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Cheap Flights from Sofia (SOF) to Istanbul (IST)

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Compare Sofia to Istanbul flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Istanbul

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Flight deals from Sofia to Istanbul

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Sofia to Istanbul? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Istanbul.$248 per passenger.Departing Fri, 6 Jun, returning Mon, 9 Jun.Return flight with Wizz Air and Wizz Air UK.Outbound indirect flight with Wizz Air, departs from Sofia on Fri, 6 Jun, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Wizz Air UK, departs from Istanbul on Mon, 9 Jun, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $248, select.
Istanbul.$265 per passenger.Departing Thu, 15 May, returning Mon, 19 May.Return flight with Turkish Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Sofia on Thu, 15 May, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Istanbul on Mon, 19 May, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $265, select.
Istanbul.$265 per passenger.Departing Mon, 23 Jun, returning Wed, 9 Jul.Return flight with Turkish Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Sofia on Mon, 23 Jun, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Istanbul on Wed, 9 Jul, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $265, select.
Istanbul.$283 per passenger.Departing Mon, 2 Jun, returning Sat, 7 Jun.Return flight with Turkish Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Sofia on Mon, 2 Jun, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Istanbul on Sat, 7 Jun, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $283, select.
Istanbul.$320 per passenger.Departing Sat, 24 May, returning Mon, 9 Jun.Return flight with Norwegian and Turkish Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Norwegian, departs from Sofia on Sat, 24 May, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Turkish Airlines, departs from Istanbul on Mon, 9 Jun, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $320, select.
Istanbul.$329 per passenger.Departing Sat, 24 May, returning Mon, 9 Jun.Return flight with Turkish Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Sofia on Sat, 24 May, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound direct flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Istanbul on Mon, 9 Jun, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $329, select.
Istanbul.$362 per passenger.Departing Sun, 1 Mar, returning Sun, 8 Mar.Return flight with Aegean Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Aegean Airlines, departs from Sofia on Sun, 1 Mar, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Aegean Airlines, departs from Istanbul on Sun, 8 Mar, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $362, select.
Istanbul.$362 per passenger.Departing Mon, 4 Aug, returning Tue, 5 Aug.Return flight with Aegean Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Aegean Airlines, departs from Sofia on Mon, 4 Aug, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Aegean Airlines, departs from Istanbul on Tue, 5 Aug, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $362, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Sofia to Istanbul

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Sofia to Istanbul flights are currently cheapest in June.
May
from $265
Jun
from $248
Jul
from $362
Aug
from $362
Sep
from $362
Oct
from $363
Nov
from $427
Dec
from $415
Jan
from $363
Feb
from $419
Mar
from $362
Apr
from $516

Direct flights from Sofia to Istanbul

Sofia to Istanbul: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Sofia to Istanbul below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Istanbul.

Sofia to Istanbul: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$248
Cheapest month to flyJune
Average flight time1 hr, 32 mins
Most popular airlineIndiGo
Average flights per week66

Finding cheap flights from Sofia to Istanbul: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Sofia to Istanbul is $248. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
1 hour and 32 minutes is the average flight time from Sofia to Istanbul.
IndiGo, Turkish Airlines and EgyptAir fly direct from Sofia to Istanbul.
As of May 2025, there are 66 flights per week flying from Sofia to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly from Sofia to Istanbul is usually May 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Airport on Friday, 6 June 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 1 hour and 32 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Istanbul but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Istanbul is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Wizz Air and Turkish Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul.

Travelling from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know

  • Around 1 hour 35 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

  • Istanbul is one hour ahead of Sofia and observes the UTC+3 timezone.

  • Choose from 175 weekly Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flights. The 09:20 departure with Turkish Airlines is the earliest flight available. Turkish Airlines operates the last service of the day at 21:40.

  • Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your SOF to IST flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to prevent a last-minute sprint to your gate.

  • You'll likely experience longer lines during popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will help ensure a smooth travel experience.

  • Turkish Airlines has direct flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to check out the sights in Istanbul — and maybe even more of Türkiye (Turkey) if time allows.

  • The majority of passengers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines on this route.

  • We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Top stopovers between SOF and IST include:

    • Varna Airport

    • Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport

    • Antalya Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • $111 is the lowest price for a one-way Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight. Return flights start from $248. These fares may change based on availability and demand.

  • Book six months before you want to fly. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from SOF to IST.

  • The cheapest month for flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices if you have a flexible travel schedule.

  • You won't have to check back in every day to find out if fares have gone down when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from SOF to IST.

  • Tailor your trip with filters. Select your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Handy information about Sofia Airport (SOF)

  • 66.73% of flights taking off from Sofia Airport land at their destination on time.

  • Central Sofia to Sofia Airport is around 11 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 15 minutes to get there if you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving.

  • The journey on public transport takes about 35 minutes.

  • Looking for a convenient hotel close to SOF? If you've booked an early flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your check-in counter:

Arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • If you have a late Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight, few things top the convenience of being close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be resting shortly after at one of these hotels near IST:

  • Grab an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own set of wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are top providers you can book with here.

  • Lock in the lowest price by reserving your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks ahead of your trip.

Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul

  • From Istanbul Ataturk Airport, Istanbul is approximately 48 kilometres away. It takes around 50 minutes to get to the centre driving.

  • Travelling to the centre by public transport typically takes 1 hour 45 minutes.

When to fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • The quietest month for a flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is February, while April is the busiest. Choose the ideal time to go to Istanbul based on whether you prefer a more relaxed vibe or a faster pace.

  • The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC (68ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Lock in your flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.

  • January has average temperatures of between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Search for cheap tickets from SOF to IST around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.

Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)

  • Ankara is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres away to the east, its top attractions include Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.

  • If there's time to check out another major stop in Türkiye (Turkey), head for Izmir, about 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square are key reasons to visit.

Plan the rest of your trip from Sofia to Istanbul

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.