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Athens to Sofia coach

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Athens - Sofia Coach Timetable

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Journey Information

There are 5 intercity coaches per day from Athens to Sofia. Traveling by coach from Athens to Sofia usually takes around 12 hours and 18 minutes, but the fastest Tourist Service Holding AD coach can make the trip in 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Distance326 mi (525 km)
Shortest duration10h 30m
Cheapest price€37.70
Trips per day5
Most frequent serviceUnion Ivkoni
Coach lines3

How much is a coach ticket from Athens to Sofia?

€43.02 is the average price of a bus ticket from Athens to Sofia. Any tickets cheaper than €43.02 can be considered a great deal. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.

Monthly average prices

€70€56€42€28€14MJJASONDJFMA
Bus tickets from Athens to Sofia are at their cheapest average price in September. This time of year usually offers the best deals on bus tickets for this route, with ticket prices around €36. On the other hand, traveling on this route during January might cost you a bit more than usual. Bus tickets for January trips cost €55, on average. But no need to stress — booking your bus ticket in advance can help you snag cheaper tickets.

What coach companies travel from Athens to Sofia?

There are 3 bus lines from Athens to Sofia available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. Union Ivkoni offers the most choice in regards to departure times, with a couple of different times on its daily bus schedule.

CoachDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Citylines211h 58m€44.98
Tourist Service Holding AD111h 29m€38.16
Union Ivkoni213h 0m€43.91
  • Citylines, a prominent Bulgarian bus company based in Sofia, offers an extensive network of routes connecting cities within Bulgaria and beyond, operating numerous daily trips. The company's services extend to countries such as Greece, Turkey, Montenegro, and Germany, providing convenient travel options for passengers. One of Citylines' popular routes is the 12-hour journey from Sofia to Athens, which runs twice daily, and passengers can enjoy amenities such as air conditioning, onboard restrooms, and Wi-Fi connectivity for a comfortable and convenient travel experience.

  • Book Tourist Service Holding AD from Athens to Sofia from €38. There are 1 Tourist Service Holding AD schedules from Athens to Sofia and you can expect on average to pay for a Tourist Service Holding AD ticket to Sofia. In Athens, Tourist Service Holding AD departs to Sofia from Karolou 26 and no other station. In Sofia, Tourist Service Holding AD arrives at Sofia Bus Station Serdika and no other station.

    An average trip on Tourist Service Holding AD from Athens to Sofia takes 11 hours and 29 minutes , while the fastest available Tourist Service Holding AD trip will get you to Sofia in 10 hours and 30 minutes .

    On weekends, Tourist Service Holding AD offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway to Sofia.

  • Union Ivkoni was founded in Bulgaria in 1992 and quickly expanded its operations throughout Europe. Popular routes include both shorter travels within one country and long-haul international trips. Their reliable coaches offer amenities to make your trip comfortable, including air conditioning, extra legroom, and power outlets. Union Ivkoni usually operates 2 trips per day on the route from Athens to Sofia, and the trip usually takes 13 hours and 0 minutes to complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

The coach takes an average of 12 hours and 18 minutes to cover the 326 miles from Athens to Sofia. However, the fastest coach only takes 10 hours and 30 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual coach may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

With many people traveling in the middle of the week, Wednesday is the busiest day of the week for coach travel. If you are planning to travel on a Wednesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for coach travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.

The first coach leaves at 07:00 and the last coach leaves at 19:00. To see the times for all coaches from Athens to Sofia, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 5 scheduled coaches that travel from Athens to Sofia every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct coaches which you can take the entire route from Athens to Sofia without transferring.

City Information

Sofia

Sofia - BGKIE-0

Image credit: Pixabay

Sofia - BGKIE-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Sofia - BGKIE-2

Image credit: Unsplash

The Bulgarian capital of Sofia lies in the Sofia Valley at the foot of Vitosha mountain. Known for its vast history stretching over seven millennia, Sofia is one of Europe's oldest cities, making for a metropolis where long-standing traditions meet modern entertainment.

Sofia's most iconic and popular tourist destination is the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Completed in 1912 and built as a memorial to the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish Liberation War, the cathedral's crypt is open to visitors and has a vast collection of religious icons.

Because of Sofia's fascinatingly long history, it is no surprise that the city is filled with various historic sites and era-defining buildings. The Rotunda Church of St. George is one such place and is said to be the oldest building in Sofia. This ruin dates back to the 4th century, and the fact alone that it has remained mostly unscathed since then is reason enough to visit.

Sofia has also developed a vibrant contemporary scene, with many festivals and events taking place annually, including the internationally prominent Sofia Independent Film Festival and the GuitArt Festival.

Sofia can be easily reached by air via its conveniently located international airport, as well as by rail from various cities in nearby countries, including Istanbul, Belgrade and Bucharest. Various international and national coach services also offer daily transportation to the city. The vast majority of them operate out of the Sofia Central Bus Station.

Station Information

Where does the coach leave from in Athens?

Main departure station: Pl. Karaiskaki 2

Coaches to Sofia leave from 3 stations in Athens.

All coach stations in Athens:

  • Pl. Karaiskaki 2

  • Karolou 26

  • Athens Chiou

Where does the coach arrive in Sofia?

Central Bus Station -{"city":"Sofia","country":"BG","postal":"","state":"","street1":"Mariya Luiza, predgarov ploshtad Blvd"} - BGKIEBGRVP-0

Image credit: VasenkaPhotography

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Central Bus Station

The Central Bus Station Mariya Luiza is in the heart of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital city. Buses here run a regular service to Chisinau in Moldova, stopping at other Bulgarian cities on the way. There are also long-distance services going as far as Sunny Beach, Thessaloniki, and even Istanbul. The Central Bus station is located right next to the Central Railway Station, which has a waiting area and cafe. The Bus Station is also a short walk to the city center, which has a variety of major shops, restaurants, and supermarkets.

Coach stations in Sofia:

  • Central Bus Station

  • Sofia Bus Station Serdika

  • Serdica Bus Station

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