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

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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.$165 per passenger.Departing Fri, 6 Jun, returning Mon, 9 Jun.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Fri, 6 Jun, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Mon, 9 Jun, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $165, select.
Istanbul.$167 per passenger.Departing Mon, 21 Jul, returning Mon, 28 Jul.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Mon, 21 Jul, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Mon, 28 Jul, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $167, select.
Istanbul.$168 per passenger.Departing Sat, 17 May, returning Wed, 21 May.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Sat, 17 May, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Wed, 21 May, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $168, select.
Istanbul.$172 per passenger.Departing Sat, 31 May, returning Mon, 9 Jun.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Sat, 31 May, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Mon, 9 Jun, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $172, select.
Istanbul.$172 per passenger.Departing Wed, 25 Jun, returning Tue, 8 Jul.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Wed, 25 Jun, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Tue, 8 Jul, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $172, select.
Istanbul.$174 per passenger.Departing Wed, 30 Jul, returning Wed, 6 Aug.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Wed, 30 Jul, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Wed, 6 Aug, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $174, select.
Istanbul.$175 per passenger.Departing Wed, 13 Aug, returning Tue, 19 Aug.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Wed, 13 Aug, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Tue, 19 Aug, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $175, select.
Istanbul.$179 per passenger.Departing Mon, 22 Sep, returning Sat, 27 Sep.Return flight with Pegasus Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Sofia on Mon, 22 Sep, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Inbound direct flight with Pegasus Airlines departs from Istanbul Sabiha on Sat, 27 Sep, arriving in Sofia.Price includes taxes and charges.From $179, 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 $168
Jun
from $165
Jul
from $167
Aug
from $175
Sep
from $179
Oct
from $180
Nov
from $284
Dec
from $411
Jan
from $206
Feb
from $315
Mar
from $270
Apr
Find prices

Direct flights from Sofia to Istanbul

Alternative Sofia to Istanbul routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Sofia to Istanbul? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Sofia to Istanbul: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$165
Cheapest month to flyJune
Average flight time1 hr, 24 mins
Most popular airlineIndiGo
Average flights per week64

Finding cheap flights from Sofia to Istanbul: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Istanbul: Istanbul Sabiha and Istanbul.
The best price we found for a return flight from Sofia to Istanbul is $165. 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 23 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 64 flights per week flying from Sofia to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly from Sofia to Istanbul is usually June.
If you're flying from Sofia Airport, the cheapest airport near Istanbul is Istanbul Sabiha – which is 30.3 km away from the centre of Istanbul. We've found flights into this airport from $165.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Sofia Airport to Istanbul on Friday, 6 June 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 1 hour and 23 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.
In May, the average temperature is usually around 17°C. August is typically the warmest month in Istanbul, when it usually averages around 27°C. You can expect the least rain in August. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is December.
Currently, Pegasus Airlines offers the cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul.

Flying from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul: what you need to know

  • The average length of a direct flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul is 1 hour 18 minutes.

  • Istanbul is 1 hour ahead of Sofia, where Sofia Airport is located. Istanbul operates on the UTC+3 timezone.

  • With 175 flights a week between the two airports, Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the busiest route. Turkish Airlines operates the earliest flight at 09:20. If you're eager to get more out of your day before jetting off, the last departure from SOF to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 21:40.

  • For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you'll have plenty of time to board your flight from SOF to Istanbul.

  • Flying during a peak time such as August? Major public holidays and other popular seasons can lead to longer lines at check-in and security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.

  • Nonstop flights from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Istanbul are available for booking. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is where you'll disembark.

  • Check out the promotions from Turkish Airlines. This carrier operates direct flights from Sofia Airport to Istanbul.

  • Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and perhaps even explore another city. When searching for flights from SOF to Istanbul, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:

    • Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)

    • Antalya Airport (AYT)

    • Varna Airport (VAR)

  • You can enter Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes without a visa if you have a passport from Bulgaria. But before booking your cheap tickets from Sofia Airport to Istanbul, make sure you're up to date with the latest guidelines. Visa rules are subject to change, and you may require some travel documentation if your trip is for business or other reasons.

  • Located around 11 kilometres from the centre of Sofia, SOF can be reached in approximately 16 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The same journey on public transport takes roughly 37 minutes.

  • Want a hassle-free start to your journey? Stay near SOF. Whether you've booked an early flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are perfect:

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

  • $88 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Sofia Airport to Istanbul. A return flight starts from $165. These fares can change based on demand.

  • Score cheap tickets from SOF to Istanbul by booking 9 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for bagging a bargain.

  • The cheapest month for tickets from Sofia Airport to Istanbul is May. You can easily compare prices using the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest travel date.

  • Log into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. You'll be notified right away if there's a better deal on this route. It's simple to do, and it'll save you from checking for flight tickets from SOF to Istanbul every day.

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

Airports in Istanbul

Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul takes around 50 minutes by car. It's approximately 48 kilometres away.

  • If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey of roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes.

  • If you're arriving on a late flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these hotels near IST:

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)

  • Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is around 48 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. After your flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul, it'll take you around 57 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.

  • You can expect the trip to take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes on public transport.

  • Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel near SAW. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your flight from SOF to Istanbul:

Best time to go to Istanbul

  • August is the most popular month to board a flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul while February is the quietest. To work out the ideal time to go to Istanbul, consider the pace you prefer to travel at.

  • Before you book a flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul, think about the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with the temperature ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.

  • Search for cheap flights from SOF to Istanbul in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.

More about Istanbul

  • Start your Istanbul trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul, check out our selection of accommodation options including:

  • All great journeys should include some sightseeing. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are must-do's during your Istanbul adventure.

Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental

  • We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul to track down amazing deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare your options in one place. Plus you'll find all the info you need to know about car rentals in Istanbul, from the most popular car type to the best time to book.

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.