Getting around · Getting around
To Istanbul
Heading south-east
About To Istanbul
The Sofia–Istanbul Express runs every night between Sofia and Istanbul’s Halkalı station via Plovdiv and Edirne, with sleeping cars and couchettes; the journey takes about ten hours, reservations are compulsory and there is no catering on board. Coaches and short direct flights are the alternatives. Türkiye is outside the EU, so expect passport checks at the border. Our sister guide, the ULTIMATE Istanbul City Guide, covers the city’s sights, food, meyhanes, hotels, hammams, the Bosphorus and the Princes’ Islands.
Why it's on our list
- Nightly sleeper train, about 10 hours
- Coaches and flights
- Read our sister guide to Istanbul
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with To Istanbul before you go.