An independent English guide to Bulgaria
Practical · Rail and road
Trains and buses: getting around without a car
Bulgaria's railway runs on a network of about 4,000 km, centred on Sofia, with lines east to Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna, night trains to the coast and a narrow-gauge line through the mountains. Buses fill the gaps. This page explains how the system works, what is running internationally, and how to buy tickets.
The network in brief
Sofia is the main hub, with lines running east towards Plovdiv and the Black Sea and north towards the Danube. The railway is being modernised with EU money: Wikipedia cites EUR 3.3 billion of infrastructure investment planned for 2021–2027 and a EUR 1.4 billion purchase of new rolling stock announced in 2023, and BDZ reports new locomotives entering service. Expect a mix of new and elderly trains, and engineering works that change timetables.
Sources: Wikipedia — Rail transport in Bulgaria; Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller); BDZ — Bulgarian State Railways passenger site · last checked .
Timetables and fares
BDZ publishes timetables and sells tickets online through its own booking system. Its fares are dynamic: they depend on the length of the trip and on the day and time you travel, and the ticket office can give full fare details. BDZ also publishes real-time running information for passenger trains.
For journey times, use the BDZ journey planner for your date rather than a figure from a guidebook. The current international timetable, according to the Seat61 rail guide, runs from 13 December 2026 to 11 December 2027; domestic timetables can also change during the year when lines are under repair.
On some trains a seat reservation is needed. Interrail says reservations can be made at Rila travel agencies, found in stations across Bulgaria, and that a reservation is called "zapazeno myasto". Its published reservation fee is still quoted in leva, so check the current euro price.
Sources: BDZ — Bulgarian State Railways passenger site; The Man in Seat 61 — London to Bulgaria by train (independent rail guide, updated 25 October 2026); Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller) · last checked .
Main routes for visitors
| Route | What runs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sofia – Plovdiv | Day trains | Bulgaria's first electrified line; 144 km apart |
| Sofia – Burgas | Day and night trains | Night trains popular in summer |
| Sofia – Varna | Day and night trains | Night trains popular in summer |
| Septemvri – Bansko – Dobrinishte | Narrow-gauge trains | Avramovo, 1,267.4 m, highest station in the Balkans |
| Sofia/Plovdiv – Istanbul | Night train | Only international night train; book at stations |
| Sofia – Ruse – Bucharest | Daily train | Change at Ruse; no catering |
This table shows what runs, not how often. Check frequencies and times with BDZ for your date.
Sources: Wikipedia — Rail transport in Bulgaria; Wikipedia — Plovdiv; Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller); The Man in Seat 61 — London to Bulgaria by train (independent rail guide, updated 25 October 2026) · last checked .
Night trains to the coast
Bulgaria has several domestic night trains, all running from Sofia to the east. Those to Varna and Burgas, on the Black Sea, are popular in summer. If you plan to travel in July or August, reserve as early as BDZ allows. A night train saves both a hotel night and a day on the road, which matters on a short trip.
Sources: Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller) · last checked .
International trains
International rail links are limited at present. Interrail reports that the only international daytime connections run to and from Romania, and that connections to Serbia and Greece are suspended. The only international night train links Sofia and Plovdiv with Istanbul (Halkali); it uses Turkish couchette and sleeping cars and can only be booked at stations.
For Romania, the Seat61 guide describes a daily train between Sofia and Bucharest with a change at Ruse. It crosses the Danube between Ruse and Giurgiu on a 2.5 km bridge and has no catering, so bring food and drink. Travellers coming from western Europe by train currently reach Sofia via Romania, Seat61 says, because the Zagreb–Belgrade train is suspended and the Belgrade–Sofia route is disrupted.
Sources: Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller); The Man in Seat 61 — London to Bulgaria by train (independent rail guide, updated 25 October 2026) · last checked .
The narrow-gauge railway
The 760 mm line from Septemvri to Dobrinishte, completed in 1945, is described by Wikipedia as scenic and very attractive to tourists. It passes Avramovo, the highest railway station in the Balkans at 1,267.4 m, and serves Bansko. It is unelectrified and mostly diesel-hauled, with preserved steam engines on special trips. Local people use it as everyday transport, so it is a working railway rather than a tourist attraction. BDZ features it as the Rhodope narrow-gauge railway.
Sources: Wikipedia — Rail transport in Bulgaria; BDZ — Bulgarian State Railways passenger site · last checked .
Buses
Buses reach many places the railway does not, including mountain towns and resorts. Bansko, for example, has bus connections to Sofia, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Razlog and Gotse Delchev, as well as its train. Along the coast, local buses link the resorts and towns.
Two cautions from the UK Foreign Office: watch for pickpockets on buses and trains and at transport hubs, and take particular care on the bus between Nessebar and Sunny Beach, where thefts have increased.
Sources: Wikipedia — Bansko; UK Foreign Office — Bulgaria safety and security · last checked .
The Sofia metro
Sofia's metro opened in 1998. As of 2026 it has four lines, 50 stations and 55 km of route, and it serves Vasil Levski Sofia Airport. Interrail notes that you can take the metro from Sofia central railway station to the airport and the city centre. A single ride costs EUR 0.80.
Sources: Wikipedia — Sofia Metro; Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller) · last checked .
Planning a rail day
- 01
Look up the train
Use the BDZ journey planner for your exact date; timetables change.
- 02
Check the fare
Fares are dynamic, so the price depends on the day and time.
- 03
Reserve where needed
Night trains to the coast in summer and the Istanbul train need booking ahead.
- 04
Bring supplies
Some international services, such as the Ruse–Bucharest leg, have no catering.
- 05
Watch your bags
Keep valuables close on trains and at stations.
Sources: BDZ — Bulgarian State Railways passenger site; Interrail — trains in Bulgaria (pass seller); The Man in Seat 61 — London to Bulgaria by train (independent rail guide, updated 25 October 2026); UK Foreign Office — Bulgaria safety and security · last checked .
When train and bus do not suit
- Mountain days that depend on an early lift and an infrequent connection back.
- Itineraries with many short hops in a few days.
- Travel on the busiest summer weekends to the coast without a reservation.
In those cases a car may be easier; see driving and vignettes.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Can I buy Bulgarian train tickets online?
Yes, through the BDZ online booking and ticketing system. Fares are dynamic and depend on the day and time.
Is there a train from Bulgaria to Greece?
Interrail reported on 28 October 2026 that connections to Greece and Serbia were suspended.
How do I get from Sofia airport to the centre?
The metro serves Vasil Levski Sofia Airport; a single ride costs EUR 0.80.
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