| Route | Best option | Duration | Fares found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul to Athens | Direct flight | about 1.5 hours | from $37 one way according to one aggregator (varies) |
| Istanbul to Athens (budget) | Bus to Thessaloniki, then train | about 15.5 hours | €40 to €80 (estimate) |
| Istanbul to Sofia | Direct night train | one night | €38 couchette, €44 in a 2-bed cabin |
| Istanbul to Sofia | Bus from Esenler | not verified | check with the operators |
Istanbul to Athens
By plane: the fastest
Direct flights take about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30. Turkish Airlines and Aegean serve the route, and Pegasus also lists flights (sources disagree on its airport; one flight tracker says Sabiha Gökçen). The most convenient departure is Istanbul Airport (IST): see how to reach the city centre from the airports. Fares are dynamic: February is the cheapest month and August the most expensive according to one aggregator.
By bus then train: the cheapest
There is no direct train. The budget route is a bus from Istanbul (Esenler bus station) to Thessaloniki, about 10 hours for €35 to €55 according to aggregators, then the Hellenic Train service from Thessaloniki to Athens, about 5 hours for €22 to €35, twice a day. A direct Athens bus line was announced by Kamil Koç, but we could not confirm it runs in 2026: if it exists, expect about 16 hours.
Istanbul to Sofia
The Sofia-Istanbul night train
A sleeper train runs every day of the year between Sofia and Istanbul. It leaves Sofia at 18:50; in the other direction it leaves Halkalı at 23:13 and reaches Sofia at 10:55 (2026 times from a rail specialist site, to be confirmed). The terminus is Halkalı station on the outskirts: the Marmaray reaches Sirkeci in about half an hour. Fares found: €38 in a couchette, €44 per person in a 2-bed cabin, €78 for a single cabin. Tickets are sold on the Turkish operator TCDD's website, which opens sales about 8 weeks before departure; Sofia-Istanbul couchettes have been bookable online since February 2026.
By bus
International buses leave from Esenler bus station for Bulgaria, but we found no reliable timetable or fare: compare operators before you book.
Border and formalities
On the Sofia line, Turkish formalities have been done at Edirne rather than Kapıkule since August 2025, until further notice; travelling from Bulgaria to Istanbul, passengers get off with their luggage. Bring your passport and check entry conditions: see visa and entry to Turkey. Mind the time difference: Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year, while Bulgaria changes its clocks.
Going further
For getting around once you arrive, read transport in Istanbul; for an excursion rather than a long trip, see excursions from Istanbul.
