Is there a way to reach Thessaloniki from Sofia without a car?

Taking the bus is the best way to travel to Thessaloniki without a car. The bus provides a cost-effective, safe, and easy way to travel between the two cities. Alternatively, you can also use carpooling services.

How long is the bus ride from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

On average, the trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki takes around 5h 25m, although the fastest bus will take 3h, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 145 miles (233 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Sofia and Thessaloniki?

Sofia and Thessaloniki are 145 miles (233 km) apart.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

If you're headed to Thessaloniki from Sofia, chances are that your bus will depart from Serdika and arrive at Κ. Τ. Ε. Λ. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

Go for the bus if you want the most economical way to travel this route. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $9.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

The bus ticket costs $28 on average. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $9 and $45, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

Can you do a day trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

Yes, a day trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki is definitely doable. The round-trip travel time is around 6h. This allows for plenty of time to explore the sights in Thessaloniki before returning to Sofia in the evening.

What are the best sights and things to do in Thessaloniki?

Once in Thessaloniki, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Mylos, Aristotelous Square, The Arch of Galerius (Kamara), Noesis-Science Center & Technology Museum and Ladadika Quarter.

Sofia to Thessaloniki Bus Tickets

WedApr 30

TodayMay 1

from $24

TomorrowMay 2

from $24

SatMay 3

from $13

SunMay 4

from $15

MonMay 5

from $13

TueMay 6

WedMay 7

from $13

Cheap buses leaving today

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 1 at 4:30pm
Departure city: Sofia
Departure location: Serdika
Arrival time: May 1 at 10:30pm
Destination city: Thessaloniki
Destination location: Thessaloniki 28 Monastiriou Street
Operated by: Union Ivkoni
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 1 at 1:00pm
Departure city: Sofia
Departure location: Serdika
Arrival time: May 1 at 5:55pm
Destination city: Thessaloniki
Destination location: Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ
Operated by: Arda Tur
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 55m
Departure time: May 1 at 1:00pm
Departure city: Sofia
Departure location: Serdika
Arrival time: May 1 at 5:55pm
Destination city: Thessaloniki
Destination location: Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ
Operated by: Arda Tur
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 55m
Departure time: May 1 at 6:00pm
Departure city: Sofia
Departure location: Serdika
Arrival time: May 1 at 11:00pm
Destination city: Thessaloniki
Destination location: Monastiriou
Operated by: Infobus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h
Departure time: May 1 at 8:30pm
Departure city: Sofia
Departure location: Sofia Central Bus Station
Arrival time: May 2 at 2:00am
Destination city: Thessaloniki
Destination location: Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station
Operated by: Union Ivkoni
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 30m

Accepted payments

Bus Sofia to Thessaloniki: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$28

Average bus trip duration5h 25m

Number of daily buses14

Earliest bus departure7:00am

Distance144 miles (231 km)

Latest bus departure8:30pm

Compare bus companies

Arda Tur

3/5218 reviews

Staff3.7

Timeliness3.6

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi1.7

According to 13 reviews, Arda Tur received a 4.3-star rating for this journey. Travelers were especially satisfied with the timeliness and the seats, but some complained about the power outlets. Arda Tur ticket prices on this trip start at $28.00

Arda Tur Sofia Thessaloniki recent customer reviews

It needs WiFi. Driver needs to announce stops in ENGLISH. He started driving away with my luggage at Thessalanoki.

Paul G.

July 11, 2024

Didn't mind being late. Free water and croissant great and stopped for break. Very nice.

Angela L.

November 18, 2019

The lady hostess should be more smily and friendly.The VIVACOM wifi was not in function during the whole trip. We informed the hostess but she did not do anything to resolve the problem.Drivers should be more gentle when changing gear(too bad for gearbox) and change lanes in a more gentle way.

Alexandros M.

June 7, 2019

Union Ivkoni

2.5/51,854 reviews

Staff2.8

Timeliness2.7

Cleanliness2.6

Wifi0.8

Customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the service, mentioning delays and late arrivals. They also mentioned a lack of USB ports on the bus and no choice of seat. These issues seem to be consistent across multiple reviews.

Union Ivkoni Sofia Thessaloniki recent customer reviews

Bus was late by almost an hour and a half. Also no place to charge your phone on the bus.

Benjamin K.

September 27, 2022

Everything was great, except I got really scared when the van broke and the driver had to drive like 5km/h. He managed to fix it within a few minutes and then a half an hour later when the driver started driving 130km/h or even faster to get us on the destination on time I thought I will pass out out of fear. The van was comfortable, the driver is extremely friendly and I liked him very much.

Milana M.

July 29, 2019

Good 😊

Mohamed I.

April 29, 2023

Infobus

4/5463 reviews

Staff4.8

Timeliness4.7

Cleanliness4.8

Wifi3.8

FlixBus

3.5/58,448 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

FlixBus Sofia Thessaloniki recent customer reviews

It arrived 30 minutes later than the expected time

Irini A.

October 8, 2024

The staff was friendly and polite

Gwénolé M.

July 14, 2024

Karat-S

4/5263 reviews

Staff4.3

Timeliness4.7

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi2.2

Maks Trans LTD

Tourist Service Holding

4.5/549 reviews

Staff4.3

Timeliness4.5

Cleanliness5

Wifi3.2

Users have shared positive experiences with Tourist Service, highlighting the helpful and knowledgeable staff at Sofia, clean buses, complimentary water bottles upon boarding, good prices, and clear bus locations. However, some mentioned occasional speeding by drivers and issues with USB plugs and WiFi not working consistently.

Tourist Service Holding Sofia Thessaloniki recent customer reviews

By far one the most awesome experience. Everything on time, office people at Sofia very helpful with good knowledge of English. Also the bus was very clean, bottle of water was given to us upon boarding. Will definitely use Tourist Service again. One thing I didn’t like but that’s just something personal is that on times driver was speeding a lot and it was a bit scary for my liking. Also usb plugs and WiFi was not working.but other than that TOURIST SERVICE was exceptional! xx

Nastazia C.

June 4, 2024

Good price, clear location to find the bus. However, one guy at the check-in office kept telling me to wait for checking in while there was already a lady ready to help me check in

Joas P.

March 26, 2024

Would definitely use them again. Our driver was extremely skilled at driving though very very closely parked traffic

Christopher S.

October 25, 2022

Citylines LTD

GR bus companies: FlixBus, Infobus, FlixTrain, KLR Bus, Union Ivkoni, LIKEBUS, Pavluks-Trans

Sofia to Thessaloniki Bus

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of bus fares and bus schedules to find the best deals.

We make sure you can find a bus service from Sofia to Thessaloniki from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Thessaloniki from Sofia, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Sofia and Thessaloniki?

Stops in Sofia

A - Serdika

B - Sofia Airport

C - Central Bus Station

D - Central Bus Station - Sofia

E - Knyaginya Maria Luiza

F - Lukoil

Stops in Thessaloniki

A - Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ

B - Monastiriou

C - Selanik Makedonya KTEL Otogarı

D - Makedonya Şehirlerarası Otogarı

E - Michail Kalou 16

F - Selanik (Yunanistan)

Frequently asked questions for your trip Sofia - Thessaloniki

Is there a way to reach Thessaloniki from Sofia without a car?
How long is the bus ride from Sofia to Thessaloniki?
What is the distance between Sofia and Thessaloniki?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki?
What is the cheapest way to travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki?
Can you do a day trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki?
What are the best sights and things to do in Thessaloniki?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/29

$18

04/30

$24

Today

$24

05/02

$24

05/03

$13

05/04

$15

05/05

$12

05/06

$13

The cheapest trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki was searched and found on May 5, 2025 with a price of $12

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Sofia to Thessaloniki, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $12 to $45 for a bus ticket from Sofia to Thessaloniki based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $12 which is on 2025-05-05.

Usually Citylines will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from Sofia to Thessaloniki.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Sofia to Thessaloniki.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Sofia to Thessaloniki.

Did you know?

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

Will you be returning to Sofia by bus?

Bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki

Top traveled bus routes

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Cheap buses leaving today

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Bus Sofia to Thessaloniki: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Sofia to Thessaloniki Bus

Where are the popular stops in Sofia and Thessaloniki?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Sofia - Thessaloniki

Is there a way to reach Thessaloniki from Sofia without a car?

How long is the bus ride from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

What is the distance between Sofia and Thessaloniki?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

What is the cheapest way to travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

Can you do a day trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki?

What are the best sights and things to do in Thessaloniki?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Sofia by bus?

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

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