Plovdiv to Istanbul Airport transfer from €350 per vehicle, about 400 km. Edirne and central Istanbul on request. No prepayment, 24/7.
Plovdiv to Istanbul is about four and a quarter hours by car to the new Istanbul Airport and about five and a half hours to the old city, not counting the border. Edirne, the first Turkish city across the border, is about two and a half hours away. People living in Plovdiv use this route for long-haul flights from Istanbul, for cheaper tickets, for business, or simply for a day out in Edirne. Visitors also combine the two cities: a few days in Plovdiv’s Old Town, then on to Istanbul by road. Here are the Unitrans prices, the road we take and how to plan the border crossing.
Plovdiv → Istanbul Airport (IST)
400 km · 4:15 h
350 € / car
Plovdiv → Edirne
180 km · 2:30 h
on request
Plovdiv → Istanbul old city
425 km · 5:30 h
on request
Plovdiv → Sabiha Gökçen Airport
475 km · 6:30 h
on request
* Prices are per vehicle, not per person. Times are for the drive, without the wait at the Kapitan Andreevo border.
Plovdiv to Istanbul Airport: prices
Istanbul Airport (IST), the new main airport, lies north of the city near the Black Sea coast. From Bulgaria you reach it faster than the city centre because the car stays out of city traffic. This is the one Istanbul destination with a fixed line in our price list:
A hotel in Sultanahmet, the old Atatürk Airport, the Asian side or Sabiha Gökçen Airport are priced on request. Send us the exact address and we will give you the price straight away, before you confirm anything.
Old city (Sultanahmet)
Distance: about 425 km
Time: about 5 h 30 min
Price: on request
Atatürk Airport
Distance: about 415 km
Time: about 5 h
Price: on request
Asian side
Distance: about 480 km
Time: about 6 h 30 min
Price: on request
Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Distance: about 475 km
Time: about 6 h 30 min
Price: on request
Times are from our price list. Istanbul traffic is heavy, and at rush hour the last stretch into the centre or across the Bosphorus can take longer.
Edirne is about 180 km from Plovdiv, around 2 h 30 min plus the border. It was the Ottoman capital before Istanbul, and the Selimiye Mosque by the architect Sinan is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Add the old bazaars, the bridges over the Tundzha and Maritsa rivers and the local liver dish, and it makes an easy day trip. We can drop you in Edirne, or the driver can wait and bring you back in the evening. The Edirne price is on request: tell us the date, the number of people and how many hours you want to stay.
The road to Edirne: Trakia and Maritsa motorways, then Svilengrad and the Kapitan Andreevo border. The map starts at Plovdiv Airport, so its distance and time differ slightly. (Labels in Bulgarian.)
From Plovdiv the car takes the Trakia motorway east, then the Maritsa motorway past Haskovo and Harmanli to Svilengrad. The Kapitan Andreevo crossing (Kapıkule on the Turkish side) is just beyond Svilengrad. Edirne is about 20 km further, and from there a Turkish motorway runs to Istanbul.
There are two checks, Bulgarian and Turkish. This is an external EU and Schengen border, so passport control is full in both directions. Nobody can tell you in advance how long it will take. On a weekday out of season it is often quick; in summer, around the Bayram holidays and on long weekends the queue can take hours. We do not promise a border time, but we suggest a departure time with a safety margin. For more on documents and busy days, read Kapitan Andreevo border: waiting times.
Documents: a valid passport is the safest choice; check Turkish entry rules for your nationality before you travel. Every child needs their own document.
Breaks: if you want coffee or a restroom, ask the driver before the border, not in the queue.
The car’s papers are the driver’s job.
Flying out of Istanbul
Work back from your departure time: about 4 h 15 min to Istanbul Airport, an unknown time at the border, and at least three hours at the airport for an international flight. For a morning flight that often means leaving Plovdiv during the night. Our dispatchers work 24/7 and a night ride costs the same as a day ride.
To Istanbul Airport: about 400 km from Plovdiv. The map starts at Plovdiv Airport. (Labels in Bulgarian.)
From Istanbul back to Plovdiv
Landing in Istanbul on the way home? Send us your flight number. We track it, and if it is late the driver waits at the airport at no extra cost and with no time limit. The price for Istanbul to Plovdiv is given by phone or in the chat: Istanbul Airport to Plovdiv transfer. Starting from Plovdiv Airport? The price is the same as from the city: €350/500/600 to Istanbul Airport.
Why Unitrans
Based in Plovdiv. Dispatchers answer the phone 24/7, and we reply in the chat almost instantly, day and night.
A vehicle for every group. Around 200 cars, 50 minivans, 100 buses and 20 S- and E-class cars.
No prepayment. The price is per vehicle and you know it when you book.
Children. Infant carriers, boosters and child seats at no extra cost.
At an address the driver waits 15 minutes.
How to book
Call us or write on Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram. Bookings are taken in English by phone, or in the chat in your language. Tell us your address in Plovdiv, the exact address or airport in Turkey, the date and time, the number of people and suitcases, and your flight time if you are flying.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a transfer from Plovdiv to Istanbul Airport?
From the Unitrans price list: €350 by car for up to 4 people, €500 by minivan for up to 6 and €600 by minibus for up to 8. About 400 km and 4 h 15 min, without the border.
How far is Edirne from Plovdiv?
About 180 km and about 2 h 30 min, not counting the wait at Kapitan Andreevo. The price to Edirne is on request.
Can the driver wait in Edirne and bring us back?
Yes. Tell us how many hours you want to stay when you book. The price for this trip is on request, and you know it before you confirm.
How long is the wait at the border?
Nobody can say in advance. On a weekday out of season it is often quick; in summer, at Bayram and on holidays it can be hours. That is why we suggest a departure time with a margin.
How much is a transfer to central Istanbul or Sabiha Gökçen?
On request. The old city is about 425 km and 5 h 30 min away, Sabiha Gökçen about 475 km and 6 h 30 min. Send us the address and we will quote straight away.
Do I have to pay in advance?
No. There is no prepayment. The price is agreed when you book and paid to the driver.
