Some Bus Journey Times Between Bulgaria and Turkey

Here are some details about the approximate length of time it takes to travel by bus from Bulgarian cities to Istanbul and other cities in Turkey.

• Dobrich -  Çorlu 8 hours
• Dobrich - Istanbul 10 hours
• Varna -    Çorlu 7 hours
• Varna - Istanbul 9 hours
• Burgas -   Çorlu 5,5 hours
• Burgas -  Istanbul 7.5 hours
• Dobrich - Lüleburgaz 7 hours
• Varna -  Lüleburgaz 6 hours
• Burgas -  Lüleburgaz 4.5 hours

Bus and Coach Services Operating Between Bulgarian Cities and Istanbul, Turkey

There is an excellent bus service between the major cities of Bulgaria and the amazing city of Istanbul in Turkey. The most popular buses are operated by three companies: Istanbul Seyahat, Metro Turizm and Nişikli Turizm. For some reason, all three companies tend to run their buses at similar times of the day, which means that you have to depart in the morning or quite late at night. This, and the border crossing, are the only two irritating things about travelling by bus between Bulgaria and Turkey.


Buses from Varna to Istanbul start their journeys at Dobrich or Silistra, and travel down through Burgas to the border crossing at Malko Tarnovo. You can board the buses at the bus stations of each city, or near the ticket offices operated by the relevant bus company in Varna and Burgas. You should buy your bus ticket in advance if possible, as the buses can get quite full, and you should be at the bus stop about 30 minutes before the bus is due to depart from that stop.


The buses are good quality vehicles. They have mini TV screens in the back of each seat and a larger screen at the front of the bus. You can watch films and Turkish TV programmes or listen to music. Some buses also offer WiFi Internet. During your bus journey between Bulgaria and Turkey (or Turkey and Bulgaria) you will be offered tea or coffee, plus chilled water. You will also be given a slice of cake or a similar snack. Unlike some international coach services there are no toilets on board, but the buses make ‘comfort stops’ along the route. For example, the Metro bus from Varna to Istanbul stops for refreshments and toilet facilities – once just south of Burgas and once near Çorlu in Turkey. Each stop is approximately 15 minutes. There are also facilities at the Bulgarian/Turkish border.

When you board the bus you will need to show your passport and bus ticket. At the border you will have to produce your passport three times – once as the bus enters the border zone, once when you enter or leave Turkey, and once as the bus leaves the border zone. The first passport check is performed whilst you remain in the bus. For the second you have to disembark (with hand luggage) and go into the Turkish passport control office. (The best thing to do is follow the other people, as most of them will know where they are going!) If you are entering Turkey from Bulgaria, when you enter the passport control office, go to the window marked Visas. You will need to buy a 3-month multiple entry visa. Currently (2012) the cost is £10 or €15. After purchasing your visa, join the queue at the Entry window. If you are travelling from Turkey to Bulgaria, go straight to the Exit window.

After you have shown your passport in the passport control office, you have to collect any baggage that you have left in the baggage compartment. You go through a small building where you must pass your luggage through an X-ray machine. Once the baggage has been scanned, you put it back in the baggage compartment and climb aboard the bus. The third and final check of your passport is performed whilst you remain on the bus, and then the vehicle leaves the border zone and continues on its journey. The amount of time that is spent at the border control depends on the time of year. In summer, when there are many tourists, it can be as long as 90 minutes. During the winter season the time is much shorter.

The bus station at Istanbul (the Otogar) is huge and has several storeys. When you disembark at Istanbul, you will probably want to catch another bus, take a metro train or use a taxi. Unless you have been to the station before, it is a good idea to ask one of the staff where to go.