Athens to Sofia Bus

Q: What is the distance between Athens and Sofia?

The distance between these two places is a total of 792 km.

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 price for the cheapest tickets begin at €42.

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 buses are direct buses, and if there is a bus change, you will see a notice on the website and there will be an icon indicating that there is a bus change involved.

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

All the buses 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 do I get from Athens to Sofia by bus?

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

Q: How can I find out which buses run between Athens to Sofia?

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

Q: When do the earliest and latest bus leave Athens?

The earliest is at 08:30 and the latest is at 19:00.

Q: Do I have to print my ticket for Athens to Sofia?

No, you don't have to print your ticket. You can show your QR code to the bus dirver, but keep track of your phone battery.

Athens to Sofia Sofia to Athens

Athens to Sofia Route Summary

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 bus station at 08:30h, arriving at Sofia bus station at 22:00h the same day. While 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 792 km

Average Trip Duration 12h 30min

Total Departures 10

Popular Operators Arda - Tur, Union Ivkoni - Unibus

Lowest Price €42

Transportation Options Bus

Popular Departures

Below you will find some of the most popular bus 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

Getting from Athens and Sofia by bus

The shortest travel distance between Athens and Sofia is 792 km. The fastest bus which departs at 17:30 has a travel time of 11:30h. The longest travel time on the route is 13:30h. You can book tickets in advance to secure your seat, especially during peak travel times.

Overnight buses

If you want to travel overnight and save money on accommodation or arrive in Sofia earlier, there are 8 night buses from Athens to Sofia. The overnight buses 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 is a total of 4 bus companies operating the route. These bus companies have been rated 4 times by travelers. Here you can see the list of the most popular bus companies operating the route and their overall rating.

6.2 Arda - Tur

6.7 Union Ivkoni - Unibus

Tourist Service

7 CityLines

Departure and arrival stations

For more details about Athens or Sofia bus stations, including general information, and other popular routes, you can check 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

Budget-friendly tickets are listed below, depending on availability.
Adult ticket: €42 (One-Way) or €84 (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 users' review of the bus company 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 what other destinations you can visit when traveling from Athens, below are some of the most popular routes that other clients have purchased their tickets for:

Athens - Stara Zagora

Other popular destinations from Sofia

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

Sofia - Veliko Tarnovo

Sofia - Nis