Athens to Sofia Bus and Coach

Q: What is the distance between Athens and Sofia?

The distance between these two places is a total of 492 mi.

Q: What is the average travel time between Athens and Sofia?

The average travel time between the stations is 12:30 hours.

Q: What is the ticket price for the journey from Athens to Sofia?

The ticket prices begin from £36.

Q: How many daily departures are there from Athens to Sofia?

The average number of daily departures is 10. However, we would advise you to look up specific dates you're interested in so that you make sure to check the number of departures on the travel date you are interested in the most.

Q: Are all the buses direct on the route from Athens to Sofia?

The majority of the coaches are direct, and if there is a layover, you will see a notice on the website and there will be an icon indicating that there is a layover involved.

Q: What are the amenities available on the buses departing from Athens to Sofia?

All the coaches have air conditioning, reclining seats, luggage storage and they make breaks along the way to ensure all the passengers get enough resting time and can make a toilet break.

Q: How can I travel from Athens to Sofia by bus?

To travel from Athens to Sofia by bus, choose your preferred departure time and book your ticket through our platform. Detailed routes and schedules are available.

Q: How can I find which buses operate between Athens and Sofia?

Use our online ticket tool to find schedules, routes, and ticket prices for buses operating between your chosen stations.

Q: When do the first and last buses leave Athens?

The first bus departs at 08:30, and the last bus departs at 19:00.

Q: Do I need to print my ticket for the journey from Athens to Sofia?

No, you don't need to print your ticket. You can show your QR code to the bus driver, but ensure your phone battery is charged.

Athens to Sofia Sofia to Athens

Athens to Sofia Route Overview

Athens to Sofia bus is a popular way of travelling between Greece and Bulgaria.There are up to 10 daily bus departures available, including 8 night buses. The earliest bus departs from Athens at 08:30h, arriving at Sofia at 22:00h the same day. While the latest bus departs at 19:00h, arriving at 06:45h the following day.

Departure station and country Athens, Greece

Arrival station and country Sofia, Bulgaria

Travel Distance 492 mi

Average Trip Duration 12h 30min

Total Departures 10

Popular Operators Arda - Tur, Union Ivkoni - Unibus

Lowest Price £36

Transportation Options Coach

Popular Departures

Below you will find some of the most popular coach departures from Athens to Sofia:

Timetable: TODAY TOMORROW

08:30 Athens

13h 30min

22:00 Sofia Central Bus Station

Union Ivkoni - Unibus

from 42.6 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 19. Apr

pick a date

17:30 Athens Akominatou

11h 30min

05:00 Sofia Serdica Bus Station

Arda - Tur

from 64.6 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 13. Apr

pick a date

18:30 Athens

12h 30min

07:00 Sofia Central Bus Station

Union Ivkoni - Unibus

from 42.6 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 17. Apr

pick a date

19:00 Athens Karolou

11h 45min

06:45 Sofia Serdica Bus Station

CityLines

from 55 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 13. Apr

pick a date

19:00 Athens Karolou

11h 30min

06:30 Sofia Serdika Bus Station

Tourist Service

from 49.5 HRK

Best offer on 13. Apr

pick a date

Traveling by coach from Athens to Sofia

The shortest travel distance between Athens and Sofia is 492 mi. The fastest coach which departs at 17:30 has a travel time of 11:30h. The longest travel time on the route is 13:30h. Booking your train tickets in advance is recommended to guarantee your seat, especially if you're travelling during peak travel times.

Overnight coaches

If you want to travel overnight and save money on accommodation or arrive in Sofia earlier, there are 8 overnight coaches from Athens to Sofia. The overnight coaches depart between 17:30 and 19:00 and arrive between 05:00 and 07:00 the following day. Below are the most popular night departures to Sofia:

Timetable: TODAY TOMORROW

17:30 Athens Akominatou

11h 30min

05:00 Sofia Serdica Bus Station

Arda - Tur

from 64.6 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 13. Apr

pick a date

18:30 Athens

12h 30min

07:00 Sofia Central Bus Station

Union Ivkoni - Unibus

from 42.6 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 17. Apr

pick a date

19:00 Athens Karolou

11h 45min

06:45 Sofia Serdica Bus Station

CityLines

from 55 HRK

M-ticket Best offer on 13. Apr

pick a date

19:00 Athens Karolou

11h 30min

06:30 Sofia Serdika Bus Station

Tourist Service

from 49.5 HRK

Best offer on 13. Apr

pick a date

Bus companies operating the Athens to Sofia route

There are 4 bus companies operating this route. These companies have been reviewed 4 times by travellers. Below is a list of the most popular bus companies along with their overall ratings.

6.2 Arda - Tur

6.7 Union Ivkoni - Unibus

Tourist Service

7 CityLines

Departure and arrival stations

For more details about Athens or Sofia coach stations, including general information and other popular routes, please see the links below.

Athens

You can see information about the departure station and stops Athens here

Sofia

You can see information about the arrival station and stops Sofia here

Cheapest tickets

Below are the most affordable ticket options available, depending on availability:
Adult ticket: £36 (One-Way) or £72 (Return).

Travel reviews for Athens to Sofia bus

Read all reviews here

4 travelers have shared their feedback and reviewed their bus journey from Athens to Sofia. The average rating is 6.9. You can read the reviews below. These reviews were originally written under our former names, GetByBus and GetByFerry. But don’t worry, it’s all us! Same company, same trusted partners, just with a new vibe as Traveling.com.

9.38 by DAVID

Union Ivkoni - Unibus

8.75 by ANONYMOUS

CityLines

7.5 by DARRYL

Union Ivkoni - Unibus

10 by ANONYMOUS

Union Ivkoni - Unibus

by DAVID

Read some bad reviews ans was wary, but it was a great trip.

I took the morning bus at 7.30am from Athens to Sofia. Angela, the lady In the office does not speak very good English but was unbelievably lovely. I speak a bit of greek (I'm English but live in Athens) and she was so helpful. She told me a great tip that might be useful for people. The night bus is much busier than the day bus. To Thessolaniki there were 3 passengers! I was amazed by that! Fom Thessolaniki the bus was half full. So the first 5 hours were amazing. The toilet is closed for the whole journey to Sofia but they stop every 3 hours. Didn't bother me and I was worried about it after reading it. Scenery, Esp the north part of Greece, Bulgaria and especially Olympus - stunnin. Take the day bus if you want to sseethe views. I read the drivers were not friendly but they were just normal to me. Balkan style men but not that rude Thought they were ok. Drove great!! They didn't drive fast or smoke like I read in some reviews. It was a good trip and enjoyed. Was a bit early too...

Driver

Tidiness

Value for money

Comfortable ride

Read all reviews here

Other popular destinations from Athens

If you're wondering which other destinations you can visit when travelling from Athens, below are some of the most popular routes that other travellers have booked tickets for:

Athens - Stara Zagora

Other popular destinations from Sofia

If you're looking for inspiration for where to travel next once you've reached Sofia, here is a list of the most popular routes that our travellers have previously booked tickets for:

Sofia - Veliko Tarnovo