Travelling with a dog or cat from Sofia to Istanbul? It is about 530 km from Sofia to Istanbul’s new airport, roughly 5 hours 30 minutes of driving, plus the time at the Kapitan Andreevo – Kapıkule border. The price is to Istanbul’s new airport, for the whole vehicle, one way: sedan 420 €, minivan 550 €, van 620 €. For any other address in Istanbul the dispatcher confirms the price when you book. Your pet travels only with its owner, in the owner’s own crate or carrier, and you pay after the ride.
Updated: 12 October 2026
What does a pet-friendly taxi from Sofia to Istanbul cost?
Prices in euro, one way, for the vehicle rather than per passenger. The return trip from Istanbul’s new airport to Sofia and the trip from Sofia Airport are in the same table.
| Route | Distance | Time | Sedan | Minivan | Van |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia → Istanbul New Airport | 530 km | 5:30 h | 420 € | 550 € | 620 € |
| Istanbul New Airport → Sofia | 530 km | 5:30 h | 420 € | 550 € | 620 € |
| Sofia Airport → Istanbul New Airport | 530 km | 5:30 h | 420 € | 550 € | 620 € |
Sedan for up to 4 passengers · minivan up to 6 · van up to 8. We work 24/7, with no prepayment, free waiting if your flight is late and child seats at no extra charge.
Call us: +359 897 227 771 · Viber and WhatsApp · Book online · no prepayment
Why go by private car when you travel with a pet?
Many people who move between Bulgaria and Turkey with a dog or a cat find that the alternatives are hard work. Long-distance coaches and trains have their own rules for animals, and a short flight means airport procedures for the pet at both ends. In a private car the animal stays next to you from your door in Sofia to the terminal or address in Istanbul. Nobody else shares the car, we stop when your dog needs a break, and you never have to hand the animal over to anyone.
The car is booked for you alone, so a family with children, luggage and one or two animals pays one price for the whole vehicle.
Which way does the car go from Sofia to Istanbul?
Most of the Bulgarian part is motorway. The car leaves Sofia on the Trakia motorway, passes Plovdiv and, after Chirpan, switches to the Maritsa motorway, which runs past Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo and Harmanli towards Svilengrad and the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint.
On the Turkish side the checkpoint is called Kapıkule. From there the road passes Edirne and continues on the motorway across Eastern Thrace towards Istanbul. Istanbul’s new airport lies in the north of the city, near the Black Sea coast, so we turn towards it before reaching the busy centre. That is why the price shown is to the airport: a hotel in the old city or an address on the Asian side is a different journey, and the dispatcher prices it separately.
- Distance: about 530 km to Istanbul’s new airport
- Driving time: about 5 hours 30 minutes, plus border and breaks
- Border: Kapitan Andreevo (Bulgaria) – Kapıkule (Turkey)
- Vehicle: private, door to door, no change of car
How long is the wait at Kapıkule with a dog or cat in the car?
Kapitan Andreevo – Kapıkule is one of the busiest land crossings in Europe. Turkey is not in the EU, so there are border and customs controls on both sides, and a large number of lorries and cars pass through every day. The crossing can take a few minutes or several hours. Queues tend to be longest in summer, around Turkish public holidays such as Bayram, and at weekends, when many families drive between Western Europe and Turkey.
For a pet, the queue is the hardest part of the trip: the car moves slowly in line and cannot pull out for a walk. A few simple habits make it easier:
- Walk the dog before Svilengrad. We stop at the last convenient petrol station before the border so your dog can stretch its legs before we join the queue.
- Keep the cat zipped in. Doors and windows are opened during the checks. A closed carrier means the cat cannot slip out in an unfamiliar place.
- Think about the heat. In summer the tarmac at the checkpoint gets very hot. The driver keeps the car ventilated, and a light-coloured blanket over the sunny side of the crate helps.
- Consider a night departure. We work 24/7. On many days the motorway is calmer at night, and most animals simply sleep through the drive.
What should you check before taking your pet to Turkey?
Turkey sets its own conditions for bringing dogs and cats into the country, and these can change. Before you travel, check the current entry requirements for pets with the official Turkish authorities, and talk to your vet well in advance so nothing is left to the last week. If you are flying on from Istanbul, check the airline’s own conditions for travelling with animals as well.
We do not check, prepare or issue anything for your pet – our job is the journey itself. Keep everything that belongs to your pet in a bag inside the cabin with you, not in the boot.
Where can your dog stretch its legs on the way?
With five and a half hours of driving we usually plan two or three breaks, but the driver stops whenever your dog needs it:
- On the Trakia motorway near Plovdiv. About an hour and a half from Sofia. The petrol stations along the motorway have parking areas with some grass away from the pumps.
- On the Maritsa motorway before Svilengrad. The most important stop of the day – the last walk before the border queue. Take your time here.
- In Turkey, after Edirne. There are roadside service areas with parking along the Turkish motorway. If your dog was calm at the border, it can have another short walk before the last stretch to the airport.
Keep your dog on a lead at every stop – petrol stations in both countries are busy with cars and lorries. A cat should stay in its carrier for the whole journey. In summer, watch out for hot tarmac under your dog’s paws and look for shade.
Flying from Istanbul with your pet?
Many of our passengers on this route are on their way to a flight from Istanbul’s new airport. Timing is everything: tell us your departure time and the dispatcher will suggest when to leave Sofia, with a margin for the border, the walks and the traffic around the airport. We drop you at the departures level.
Arriving in Istanbul by plane and heading to Bulgaria with your pet? We drive in the other direction too, and if your flight is late, the waiting is free and unlimited.
Which vehicle suits your pet and its crate?
We have around 200 sedans, 50 minivans, 100 vans and 20 S/E-Class cars. On a drive this long the crate should sit firmly and the animal should have room to lie down. When you book, tell us the type and size of the animal and the size of the crate:
- Sedan – up to 4 passengers; fine for a cat or a small dog in a carrier.
- Minivan – up to 6 passengers; for a medium or large crate or more suitcases.
- Van – up to 8 passengers; for a big dog in a big crate, two animals or a house move.
- S/E-Class – a quieter, roomier car for a small pet in a carrier.
The crate or carrier is provided by you (our Terms, point 50.4) – we do not supply them. Child seats are free of charge.
How do I book the transfer?
- Check the price to Istanbul’s new airport in the calculator above.
- Call +359 897 227 771, message us on Viber or WhatsApp, or use the online booking form.
- Give us your Sofia address, your destination in Istanbul or your flight time, the number of passengers and details of your pet.
- The dispatcher confirms the vehicle and the price – including for an Istanbul address other than the airport.
- You pay after the ride, with no prepayment.
Related pages
- Pet-friendly taxi and airport transfers in Bulgaria
- Taxi with a dog from Sofia to Thessaloniki
- Pet-friendly transfer from Sofia to Bucharest
- Taxi with a dog in Bulgaria – what to know
- Plovdiv – Istanbul with a dog or cat (in Bulgarian)
- Travelling abroad with a dog or cat (in Bulgarian)
- Sofia – Istanbul with a dog or cat (in Bulgarian)
Frequently asked questions
Is the price for Istanbul Airport or for the city?
The price in the calculator and the table is to Istanbul’s new airport. If you are going to a hotel, a home or another district of Istanbul, give us the address when you book and the dispatcher will confirm the price for it.
Which border crossing do we use with our dog?
Kapitan Andreevo on the Bulgarian side, which is Kapıkule on the Turkish side, near Svilengrad and Edirne. It is the most direct crossing between Sofia and Istanbul.
How long can the queue at Kapıkule be?
It changes from day to day – from a few minutes to several hours. Summer, Turkish public holidays such as Bayram, and weekends are usually the busiest. Leaving at night or early in the morning often helps.
We have a flight from Istanbul. When should we leave Sofia?
Count about 5 hours 30 minutes of driving, plus walks for your pet and a generous margin for the border, which nobody can predict exactly. Tell us your departure time and the dispatcher will suggest a pick-up time.
Who is responsible for our cat’s entry requirements for Turkey?
You, as the owner. The requirements are set by the Turkish authorities and can change, so check them with the official Turkish authorities and your vet before the trip. We provide the transport only.
Can our dog travel to Istanbul without us?
No. We carry pets only together with their owner, in the owner’s own crate or carrier.
Can you bring us back from Istanbul to Sofia with the pet?
Yes. The price for the return direction is in the table on this page, and you can book both directions at once.