Bulgaria railway info
Since the first railway line opened in Bulgaria in 1865, the railway network has widely expanded. The country offers over 4000 km of rail tracks. The train is not the fastest way of transport on every route, but does offer many scenic views. The two major train routes are Sofia - Varna and Sofia - Bourgas.
Railway company
Visit the website of the Bulgarian railway company BDZ: English version / Bulgarian.
Another useful website:
BGrazpisanie.com - Bulgaria public transport planner
Bulgarian rail network
The two major train routes are Sofia - Varna (duration: 7-8 hours) and Sofia - Burgas (duration: 6-7 hours). You can also travel both routes overnight. The main train station is the Central Station ('Tsentralna Gara') in Sofia, where most international trains depart and arrive.
Bulgaria is starting to develop high-speed lines that will offer fast links with Turkey, Serbia and Romania.
There are various connections with other European countries:
- Sofia - Belgrade - one day train and one night train
- Sofia - Bucharest - one day train and one night train
- Sofia - Thessaloniki
- Svilengrad - Alexandroupolis
- Bulgaria Express from Sofia to Kiev, Moscow, Minsk and Saint Petersburg.
- The Black Sea Train circulates during certain periods of the year from Moscow and Minsk to Varna and vice versa.
- The Bucharest / Istanbul Express - circulating on the route Bucharest / Stara Zagora / Istanbul.
Train Types & Reservations
There are three types of domestic trains in Bulgaria. The local trains, the 'barz' and the slower 'patnicheski', do not require reservations. For the Express trains ('Expresen') seat reservation is compulsory. Such trains travel run Sofia - Plovdiv, Sofia-Varna, Sofia -Burgas and v.v.
Reservations cost about 0,50 euro. You may have to pay additional commission though. Reservations can be made at the Rila travel agencies, which you can find for example at Sofia train station. See for addresses the BDZ website. Good to know: a reservation is called 'zapazeno myasto' in Bulgarian.
