How to get from Sofia to Athens
- 532 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: train, 11h 57m
- 1 bus departures a day with ArdaTur
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Sofia to Athens. The most useful door-to-door route takes 11h 57m by bus, train, 1 transfer. The two cities are about 532 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on September 17, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
532 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €60Older observation | 11h 57m1 transfer | See Train details |
| Bus | €60Omio catalogue, Oct 5 | 12h 30mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€60Older observation11h 57m · 1 transferSee Train details
- Bus€60Omio catalogue, Oct 512h 30m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Sofia to Athens: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Sofia → Thessalonikibus
ArdaTur·5h 05m - 2Thessaloniki → AthenstrainHellenic Train·5h 08m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateWhich date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Flight prices by day, Sofia to Athens
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€44November 2026
€43Departures from Sofia to Athens
ArdaTur runs 1 scheduled departures a day, the first at 17:00 and the last at 17:00.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArdaTurbus | 1 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
All departures
- 17:00
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
- Bus· 11h 30m€60Book
Omio last refreshed these on Mon, Oct 5
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with ArdaTur, Hellenic Train; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Sofia to Athens works
Start with a ArdaTur bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki, about 5h 5m. Transfer in Thessaloniki and continue by Hellenic Train train on to Athens (5h 8m). In total it's roughly €60 over 11h 57m, 1 transfer.
Sofia to Athens: common questions
How long does it take to get from Sofia to Athens?
The most useful route takes about 11h 57m by bus, train, 1 transfer.
When is the first bus from Sofia to Athens?
The first bus with ArdaTur leaves at 17:00 and the last at 17:00, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Sofia to Athens?
1 a day with ArdaTur, between 17:00 and 17:00.
Is there a train from Sofia to Athens?
Our route search found a train option, but we hold no verified timetable for this route yet. Check the operator's own timetable for departure times.
How far is Athens from Sofia?
About 532 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Sofia to Athens cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €60. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Sofia to Athens?
On this route you travel with ArdaTur, Hellenic Train.
What is the cheapest way to get from Sofia to Athens?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Sofia to Athens
- how to get from Sofia to Athens
- Sofia to Athens travel time
- Sofia to Athens distance
- cheapest way from Sofia to Athens
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: ArdaTur, Hellenic Train
Route calculated: 25 Sep 2026
Prices checked: 17 Sep 2026