25 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Arda Tur	7h 30m	13:30	Sofia	Central Coach Station	22:00	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£26	A Bus from Arda Tur goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 11/12/2025 13:30:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 11/12/2025 22:00:00. 50 Economy ticket for £26 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 30m
Alpar Turizm	7h 0m	22:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	06:00	Istanbul	Otogar Coach Station	Basic	£27	A Bus from Alpar Turizm goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 11/12/2025 22:00:00 to Otogar Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 12/12/2025 06:00:00. 50 Basic ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 0m
Kamil Koc	8h 30m	11:00	Sofia	Central Coach Station	20:30	Istanbul	Esenler Coach Station	Economy	£30	A Bus from Kamil Koc goes from Central Coach Station, Sofia (Bulgaria) at 11/12/2025 11:00:00 to Esenler Coach Station, Istanbul (Turkey) arriving at 11/12/2025 20:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £30 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 30m

Best Price Offer: The price for the cheapest coach from Sofia to Istanbul is £25 on 02/12/2025. Flexible travellers save on ticket prices.

Frequency of bus connections between Sofia and Istanbul

See here how frequent the connections between Sofia and Istanbul are, during different times and days of the week.

Saturday is the busiest day, with more than 24 daily coaches from Sofia to Istanbul. Sunday has instead the fewest connections, with only 12 daily coaches between Sofia and Istanbul.

The busiest time of the day is the Evening, with 81 coaches from Sofia to Istanbul, while Morning sees the fewest connections between Sofia and Istanbul, with 23 offers.

Facts about coaches from Sofia to Istanbul

Compare all providers like Arda Tur, Citylines and Metro Bulgaria that travel 20 times every day by bus from Sofia to Istanbul in one click! Book your bus ticket from Sofia to Istanbul starting from £25!

Cheapest Bus	£25
Fastest Bus	8h 0m
Earliest Coach	09:00
Latest Coach	23:59
Daily Bus Connections	20 Ø
Distance	504.7 km
Coach Companies	Arda Tur, Citylines, Metro Bulgaria, Kamil Koc, Huntur, Metro Turizm, Alpar Turizm and Panorama Trans

Cheapest coach connections from Sofia to Istanbul

Every day, 20 buses from 8 coach companies leave Sofia for Istanbul: in the table below, you will find the cheapest prices for a bus ticket for this route, starting from 05/12/2025 and for the following days.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday 01/12

Tuesday 02/12

Wednesday 03/12

Thursday 04/12

Friday 05/12

£26

Saturday 06/12

£26

Sunday 07/12

£26

Monday 08/12

£26

Tuesday 09/12

£25

Wednesday 10/12

£26

Thursday 11/12

£26

Friday 12/12

£25

Saturday 13/12

£26

Sunday 14/12

£26

Monday 15/12

£26

Tuesday 16/12

£25

Wednesday 17/12

£25

Thursday 18/12

£26

Friday 19/12

£26

Saturday 20/12

£26

Sunday 21/12

£26

Monday 22/12

£25

Tuesday 23/12

£26

Wednesday 24/12

£26

Thursday 25/12

£26

Friday 26/12

£26

Saturday 27/12

£25

Sunday 28/12

The cheapest time to travel from Sofia to Istanbul

See here on which day and which time of the day you can find the cheapest bus ticket from Sofia to Istanbul, for the next 30 days.

With a price starting from £25, Thursday is the cheapest day for a coach from Sofia to Istanbul. Sunday instead is the most expensive day with prices starting from £26.

Evening is the cheapest day time for bus tickets from Sofia to Istanbul, with £25. Morning is the most expensive time of the day with prices starting from £30.

How to save money travelling from Sofia to Istanbul

Travel can be expensive, but it doesn't need to be! Do you want to avoid paying a terrible price for your trip? Then follow these quick steps to save money:

Book the ticket from Sofia to Istanbul in advance! The earlier you book, the cheaper usually the price is. Also, you will be sure to have a place on the bus from Sofia to Istanbul, compared instead if you buy it at the last moment, or directly at the station.

If you can, avoid travelling at peak times. Instead of weekend, try travelling during the week. Travelling in the evening or at night it’s also cheaper, and later coaches from Sofia to Istanbul are also emptier.

Beloved bus companies from Sofia to Istanbul

These are the most booked bus companies between Sofia to Istanbul from our users.

Kamil Koc from Sofia to Istanbul

Here you will find the key facts about the Kamil Koc bus route Sofia to Istanbul:

Cheapest Price	£30
Fastest Coach	9h 0m
Earliest Coach	11:00
Last Coach	23:00
Daily Connections	2 Ø
Found on	04/12/2025

Arda Tur from Sofia to Istanbul

Here you will find the key facts about the Arda Tur bus route Sofia to Istanbul:

Cheapest Price	£26
Fastest Coach	8h 30m
Earliest Coach	13:30
Last Coach	23:59
Daily Connections	7 Ø
Found on	04/12/2025

Alpar Turizm from Sofia to Istanbul

Here you will find the key facts about the Alpar Turizm bus route Sofia to Istanbul:

Cheapest Price	£27
Fastest Coach	8h 0m
Earliest Coach	22:00
Last Coach	22:00
Daily Connections	1 Ø
Found on	04/12/2025

All bus stations and stops in Sofia and Istanbul

The map below shows you where to find all the bus stations in Sofia and Istanbul.

Central Coach Station

Knyagina Maria Luisa Boulevard 100

Bratya Miladinovi

Bus and Coach Station Zapad Bus Stop

Serdika

Knyaginya Maria Luiza 102

Aleko Hut Hotel

Alibeyköy Otogarı

Güzeltepe, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Blv 18

Dudullu Coach Station

Kible Sokak 38

Esenler Coach Station

Altıntepsi

Otogar Coach Station

Altıntepsi Mahallesi Bayrampasa-Istanbul

Samandira Coach Station

Tuna Cd 4

Compare the bus with other modes of transport

The bus is often the cheapest mode of transport, while other modes like train or flight are faster. Looking for quicker alternatives to travel from Sofia to Istanbul? Compare all modes of transports from Sofia to Istanbul.

Service and Comfort on the bus from Sofia to Istanbul

Want to know which seat classes are available on the coaches from Sofia to Istanbul? Or which bus companies serve the route Sofia to Istanbul? Below you will find answers to your questions.

FAQs about the Sofia to Istanbul bus

How much does a Sofia - Istanbul coach trip cost?

This depends on, among other things, the day and travel time. The cheapest ticket for the Sofia - Istanbul bus trip is available from £25 and takes 8h 30m. Compare offers and save money!

How much could I save by comparing buses from Sofia to Istanbul?

The connection Sofia to Istanbul is offered by 8 companies with ticket prices ranging from £25 to £35. Therefore, we suggest booking your ticket as soon as possible to ensure you will get the cheapest ticket price.

How many connections are available for the Sofia - Istanbul route on average every day?

Each day, the bus route from Sofia to Istanbul is offered by roughly 20 busses. By using our search, you can compare bus schedules and find your ideal trip.

How long does a bus to Istanbul from Sofia take?

The quickest coach from Sofia to Istanbul is provided by Alpar Turizm and takes 8h 0m. Coach tickets for this connection cost £27. However, keep in mind that the connection can take longer due to traffic.

What time is the first bus from Sofia to Istanbul?

The earliest bus to Istanbul departs from Sofia at 09:00. In this context, information about departure times may differ on weekends and holidays. Simply use our search to find the exact times for your planned travel date.

What time is the last coach from Sofia to Istanbul?

The latest bus to Istanbul departs from Sofia at 23:59. Please note that departure times may differ on weekends and holidays. Simply use our search to find the exact times for your planned travel date.

Which bus companies serve the Sofia - Istanbul route?

Passengers looking to travel from Sofia to Istanbul can travel with Arda Tur, Citylines and Metro Bulgaria. Compare all available bus tickets with our search to book the trip that works best for you.

Is there a direct bus between Sofia and Istanbul?

You can check all the direct connections between Sofia and Istanbul by using our search and looking at the Changes section in our filters. These are some of the companies which offer a direct bus: Arda Tur, Citylines and Metro Bulgaria.

What can I take with me on the bus to Istanbul from Sofia?

Depending on which provider you travel with, what you are allowed to bring with you can vary. Generally, you can take a suitcase and hand luggage with you on the bus for the Sofia Istanbul bus route free of charge. Simply use our search to find a coach that is best suited to your needs for your planned travel date.

What equipment is available for the Sofia Istanbul bus route?

The equipment on board differs depending on the provider. However, many long-distance buses have WiFi so you can tell your friends your exact location during the journey. To make travelling even more pleasant, air conditioning systems provide ventilation. It is best to use our search to get precise information about the equipment of the bus from Sofia to Istanbul on your planned travel date.

Available seat classes which are offered on the bus route Sofia to Istanbul

Basic

Name referring to the typical seat you will find with companies that don’t distinguish between different classes.

Economy

The cheapest option available for your ticket, it usually comes with reclinable seats and AC.

More bus routes to Sofia and to Istanbul

Here’s an overview of the most popular bus routes to Sofia and to Istanbul. Simply click on the connection of your choice, and you will find all the details about your bus route!