Are you currently in Bulgaria and wondering about how to travel to Turkey from Plovdiv to Istanbul? If so, this is the ultimate guide youβve been looking for.
WeΒ will be going through all of the best ways to get from the historic and ancient city of Plovdiv to Istanbul.Β In this guide, we will be mainly discussingΒ three itineraries you can choose from: byΒ bus, byΒ sleeper trains, and by airplane.
We also explain the advantages and disadvantages of each type of travel method so that you can make an informed decision on how to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul.
Travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul by Train
Overnight Sleeper Trains from Plovdiv to Istanbul
Your first option on how to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul is by taking an overnight sleeper train.Β There is a train that leaves every nightΒ and the totalΒ duration of the ride is 8 hours,Β so you can sleep throughout the entire night.
The departure time in Plovdiv is 21:35 and the arrival time in Istanbul is 05:30 in the morning. The ticket price is 10-15 euros plus a sleeper bed with the following rates (subject to change, please verify directly at the train station):
- 6-bed couchette: 10 euros additional per person
- 4-bed couchette: 14 euros additional per person
- 2-bed sleeper: 15 euros additional per person
- Single sleeper: 35 euros additional per person
To purchase tickets, you must go directly to the Plovdiv Central Train Station. This is also where the train departs and you will then arrive after 8 hours toΒ Istanbul Halkali which is situated about 25 kilometres outside of the city center of Istanbul.
From Istanbul Halkali, you can then take the Marmaray suburban lineΒ in order to arrive at the city center (Sultanahmet)Β in 35 minutes.
Before Booking the Sleeper Train From Plovdiv to Istanbul
Before booking the sleeper train from Plovdiv to Istanbul, here are a couple ofΒ important tips you must know:
β First of all, be prepared to have fully charged phone. If possible, bring a power bank since there is only one outlet per sleeper.
β Bring your own snacks, water, and food.Β There is no restaurant or cafe inside the train.
β Remember that you will have to wake up in the middle of the night. There will be a stop in the Bulgarian Customs and Turkish Border for a luggage scan, passport check, and if necessary, aΒ visa check.
Travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul by Bus
Express Buses from Plovdiv to Istanbul
Choosing the option of theΒ bus to go from Plovdiv to Istanbul is also anΒ affordable way to travel between the two cities.Β
From Plovdiv, you will find a multitude ofΒ bus companiesΒ that make the trip daily from Plovdiv to Istanbul with a totalΒ journey time of Β 5 to 7 hours.Β This travel method is also much faster, in terms of the journey duration, than taking the train from Plovdiv to Istanbul.Β
One thing we realized is that the bus stations in Plovdiv are quite confusing. When you search in Google, there are multiple results that come up in the northern, western, and southern parts of the city.Β
Hence, the bus station that you should ultimately be searching and looking for is called theΒ YugΒ Coach and Bus Station. One easy way to tell if youβre at the right bus station is if you can find it on the map rightΒ in front of the Central Train Station in Plovdiv.Β
In Istanbul, the buses arriveΒ in Istanbul Central Bus Station or also called OtogarΒ BayrampaΕaΒ Bus Station. You must also know that all bus lines are air conditioned, and in the winter, they all have heaters with WiFi, television, and they even give you snacks/water.
Weβve found three main bus lines that travel from the Plovdiv to Istanbul Route as you can see detailed below:
β Huntur: Buses leave daily at 12:30am and arrive in Istanbul at 7:30 am with rates of 22 euros per person. They have great service and the WiFi actually works compared to MetroTurizm. This is personally our top recommendation as we needed WiFi as soon as we crossed the border into Turkey and left the European Union.
β Luks Yonca Seyahat: A cheaper option for the bus ride from Plovdiv to Istanbul. Buses leave at midnight and arrive in Istanbul at 6 in the morning. Rates are around 18 euros per person.
βΒ MetroTurizm: This bus line is a popular option for locals with a bus leaving in the morning and arriving at Istanbul at night and another bus that leaves overnight similar to Hunturβs schedule. Rates for the Plovdiv to Istanbul bus route are around 23 euros per person.Β
Between the two bus lines, we were deciding between Huntur and MetroTurizm. We eventually discovered thatΒ Hunturβs buses were less crowded and the WiFi works well, which is super crucial for us, digital nomads, who are often working on the go.
Before Booking the Bus from Plovdiv to Istanbul
Before traveling by bus from Plovdiv to Istanbul, there are severalΒ tips you must take note of:Β
β First of all, always charge your phone and bring a power bank. Although there are USB ports in the bus, sometimes (if not most of the time) they donβt work.
β We noticed that WiFi in the buses usually work better in the Bulgarian Border and as soon as you cross over to Turkey, it stops working. This is what happened Β with MetroTurizm,Β so we advise you toΒ download offline maps for IstanbulΒ any other information you need for your trip in advance.
β You can choose to take your own snacks and food,Β however, the busΒ does stop every couple hours at a gas station for snacks and toilet breaks.Β The most important to know about this is that you should bring cash with you in any case that you would like to buy something.
β About halfway through your trip from Plovdiv to Istanbul, you will also have to stop at the Bulgarian Customs and Turkish Border for a luggage scan, passport check, and if necessary, visa check.
Travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul by Car
Drive from Plovdiv to Istanbul
Taking a car to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul is the fastest way between the two cities. It is also very convenient as you can leave Plovdiv at whatever time you would like and arrive quicker to Istanbul.
By driving a car from Plovdiv to Istanbul, the route will take you around 4 to 5 hours. You have moreΒ liberty to stop whenever you want for bathroom and eating breaks as opposed to the designated stops during a bus ride, and in comparison to taking the bus or driving, the train ride is, overall, very slow.
Before Driving from Plovdiv to Istanbul
There are a couple of important tips you must know before traveling by car from Plovdiv to Istanbul:
β The roads in Bulgaria and Turkey are nothing like in Western Europe, United States, or the United Kingdom. They can get pretty rough in some areas and the ride can be bumpy from time to time. The highways can also be quite narrow so always drive with caution!
β One hassle thing about driving from Plovdiv to Istanbul are the toll fees. In Turkey, tolls are paid through a electronic system that senses the passage of a vehicle at the toll gates. In order to successfully pay and pass through the gates, your car must be equipped with an HGS tag or OGS tag.Β
We found this to be quite complicated so the easiest solution is to avoid tollways by inputting it in your Waze or Google Maps Drive itinerary.
β Β During peak hours, Istanbul getsΒ very traffic. As you approach the city,Β you mayΒ end up spending 2 hours stuck in traffic,Β so we recommend you plan your arrival time accordingly and avoid coming at rush hour.
β As Turkey is outside of the European Union, make sure to have all the documents you need to travel via car such as your passport and visa, if necessary. Like with the bus and train option, you will have to stop atΒ Bulgarian Customs and Turkish BorderΒ for aΒ luggage scan, passport check,Β and if necessary,Β visa check.Β
Additionally, do note that there are only a few countries in the European Union which have an agreement with Turkey that they can enter with only their National ID Card. The United States of America and the United Kingdom are not one of them.
Best Way to Travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul
So there you have it! We hope this helps you figure out the best way to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul and vice versa, as we asked the same confusing question.Β
If we were to choose among all the best ways to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul, we think that the bus is the most convenient, fastest, and cheapest option, especially if you are backpacker or digital nomad.
After researching all the different methods to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul, the bus method is personally what we ended up going for. Plus, we enjoyed how the buses driveΒ overnight so you can sleep through most of the journey, save on a nightly accommodation, and thenΒ arrive in the morning from Plovdiv to Istanbul.
Itβs your turn to tell us what you think! Have you ever traveled from Plovdiv to Istanbul?
How was your experience and what travel method did you use to travel between these two cities?Β If you have any questions, comments, or recommendations not covered in this guide, let us know in the comments below!
Traveling is the ultimate source of inspiration. It fuels curiosity, broadens perspectives, and creates lifelong memories. Embrace new experiences, immerse yourself in diverse cultures, and let the wonders of travel take you on an unforgettable journey.https://extremetravelling.com/