Bulgaria
Venture out on a unique Interrail adventure in Bulgaria. We tell you about trains, places to visit, events, Interrail passes and more.
Travel is back! Make sure to book your seat reservations well in advance to guarantee your seat(s).
Would you rather avoid reservations all together? Check out our reservation-free itineraries.
:
:
:
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Trains in Bulgaria
Bulgaria offers over 4000 km of rail track. The main rail hub is in the capital city Sofia, which has connections to Romania, Serbia and Turkey. Experience diverse scenic views onboard Bulgaria's trains.
Train types in Bulgaria
The train network in Bulgaria is operated by the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ). You can look up train times on the Interrail train timetable or on the BDZ website.
- Route Map
- Domestic Trains
Domestic trains in Bulgaria
Expresen Vlak
Faster trains (routes: Sofia to Plovdiv, Sofia to Varna, Sofia to Burgas).
Reservations are required (approximately €0.25, or BGN 0.50 in local currency).
Barz Vlak
Local 'rapid' trains.
No reservation needed.
Patnicheski
Slower local trains.
No reservation needed.
You can bring your bike on the train in Bulgaria. The fee is 2 BGN (Bulgarian lev, approximately €1) and you can pay this at the ticket desk.
Popular Connections in Bulgaria
- Domestic routes
- International routes
The following routes using trains in Bulgaria don't require reservations:
Route |
Travel time |
| Plovdiv to Burgas | 5 hours |
| Sofia to Burgas | 8 hours |
| Sofia to Plovdiv | 3.5 hours |
| Sofia to Varna | 7.5 hours |
Sofia has direct international train connections to several countries. Reservations are recommended.
| Route | Which train? | Travel time | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia to Bucharest (Romania) | International (INT 460) | 11.5 hours | Required |
| Sofia to Budapest (Hungary) | Intercity (INT 490, NT 340, FT 340) | 20 hours | Required |
| Sofia to Thessaloniki (Greece) | Regional (RE 361) | 7 hours | Required |
| Sofia to Istanbul (Turkey)* | International (INT) | 13 hours | Optional |
*The train from Sofia to Istanbul ends at Istanbul Halkali station for an undefined period of time. This is a suburban station about 25 kilometers west of the city's central station.
Reservations for trains in Bulgaria
Which trains in Bulgaria require reservations?
Expresen Vlak
Cost: Approximately €0.25, or BGN 0.50 in local currency.
You may have to pay an extra commission.
How can I make reservations for Expresen Vlak trains in Bulgaria?
At Rila travel agencies, which you can find at train stations across Bulgaria.
Check locations on the BDZ website.
A reservation is called "zapazeno myasto" in Bulgarian.
Get your Pass for Bulgaria
Interrail Global Pass
Explore up to 33 European countries by rail including Bulgaria
Youth, senior and family discounts available
Prices from € 185
Tips and Tricks for Bulgaria
Spelling of names in Bulgaria
The local spelling of Bulgarian cities can be found at train stations in Bulgaria and on timetables in the country.
Good to know:
Sofiya (written as "София") = Sofia
Get inspired
-
![bulgaria-sofia-masthead-best-of-2020-interrail]()
-
![Bran Castle in Romania]()
Central Europe and Balkans There's so much to see in Central Europe! Travel by train with Interrail through stunning landscapes and charming cities. What's your next stop? -
![switzerland-glacier-express-tunnel-on-mountain-mastheas]()
10 tips for winter rail travel Here are our top 10 tips to help you get the most out of your Interrail adventure this winter. Find out what you can do!
Change of currency
You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.