Istanbul to Sofia (IST–SOF) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
IST–SOF is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 290 miles in approximately 0h 20m. Beyond nonstop, 63 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK Turkish Airlines Also: 6E, MS | 23 | 32B, 32Q, 73J | 1h15-1h20 | – | Star Alliance | 6E, MS |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Sofia from Istanbul
| Metric | IST→SOF | SAW→SOF | BOJ→SOF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from IST | – | 40 mi | 109 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 51 | 7 | 1 |
| Flight time | 0h 20m | 1h 16m | 0h 50m |
Travel Essentials
IST: +03 · SOF: EEST
When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 6:00 PM in Sofia.
Turkish passport holders enter Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. No advance application is needed. You can enter with a passport or a Turkish national ID card. Bulgaria shares a land border with Turkey, and the Kapikule-Kapitan Andreevo crossing is one of the busiest border points in the region. At Sofia Airport (SOF) or the land borders, immigration stamps you in quickly.
Bulgaria joined the Schengen area for air and sea borders in March 2024, with full land border integration expected later. The 90-day visa-free stay for Turkish nationals is based on a bilateral agreement and EU rules. For stays beyond 90 days, apply for a residence permit at the Bulgarian Immigration Directorate. Bulgaria has a Turkish-speaking minority of roughly 600,000 people, concentrated in the Rhodope Mountains, Kardzhali, and Shumen areas.
Direct flights from Istanbul (IST or SAW) to Sofia run about 1 hour 15 minutes on Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Bulgaria Air. By road, Istanbul to Sofia takes about 5 hours via the E80 highway. Bulgaria uses the Bulgarian lev (BGN), pegged to the euro at 1.96 BGN per EUR 1, trading at roughly 0.05 BGN per TRY 1. Card payments work at hotels, restaurants, and shops in Sofia and tourist areas. The Sofia Metro costs BGN 1.60 per ride (about TRY 32). Restaurants in Sofia are affordable by European standards: a main course costs BGN 12 to BGN 25 (TRY 240 to TRY 500).
Istanbul Metro M11 Gayrettepe–İstanbul Havalimanı line connects the airport to the broader metro network; from Gayrettepe (Mecidiyeköy/Levent area) the journey is about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart). The line runs roughly 5am to midnight.Havaist express buses serve Taksim, Kadıköy, and other major hubs (₺50–80, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic). Taxis use a meter; expect ₺400–600 from Taksim or Sultanahmet. The airport is 35km northwest of the city; traffic on the O-7 motorway can be severe during peak hours.
IST–SOF Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IST to SOF
İstanbul Airport (IST) and Sofia Airport (SOF) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines. With 51 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IST to SOF Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IST to SOF ranges from 0 hours 20 minutes to 1 hours 20 minutes. The route covers a distance of 290 miles (467 km). There are approximately 51 weekly flights outbound and 51 return, totaling 102 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
63 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via TBS. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Pendik, Istanbul (SAW), Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR).