Istanbul Airport to Sofia Transfer: Taxi from IST and SAW
Landing in Istanbul and travelling on to Bulgaria? A private transfer from Istanbul Airport to Sofia picks you up in the arrivals hall at IST or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), drives you across the Kapıkule – Kapitan Andreevo border and stops at your door in Sofia or Plovdiv. One car and one driver only for your group, with no changes on the way.
Flying into Istanbul soon? Call or write to us – we work 24/7.
The same number is on Viber and WhatsApp. Orders in English by phone, or in the chat in your own language – we answer chats almost instantly, day and night.
This guide covers the trip from Istanbul to Bulgaria: which airport is easier, where the driver waits, the border for foreign passport holders and the queues by season. Travelling the other way? Our Sofia to Istanbul transfer guide explains the trip from Bulgaria to Turkey.
Istanbul to Sofia and Plovdiv: prices, kilometres, hours
All prices are for the whole vehicle, one way, not per person. They come from our Sofia pricelist and Plovdiv pricelist, which list every route “from or to” the city – so a taxi from Sofia to Istanbul Airport and from Istanbul Airport to Sofia cost the same.
| Route | Distance and time | Sedan (up to 4) | Minivan (up to 6) | Minibus (up to 8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Airport (IST) → Sofia | 530 km · about 5:30 h | 420 € | 550 € | 620 € |
| Istanbul Airport (IST) → Plovdiv | 400 km · about 4:15 h | 350 € | 500 € | 600 € |
| Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) → Sofia | 610 km · about 7:00 h | on request | on request | on request |
| Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) → Plovdiv | 475 km · about 6:30 h | on request | on request | on request |
| Istanbul old city → Sofia | 555 km · about 6:30 h | on request | on request | on request |
The hours are pure driving time, without waiting at the border. Groups of more than 8 people, hotels on the Asian side and other addresses in Istanbul get a price on request.
IST or SAW: where your driver meets you
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport is the large new airport on the European side, north-west of the city, with one big terminal. Once you are through passport control, baggage reclaim and customs, the driver is waiting for you in the public arrivals hall and takes you to the car park. IST is on the same side of the Bosphorus as Bulgaria, so the car does not have to cross the city: it takes the motorways west towards Edirne. That is why IST is faster and has a fixed price.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side, east of the city centre. The meeting point is the same idea – the international arrivals hall after customs – but the car first has to cross the Bosphorus by one of the bridges before heading west. That adds kilometres and city traffic, so we confirm the SAW price for your date.
Flight tracking and waiting time
- Send your flight number when you book. We follow the flight, and if it lands late the driver simply waits: at the airport, if your flight is late, the waiting is free and has no time limit.
- Pickup from a hotel in Istanbul instead of the airport: the driver comes at the agreed time and waits 15 minutes at the address.
- Cannot find the driver? Call or write to +359 89 444 8441 and the dispatcher connects you.
More about pickups at the new airport is on our Istanbul New Airport transfers page.
The road from Istanbul to Bulgaria
From the airport the car follows the motorways across Eastern Thrace to Edirne, and the border is just a few minutes after the town. On the Bulgarian side the Maritsa motorway runs past Svilengrad and Haskovo towards Plovdiv, and the Trakia motorway continues to Sofia. Almost all of the trip is on motorways.
- Plovdiv is on the way. If part of the group gets out in Plovdiv, or you want lunch in the Old Town, add the stop when you book.
- Edirne, with the Selimiye Mosque, is a good short break before the border.
- The clock: From the end of October to the end of March your watch goes back one hour when you enter Bulgaria; in summer the time is the same.
Kapıkule – Kapitan Andreevo: the border for foreign travellers
Kapıkule (Turkey) – Kapitan Andreevo (Bulgaria) is one of the busiest road crossings in Europe. Here you leave Turkey and enter the European Union. Since January 2025 Bulgaria is a full Schengen member, so this check is also your entry into the Schengen area. There are two stops: Turkish exit passport control, then Bulgarian passport control and customs.
Documents to have ready
- EU citizens: a valid passport or national ID card.
- Everyone else: a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
- Schengen visa, if your nationality needs one. A Turkish e-visa is not valid for Bulgaria, and your days in Bulgaria count towards the Schengen 90-days-in-180 rule.
- EES registration: non-EU travellers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System with fingerprints and a face photo on their first crossing, so the first time takes a few minutes longer.
- Children travelling with one parent or with other adults may be asked for a consent letter from the absent parent.
Customs follows EU rules. For tobacco and alcohol the allowance for travellers arriving by land can be lower than when you fly, so check the limits before you buy at the duty-free shop. The vehicle papers and insurance are the driver’s job, not yours.
Queues by season
| When | What to expect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Working days outside summer and holidays | usually the shortest wait | mostly regular cross-border traffic |
| Late August and early September | the longest queues in the direction of Bulgaria | families of Turkish origin drive back from summer holidays to Germany, Austria and other countries in Western Europe |
| Ramadan Bayram and Kurban Bayram | heavy traffic before and after the holiday | holiday trips in both directions |
Flying on from Sofia the same day? Plan a generous reserve and tell us when you book – we will suggest a departure time.
Arriving in Sofia or Plovdiv
- Sofia: any hotel, apartment or office address.
- Plovdiv: the Old Town is mostly pedestrian, so for hotels up the hill the car stops as close as the traffic rules allow.
- You pay nothing in advance – the booking is confirmed without a deposit.
- Free seats for children: baby carrier, child seat and booster are all included in the price; just tell us the number.
- Enough cars for any group: around 200 sedans, 50 minivans, 100 buses and 20 S- and E-Class Mercedes work for our group.
- Plans changed? Changing the booking costs nothing up to 24 hours before pickup.
Book your Istanbul Airport to Sofia transfer
- By phone, 24/7: +359 89 444 8441 in English, or write on Viber / WhatsApp in your language.
- Online: the transfer price request form, especially for SAW or a hotel in Istanbul.
- What we need: IST or SAW and your flight number, the drop-off address, how many travellers and bags, and whether children travel with you.
Istanbul to Sofia transfer: FAQ
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to Sofia?
From Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia: 420 € for a sedan with up to 4 passengers, 550 € for a minivan with up to 6 and 620 € for a minibus with up to 8, per car and one way. From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) the price is on request.
How long is the drive from Istanbul to Sofia?
Our pricelist gives 530 km and about 5:30 hours of driving from IST, and 610 km and about 7 hours from SAW. Waiting at Kapıkule comes on top, and it is longest in late August, early September and around the Bayram holidays.
Where does the driver meet me at Istanbul Airport?
In the public arrivals hall, after passport control, baggage reclaim and customs. We follow your flight, so if it is late the driver waits at the airport for free, with no time limit.
What documents do I need at the Kapıkule – Kapitan Andreevo border?
A valid passport (EU citizens can use a national ID card) and a Schengen visa if your nationality needs one. Non-EU travellers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System with fingerprints and a photo on the first crossing.
Can you drive us from Istanbul to Plovdiv?
Yes. From Istanbul Airport (IST) to Plovdiv it is 400 km and about 4:15 hours: 350 € for a sedan, 500 € for a minivan and 600 € for a minibus, per car.
Is a Sofia to Istanbul taxi the same price?
Yes. Our prices are “from or to” the city, so Sofia to Istanbul Airport is also 420 € for a sedan, 550 € for a minivan and 620 € for a minibus.
