Cheap flights From Sofia to Istanbul from £48
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How much do flights to Istanbul cost?
Getting from Istanbul airports to the city center
Fastest options: Metro and Havaist bus from IST, Havabus from SAW. Best value: public buses and metro connections.
From Istanbul Airport (IST)
Transport Option | Typical Time | Typical Cost | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
24-30 min | ₺23-₺35 (Istanbulkart fare; transfers extra (~$0.70–1.00 USD)) | every 6–10 min (traffic dependent) | budget travelers to European side | |
60-120 min | ₺180-₺250 (varies by destination (~$5–7 USD)) | every 20–60 min (traffic dependent) | direct to Taksim or Sultanahmet | |
40-90 min | ₺800-₺1,500 (metered; varies by traffic (~$22–42 USD)) | on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent) | door-to-door convenience | |
40-90 min | ₺1,200-₺2,500 (pre-booked; fixed price (~$33–70 USD)) | pre-booked (traffic dependent) | groups or late arrivals |
From Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)
Transport Option | Typical Time | Typical Cost | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
60-120 min | ₺150-₺200 (varies by destination (~$4–6 USD)) | every 30–60 min (traffic dependent) | direct to Taksim or Kadıköy | |
60-90 min | ₺17-₺25 (Istanbulkart fare (~$0.50–0.70 USD)) | every 15–30 min (traffic dependent) | budget travelers | |
45-100 min | ₺700-₺1,400 (metered; varies by traffic (~$20–40 USD)) | on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent) | door-to-door to Asian side | |
45-100 min | ₺650-₺1,300 (app-based; varies by demand (~$18–36 USD)) | on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent) | cashless payment option |
Notes:
- Prices in TRY; table created in 2025 and subject to change.
- Istanbulkart is required for metro and public buses; cards available at airport stations and kiosks.
- Istanbul traffic can be severe, especially during rush hours. Allow extra time for road-based transport.
- Taxis are metered; ensure the meter is running. Ride-hailing prices vary with demand.
- We recommend checking official transport websites for your travel planning.
Updated: December 2025
Key info about flying to Istanbul
Weekly direct flights
Discover the top airlines offering direct flights from Sofia to Istanbul in the next month. You’ll find the number of daily direct flights per airline in the chart.
| Airline | Mon 20.04 | Tue 21.04 | Wed 22.04 | Thu 23.04 | Fri 24.04 | Sat 25.04 | Sun 26.04 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | |
| --- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 28 total | Daily flights: 4 average | Most flights: Thursday 5 flights |
| Airline | Mon 27.04 | Tue 28.04 | Wed 29.04 | Thu 30.04 | Fri 01.05 | Sat 02.05 | Sun 03.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 37 total | Daily flights: 5.29 average | Most flights: Thursday 6 flights |
| Airline | Mon 04.05 | Tue 05.05 | Wed 06.05 | Thu 07.05 | Fri 08.05 | Sat 09.05 | Sun 10.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 31 total | Daily flights: 4.43 average | Most flights: Sunday 5 flights |
| Airline | Mon 11.05 | Tue 12.05 | Wed 13.05 | Thu 14.05 | Fri 15.05 | Sat 16.05 | Sun 17.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 34 total | Daily flights: 4.86 average | Most flights: Friday 5 flights |
Check-in for a flight from Sofia to Istanbul
| Name | Carrier code | IATA Code | Passport needed during booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | RYR | FR | No |
| Pegasus | PGT | PC | No |
| Wizz Air | WZZ | W6 | No |
| Turkish Airlines | THY | TK | No |
| Aegean | AEE | A3 | No |
Online check-in is not available for these airlines.
Weather in Istanbul
Average Weather
| Month | Average monthly max temperature | Average monthly min temperature |
| January | 9°C | 5°C |
| February | 9°C | 5°C |
| March | 11°C | 7°C |
| April | 15°C | 9°C |
| May | 20°C | 14°C |
| June | 25°C | 19°C |
| July | 28°C | 22°C |
| August | 28°C | 23°C |
| September | 25°C | 20°C |
| October | 19°C | 15°C |
| November | 15°C | 12°C |
| December | 11°C | 8°C |
14 day forecast
Frequently asked questions
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