London to Turkey by bus

The first phase of ticket purchase from anywhere in Britain to Sofia via Eurolines UK website BOOK TICKET NOW

A long-distance bus and coach schedule between Sofia and Turkey CHECK HERE

From London to Turkey by coach

Travelling from London to Turkey by coach is possible. The journey as well as the purchase of tickets is not complicated. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to complete the whole journey from London to Turkey with single connection. Only a part of the journey will be performed by Eurolines, at a distance from London to Sofia in Bulgaria. The second stage of the journey from Sofia to Istambul or to the different destination in Turkey, will be performed by a local bus/coach operator.

The new Eurolines winter timetable allows bookings from London to Sofia at www.eurolines.co.uk. Details presented below.

So in a very uncomplicated way the journey from London to Turkey by coach can be conventionally divided into two stages. One part of the journey from London to Sofia is with the Eurolines. After arriving in Sofia, you must use the services of other carriers. Some of them are associated in the Eurolines group.
Along the way you'll see amazing landscapes in France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.
 The coach ride between London and Sofia takes approximately 48 hours. There are up to 2 connections per week between the UK and Turkey in both directions. For exact timetable see Eurolines website. 
It is recommended to book tickets online in advance at least several days prior to departure.
When arriving in Sofia, you can use services of the operator Metro Turizm (Metro Plyus). It is quite modern carrier or use the services of other local carriers. One-way fare to Istambul costs about 20 GBP, for the return ticket you’ll pay about 35 GBP. Tickets are available at the station in Sofia. Coaches and buses from Sofia to Turkey run from the same bus station. Eurolines are high-class vehicles equipped with toilet, air conditioning, reclining seats, radio and TV. Long-distance bus and coach schedule between Sofia and Turkey

Coach travel is the easiest, cheapest, most popular way to travel between Bulgaria and Turkey. (If you think that the coaches are old and uncomfortable, then you'll be very surprised).
The coaches operated by many of large and small companies, are modern and comfortable, with air conditioning, entertainment, in some of them are stewards they'll bring you snacks and drinks, and even free Wi-Fi. Turkish coaches aren’t usually equipped with onboard toilets, so use the facilities in the terminal before your board, and at the „mola” (brake points) about every 2 to 2.5 hours along the way. Drinks, snacks and meals are avilable at the stops, and smokers light up (no smoking is allowed on public buses or coaches). Departures are frequent, and fares are low to moderate. Most fares are quite reasonable. Often, coach and bus services are so frequent you needn't reserve in advance, except around holidays.

 The citizens of some European countries, when travelling via Serbia and Turkey must have a valid passport and visa. The cheapest way to travel to Turkey is definitely the coach. If you are on a tight budget, then taking the coach in Europe can offer some amazing cost savings.
Whilst offering excellent fares some of these coach companies featured offering a very high quality service - you can expect reclining seats, extra hold luggage, free wifi, sometimes they offer you free tea or coffee and you also have power sockets at each seat.

Note that timetables and fares are subject to change and EuropeBus can't guarantee accuracy of this information. Go to Eurolines website to see current timetable and prices and book a ticket for an international journey

Discover Turkey

Istanbul - the largest city in Turkey, the world's only city situated on two continents. There are countless number of interesting places to visit in Istanbul, and every tourist will find something interesting: monuments from all eras of history, beautiful mosques, museums with rich collections, shopping malls, gourmet restaurants, etc. Useful guides: Lonely Planet Publications

Useful links to coach timetables & fares

• London to Turkey

How to buy tickets & some helpful information

• How to buy coach tickets from the UK to Turkey online?
• A special coach ticket for those living outside London
• How is the journey from London to Turkey by coach?
• Are you looking for a budget hotel or hostel in Europe?
• Get a travel insurance for the journey to Turkey
• Currency Exchange online
• Car rental in Turkey
• Book your Theme Park Tickets with the UK market leader! - AttractionTix

The Eurolines coach network is an inexpensive way to travel through Europe. Eurolines coaches have different categories, from Standard class to Business class and they go everywhere. You can reserve seats in advance on the internet.

Eurolines operators

Eurolines is a coalition of independant bus and coach companies that operate under one brand name. They serve the majority of European countries, reaching hundreds of destinations across Europe from Ireland to Russia and from Norway to Portugal. Some also serve Turkey and Morocco. Eurolines coaches are comfortable and upscale.
You can reserve a seat online, If your journey begins from the UK, you just go on the Eurolines UK web page. The Eurolines offices are usually located inside the long distance bus stations, but it can also be a travel agent in the city.

Eurolines & National Express in one booking

National Express has teamed up with Eurolines to bring Europe that little bit closer to you. And you can get there in one easy booking. Just enter the name of the place from which you start the journey, in the box defining the place of departure. London will automatically be treated as a transfer point. Book your international travel through the National Express website.

Trains & airlines from the UK to Turkey

If our information is insufficient for you to convince you to travel by coach, or simply you don’t like this transportation arrangement then we encourage you to take advantage of rail or flight services. If you want to travel from the London to Turkey or vice versa by train we suggest you to visit the Voyages-sncf website, while good flights between Britain and Turkey are recommend on the Budget Air’s website

Rail services in Europe are fast, frequent and convenient. Tickets can be bought in advance easily via a train reservation service available at Voyages-sncf.com
Regular European air link services can be checked and booked at www.budgetair.co.uk. Flights connections are available to various destinations in Europe and worldwide.

To Turkey by coach, see current international timetables & fares

London to Turkey via Sofia

If you are planning to go to Bulgaria you can travel from London using a Eurolines coach to Frankfurt, the direct overnight connection, then an another Eurolines coach from Frankfurt to Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Burgas and Varna. You can book the Eurolines London - Bulgaria coach at www.eurolines.co.uk.

London to Istambul

<sub>M = Monday, T= Tuesday, W = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday, n = Daily except...
* = Channel crossing is with Eurotunnel on Fridays from Sofia
© = You’ll need to change coach in Frankfurt, changeover in Sofia
➀ = Day 1, ➁ = Day 2, ➂ = Day 3, ➃ = Day 4</sub>

London to Istambul fares

Information about coach fares from London to Sofia are presented at the Bulgaria page. The price for travel from Sofia to Istanbul is 50 TL (Turkish Lira) about 20 GBP.

How to buy tickets online for travel from London to Turkey?

Unfortunately you can’t buy a ticket for the entire journey from London to Turkey in one place. Tickets must be purchased separately for the route from the UK to Sofia at www.eurolines.co.uk and then separately for the route from Sofia to Turkey at the station in Sofia or from the driver. To purchase some tickets online you can do it directly at the Europebus’s home page using a journey planner provided and through relevant links. You can also do it on the Eurolines or National Express’ websites. Simply fill out all fields in the journey planner and follow the instructions to buy a ticket.
Passengers with open date return tickets, must confirm/reserve their return journey with a local Eurolines office at least 4 days before the date they wish to travel. Simply phone the Eurolines office in Sofia: +359 2832 1032

• Detailed information on purchasing tickets
• Buy a ticket online now.
• Eurolines in Bulgaria
• Long-distance bus and coach schedule between Sofia and Turkey
• Metro Turizm’s website (Turkish coach operator)

Travelling to Europe from outside London

National Express together with Eurolines offer nationwide connections to London for a simple add-on price of £15 single or return. Just enter the name of the place from which you start the journey, in the box defining the place of departure. London will automatically be treated as a transfer point. Unfortunately, this option is only available for certain Eurolines connections, so if you won’t be able to purchase a ticket with this option, you'll have to buy two separate tickets. One ticket for access into London by National Express, the second ticket for the international Eurolines route from London. 
It's easy. Buy a ticket online now

The journey from London to Turkey by Eurolines and Metro Turizm

All Eurolines’ coaches have on-board toilet and washroom facilities, reclining seats and air-conditioning as standard.
 Sometimes the coach that picks you up from your departure point has only the final destination displayed on the front windscreen. This is because the majority of Eurolines routes include multiple stops and it would be impractical to display every stop on the front windscreen. Also, you may have booked a journey which requires a change of coach. In both examples, please ask the driver to confirm that his/her coach is going to the destination stated on your ticket. 
Eurolines put the safety and comfort of passengers first, so the vehicles are equipped with a large number of safeguards. The operators are using modern vehicles with large panoramic windows and increased legroom.

Eurolines coach services to Italy depart from Victoria Coach Station in London which is located close to Victoria Underground and bus stations. Eurolines coaches arrive in at the main bus terminal in Sofia.
The carrier provides service to any person who has purchased a ticket. Number of tickets for the designated route is limited to the number of seats. Having a valid ticket guarantees you use of the service (seat on the coach), however it does not reserve any particular place.
Single and return tickets (with the indicated date and time) are for a specific journey, you cannot miss the departure, because you will lose the ticket.
Best to buy tickets well in advance. Eurolines has many discounts for those who decide to purchase tickets in advance. Constant, although a slight discount is provided for youth, elderly and disabled people. Up to 50% discount is provided for children. Unless you get a good promotional fare (mostly the FunFare ticket), return fares are much cheaper than two single fares each way.

Turkish coach company "Metro Turizm" now has departures from Istambul at 20:30 and 23:00 (arr. Sofia at 6.30 and 8:30), and departures from Sofia at 20:30 and 23:00 (arr Istambul at 6:30 and 9:00). There are about 4-5 buses every day. The journey time is about 10.5 hours.

• Buy a ticket online now
• Eurolines in Bulgaria
• Long-distance bus and coach schedule between Sofia and Turkey
• Metro Turizm’s website (Turkish coach operator)

• Before leaving home for your Eurolines service, check you have packed all documents and items needed for your journey, especially your ticket, passport (sometimes it is enough to travel with ID card) and if your journey requires a special visa to enter or transit.
• Arrive at the Victoria Coach Station in London at least one hour before the departure time, as check-in proceedings are quite lengthy. Customers need to check-in at the Eurolines check-in office located adjacent to Gate 19. Check-in commences one hour before departure and closes 15 minutes before to enable all customers to board and to ensure a prompt departure.
• Your luggage should be marked tags bearing name, address and telephone. Please weigh your luggage at home.
• Never accept other persons luggage for transport! Should you notice any luggage left unattended, never touch it! Report the fact to the station’s service staff immediately. Never leave your luggage unattended!
• When approaching the check-in desk, have your passport and ticket ready. This will streamline the procedure.
• Border control & customs: When going through security check, place all metal items such as keys, watches, belts with large buckles, mobile phones, walkmans, small change etc in the boxes, and place them on the conveyor belt of the X-ray machine together with your hand luggage & suitcases. It is advisable to place your overcoats in the boxes. This will streamline and facilitate security control.
• If needed, remember to take your doctor’s certificates.

Check-In at London Victoria Coach Station

You need to check-in at the Eurolines check-in office located adjacent to Gate 19. Check in commences one hour before departure and closes 15 minutes before to enable all customers to board and to ensure a prompt departure. You should have your passports and other travel documents ready for inspection at check-in. A boarding card for each customer and luggage labels will be issued and customers will be advised from which gate their coach will leave. Check in time at other UK departure points is 30 minutes before departure. If the office for check-in is already closed, check-in takes place directly on the coach. Buy a ticket online now.

Check-In in Turkey and Bulgaria

You must check-in no later than 30 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket. Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure.
If there’s no office for check-in, then check-in takes place directly on the coach. Services returning to London arrive in Victoria Coach Station’s Arrivals terminal, customers making onward coach connections will need to cross the street to the Departures terminal

Sea crossings

This route involves a sea crossing which, depending on which service you are on, will either by Eurotunnel or by ferry (check timetables for specific information). On arrival at the ferry port or Eurotunnel terminal customers will be required to disembark from the coach and pass through both UK and destination country Border Control offices and show their Passports. Normally customers are not required to be accompanied by their luggage, however occasionally Border Control officials do require customers to take their own luggage with them.

Refreshment stops

Refreshment stops are taken periodically throughout the journey providing the opportunity for refreshment and shipping services used by Eurolines provide a range of shops, restaurants and other facilities.

Carriage of luggage

All Eurolines customers must label their luggage which will be loaded into the hold of the coach and will normally remain there until arrival at the destination or interchange point. The coach driver will load and unload customers’ luggage but customers are responsible for seeing their own luggage onto and off the coach on which they are travelling.
One medium sized suitcase is carried free of charge from London. A charge of 5,-€ will be made for a second piece, and if space permits, a charge of 25,-€ for a third piece. Buy a ticket online now

Are you looking for a budget hotel or hostel in Europe?

On our  Accommodation page you can book a hotel room or place in a hostel. This is the online hotel reservation system, easy to use. With this tool you can choose from thousands of hotel offered all over the world. You also save time and money because you do not pay intermediaries.

Travel insurance

The best way to protect against unexpected accidents is to buy travel insurance. In my opinion, so that the journey is stress-free, you should never travel without travel insurance. You can insure only for travel, it’s possible directly on the Eurolines website, during ticket purchase. You can also insure individually with another insurer. This will be the insurance that will apply during the journey and while in a foreign country. The insurance should cover: loss of cash and goods, cancellation of travel and medical treatment abroad. If you travel several times a year and want to save money, you may want to buy an annual insurance policy. Click here to buy insurance.

Currency

The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira. Do you want to exchange currency? Currency Exchange online

If you're going on holiday, a prepaid currency card is a great item to have in your wallet. Here, we take a closer look at prepaid card option from My Travel Cash. There are a lots of great reasons why using a one of MyTravelCashs’ currency cards. They've found that different types of travellers use their products for different reasons, so, they've created special tailored products, for exapmle: Euro Currency Card, US Dollar Currency Card and Multi-Currency Card.
However, if you think that the traditional exchange of currency is a better option for you, then use the home delivery service offered by Post Office Travel Money. It’s a convenient and fantastic value option.
Post Office Travel Money has been awarded Best Foreign Exchange Provider for the last 3 years running by the British Travel Awards.  You can order online and get currency or Travellers’ Cheques delivered to your front door or pick up from one of 12,000 local Post Office branches.

Visit My Travel Cash and Post Office Travel Money websites and choose most convenient option.

Car Rental

If you need a car abroad, please use the information provided on Rent a car page. There you can rent a car online with proven rental agency located throughout Europe. You will save money because you do not have to pay commission to the agent. Car hire online