Istanbul to Sofia Itinerary: Getting Around and Useful Tips

Getting Around by Train

The most convenient option for traveling from Istanbul to Sofia is undoubtedly the train. At the moment, there is only a one-night train that leaves Istanbul in the evening and arrives in Sofia the next morning. To buy the ticket, you will have to go in person to the Sirkeci station, as it is not possible to do so online. The correct ticket office is number 4, reserved for international travel, and it accepts both cash (including foreign currency) and credit cards. However, it is advisable to pay in Turkish lira to avoid any surcharges. The opening hours are from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 19:00, but it is advisable to arrive a little early and keep in mind that the opening hours may vary depending on the season.

Once you arrive at the ticket office, just ask for a train ticket from Istanbul to Sofia specifying:

• Departure day: The train leaves Halkali station every day at 20:00. To be safe, I recommend checking the time on your ticket.
• Class: There are three types of tickets. A couchette in a cabin for 4 costs €36.40. A bed in a double room costs €41.40. A single cabin costs €74.60. Keep in mind that if you are traveling alone and take the cabin for 2 or 4, you will have to share the cabin with other people. Prices are updated to September 2024.

Once you have purchased your ticket you will need to go to Halkali station. I recommend arriving about 30 minutes in advance to make sure you don't miss your train.

Please note that the departure station is not the same one where you bought the tickets. Halkali station is about 50 minutes by train from the center of Istanbul. To get there, just take the Marmaray train towards Halkali. You can take the Marmaray at Sirkeci station by buying tickets directly at the station.

Getting Around by Bus

Another option is the bus. There are several companies that operate the route from Istanbul to Sofia and one of them is Kâmil Koç. You can buy a ticket directly from the Flixbus website, at this link. Just select the date and time of departure and you will be shown all the available options. In September 2024, the cost of a ticket was around €28.

The bus leaves from Esenler station which is about 30 minutes by metro from the center. The bus station is connected to Istanbul's M1 (red) metro line. So if you are in the center, just take the M2 (green) line, and change to M1 at Yenikapı.

Once you arrive at Esenler station, be extremely careful because you will have to find the correct stall which is not told to you in advance. There are more stalls of Kâmil Koç some of which are for domestic routes and others for international routes. In my case, the correct stall was 98.

There are various services in the bus station such as cafes, food stalls and toilets (for a fee).

Also in this case, you will have to cross the border between Bulgaria and Turkey. Typically the crossing times are very long (even 2 hours) because you will have to get off both on the Turkish side to get the exit stamp, and on the Bulgarian side. They may ask you to open your bags.

Getting Around by Plane

Another option is certainly the plane. You can check the ticket prices on Google Flight.

Conclusions

When traveling from Istanbul to Sofia, you have several transportation options. The night train offers a comfortable and scenic journey, departing from Istanbul in the evening and arriving in Sofia in the morning. However, you need to buy tickets in person at Sirkeci station and pay attention to the ticket office opening hours. The bus is a cheap option, departing from Esenler station, but it requires attention to find the right stall and crossing the border can take time. Finally, the plane is a quick option, although it may be more expensive. Each has its advantages, so choose according to your preferences and budget.

If you have any questions or feedback, you can use the comments section below.

Thanks for reading,

Explorer's Tale.