How many flights from Sofia to Istanbul are non-stop?

Across the trailing 90 days, approximately 41.2% of flights from Sofia to Istanbul were non-stop. For flights that include stopovers, the median number of stopovers was one. This indicates that while direct options are available, a significant portion of routes involve at least one connection. Travelers should consider this when planning their journey.

What's the flight time from Sofia to Istanbul?

The typical direct flight from Sofia to Istanbul has a median duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes. This route covers a distance of 469 kilometers. For flights that include one stop, the median travel time is considerably longer, averaging 9 hours. Travelers should account for these differences when selecting their preferred flight option.

How often do Sofia to Istanbul flight prices drop?

Historically, flight prices for the Sofia to Istanbul route have shown frequent drops. This suggests that travelers may have regular opportunities to find more affordable fares. The pricing trends across the trailing 30 days indicate that this route is one where price fluctuations are common, potentially offering chances for savings.

Flights From Sofia

To Istanbul

Cheap Flights from Sofia to Istanbul

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Deals from

Sofia

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Prices updated 6 days ago

402 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 19, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Sofia to Istanbul

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Sofia to Istanbul

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

August 13 - August 16

Cheapest

SOF - Istanbul

$145

$117

Round trip

July 24 - July 31

Earliest

SOF - Istanbul

$140

$118

Round trip

July 25 - July 26

SOF - Istanbul

$153

$119

Round trip

July 28 - July 29

SOF - Istanbul

$138

$120

Round trip

July 24 - July 26

Best

Earliest

SOF - Istanbul

$160

$120

Round trip

August 21 - August 27

SOF - Istanbul

$136

$120

Round trip

August 11 - August 13

SOF - Istanbul

$148

$120

Round trip

July 24 - July 30

Earliest

SOF - Istanbul

$141

$121

Round trip

July 28 - July 30

SOF - Istanbul

$138

$121

Round trip

August 14 - August 16

SOF - Istanbul

$145

$121

Round trip

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Sofia to Istanbul: Overview

Insights for flights from Sofia to Istanbul

Fares for flights from Sofia to Istanbul typically range from $124–$278, with a median of $175. Right now, current fares are significantly above the typical level for this route. Only 12% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that finding cheap flights from Sofia to Istanbul may require some flexibility or advance planning. New deals appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert could be beneficial.

A typical journey from Sofia to Istanbul takes about 6h 50m, including connections. This duration accounts for the fact that a meaningful share of itineraries include at least one stop. The overall travel time reflects the common routing options available for this short-haul route.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Sofia to Istanbul, October stands out with a median fare of $120. Other favorable months include June, with a median of $149, and January, where the median fare is $154. These months offer more competitive pricing compared to the overall median for the route.

For flights from Sofia to Istanbul, 41.2% of recent fares were for direct flights. This indicates that a meaningful share are non-stop, while the remaining itineraries connect at least once. For those connecting, the typical number of stopovers is 1, which can influence overall travel time and convenience.

How much is a round trip from Sofia to Istanbul

Regular price: $109 - $257

Prices are currently within the regular range.

Regular prices for flights from Sofia to Istanbul typically range from 109 USD to 257 USD. The current lowest deal is 121 USD with Pegasus Airlines for travel from Aug 14-Aug 16.

now $121

Low $109

High $257

The cheapest time to fly from Sofia to Istanbul

The cheapest month to fly from Sofia to Istanbul is October, with a median price of 120 USD. The most expensive month is December, with a median price of 271 USD. Prices are generally lower from January to October.

October

Cheapest

Flights from $120

December

Most Expensive

Flights from $271

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Sofia to Istanbul

Pegasus Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Sofia to Istanbul

Wed, Jul 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SOF - Istanbul

Sofia (SOF) - Istanbul (SAW)

Pegasus Airlines

$135

$131

One-way

Thu, Jul 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SOF - Istanbul

Sofia (SOF) - Istanbul (SAW)

Pegasus Airlines

$127

$131

One-way

Tue, Jul 21

⌛ Last-Minute

SOF - Istanbul

Sofia (SOF) - Istanbul (SAW)

Pegasus Airlines

$126

$132

One-way

Wed, Jul 22

⌛ Last-Minute

SOF - Istanbul

Sofia (SOF) - Istanbul (SAW)

Pegasus Airlines

$130

One-way

Wed, Jul 22

⌛ Last-Minute

SOF - Istanbul

Sofia (SOF) - Istanbul (SAW)

Pegasus Airlines

$130

One-way

Wed, Jul 22

⌛ Last-Minute

SOF - Istanbul

Sofia (SOF) - Istanbul (SAW)

Pegasus Airlines

$137

$132

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Sofia to Istanbul

2 nights

Jun 19 - Jun 21

$368 → $188

49%

2 nights

Jun 22 - Jun 24

$247 → $116

53%

2 nights

Jun 21 - Jun 23

$247 → $122

51%

2 nights

Jun 23 - Jun 25

$236 → $114

52%

Popular Airports to fly from Sofia to Istanbul

Sofia - Istanbul route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for Sofia to Istanbul are above the typical level, with a median price of $175.

📅 Best time to fly

October is historically cheapest at $120

Historically, October is the cheapest month to fly from Sofia to Istanbul, with a median price of $120.

⏱️ Flight duration

Median flight time is 6h 50m

The median flight time from Sofia to Istanbul is 6 hours and 50 minutes, a short-haul route.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are a mixed share of options

Direct flights constitute a mixed share of options, with connecting flights typically having 1 stopover.

🏆 Airline highlight

Pegasus Airlines offers direct flights

Pegasus Airlines is one of the airlines offering direct flights on the Sofia to Istanbul route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent on this route

Historically, deals for flights from Sofia to Istanbul are frequent, appearing often over 30 days.

Sofia main airports to depart from

Sofia (SOF)

Cheapest

Sofia Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Istanbul, offering competitive prices.

📍 ~8 km from city center (reachable by car or metro)

💸 Flights from ~$114

Istanbul main airports to arrive at

Sabiha Gökçen International (SAW)

Cheapest

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is a good option for flights to Istanbul, offering potentially lower fares.

📍 ~30 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$114

Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul Airport is a primary gateway for travelers flying to Istanbul.

📍 ~35 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$117

Airports nearby Istanbul used as alternative

Esenboğa International (ESB)

Consider Esenboğa International as a major international hub with high flight frequency.

📍 ~350 km from Istanbul (requires domestic flight or high-speed train).

💸 Flights from ~$170

Adnan Menderes (ADB)

Adnan Menderes is a reliable alternative with extensive European connections for Western-bound international flights.

📍 ~300 km from Istanbul (usually requires a separate domestic leg).

💸 Flights from ~$168

Tekirdağ Çorlu (TEQ)

Tekirdağ Çorlu is the geographically closest airport, accessible by road from the European side.

📍 ~100 km from Istanbul (accessible by road).

💸 Flights from ~$289

Yenişehir (YEI)

Yenişehir offers proximity to the southern Marmara region and Istanbul's Asian side.

📍 ~130 km from Istanbul (accessible via Osmangazi Bridge or ferry).

💸 Flights from ~$344

Burgas (BOJ)

Cheapest

Burgas is the closest international airport outside of Turkey, useful for travelers with appropriate documents.

📍 ~200 km from Istanbul (requires international land border crossing).

💸 Flights from ~$126

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey

41% AI deal score

$1,180

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Istanbul

Historically, the lowest prices for flights from Sofia to Istanbul are found when booking 28-59 days in advance, with an average price of $153. Booking within 0-6 days of departure typically sees prices rise to an average of $312. Prices for bookings made 7-13 days out are around $183, while those made 14-27 days in advance average $197. Planning ahead by 28-59 days generally offers the most favorable fares.

Across the trailing quarter, a good deal for a flight from Sofia to Istanbul is considered to be $124 or less. The median price for this route was $175. Prices can range significantly, with 75% of fares historically being $278 or less. By aiming for prices at or below the $124 threshold, travelers can typically secure a favorable fare for their journey.

Historically, October has offered the cheapest flights from Sofia to Istanbul, with a median price of $120. June also presents competitive fares, with a median price of $149. The annual median price for this route is $175, indicating that October and June are often more affordable than other times of the year. January, for example, had a median price of $154.

Related routes

Consider alternative routes from Sofia

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