Bulgaria
General train travel information for BULGARIA. Rail travel tours, accommodation, sightseeing.
Brief History
Bulgaria's railway history began in the late 19th century, connecting cities and towns. The Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) was established in 1948 as the national railway company. Modernization efforts followed, including electrification and improved services. Bulgaria aims to align its railways with European standards and continues infrastructure developments to enhance connectivity and trade.
General Information and Statistics
Bulgarian State Railways is the largest railway carrier in the country. The company carried 21.3 million passengers in 2019.
There are 4,071 kilometres of railway lines in Bulgaria (2019).
In 2019, there were 4,071 kilometres of standard gauge railways, of which 67% were electrified.
What connections to other countries there are.
There are frequent train services to all neighbouring countries including the Romania, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Serbia.
Are trains fast in Bulgaria in general? How much time to cross the country?
G Bulgarian trains are not as fast as most trains in Europe, trains reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h. The journey from Sofia to Burgas takes 5:33 hours and to get from Kardzhali to Pleven takes about 11 hours and 20 minutes with two transfers.
What railway companies are available?
The main operator of passenger railway services in Bulgaria is Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ). They offer a wide range of passenger trains, including international and domestic routes.
However, in addition to BDZ, there are some international companies that provide passenger railway services in Bulgaria, such as:
• "Căile Ferate Române" (Romanian Railways) - the national railway company of Romania, which offers trains between Bulgaria and Romania.
• "Makedonski Železnici" (Macedonian Railways) - the national railway company of North Macedonia, which offers trains between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
• "Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları" (Turkish State Railways) - the national railway company of Turkey, which offers trains between Bulgaria and Turkey.
What train types are available in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, various types of trains are available to cater to different travel needs. Here are the main train types you can find:
• KPV / Krajgradski pъtnicki vlak is a commuter train. These trains serve the most densely populated areas of the country and connect major cities with the nearest villages.
• The Pvtnski Vlak is a universal train that travels in the territory of Bulgaria. It travels for distances up to 150 kilometers. The trains travel between two major regional centers and stop at all stations. This is the most popular type of train among Bulgarians.
• B'rz vlak are faster and more comfortable trains. They cover the length of the routes from 200 km. They stop in large cities, bypassing small stops.
• RRB/byrz vlak with long reservations are high-speed trains, for which tickets must be reserved. There are about a dozen of them running around the country. Also, these trains have their own names: "Rodopi", "Golden Sands", "Chaika.
• MBV/International Brz Vlak is a standard high-speed train, but you can also take it abroad.
Are there high-speed-trains available?
Of course, there are some low-speed passenger trains serving the distant regions of Bulgaria, but the main cities of country are connected by a higher-speed railway. The trains serving the line boast fast travel times, and offer everything you might for a stress-free trip.
Most important train stations / hubs.
In Bulgaria, several train stations serve as important hubs and major transportation centers. Here are some of the most important railway stations in the country: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas , Ruse
Websites to buy train tickets for Bulgaria?
bileti.bdz.bg
Mobile apps to buy train tickets in Bulgaria?
No official applications for buying tickets via mobile device were found.
Possible to buy a ticket at a railway station in Bulgaria?
The Bulgarian state railroads provide the sale of transport tickets at railway stations and at ticket agencies. In cases where there is no ticket office at a particular station, passengers buy tickets on the train. You can also buy tickets on the official BZD website.
Can I buy my ticket by phone?
It is not possible to buy tickets over the phone, but customers can get up-to-date information about schedules on domestic and international routes, ticket prices, discounts and group trips, current train movements on specific routes, re-validations and complaint support.
Return the ticket.
• Tickets can be canceled up to 3 hours before the train's departure.
• Refunds for unused tickets can be obtained at the ticket office on the following day or the first working day after a holiday.
• Bed tickets can be returned 24 hours before the train's departure.
• Tickets can be re-validated once if certain conditions are met, such as appearing at the station before departure or missing the train and arriving within 1 hour after its departure.
• Refunds for unused tickets and passes can be requested within 6 months of issuance.
• Refunds are not provided for seat reservations or price differences when choosing shorter routes or lower category trains.
Train ticket prices
Bulgarian railroads offer a wide variety of tickets and passes that offer discounts of up to 50%. During the active season, early ticket sales for seats are scheduled for at least 15 days, and 30 days for sleeping car travel. You can buy tickets for most long-distance journeys within Bulgaria for as little as EUR 12.25 - even on major routes such as Sofia to Burgas.
Cheapest train to the closest nearby country?
Saver fares to neighbouring countries are available from BDZ. For example, from Sofia to Bucharest (Hungary) from EUR 24,75. And from Sofia to Halkali (Turkey) from EUR 21,00.
Where to find timetables.
Find train schedules on https://razpisanie.bdz.bg/bg
Buying tickets in advance or right before the train
The price of train tickets is fixed and there is no difference buying tickets in advance or before the trip. Be careful when buying tickets in the summer season in the direction of the Black Sea coast, in high season tickets need to buy in advance.
Types of tickets.
The Eurail and Interrail Pass is available in Bulgaria. You can also buy a Balkan Flexi Pass (BFP) - a rail pass for unlimited travel in the following countries of Southeast Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The price of such a pass starts at 60 euros for the countries participating in the offer and 91 euros for non-participating countries.
Interrail/Eurail Passes in Bulgaria
The best option is to buy your Eurail or Interrail Pass on the official website.
Saver price.
Ticket prices are fixed. The cheapest tickets are for children, young people, pensioners and people with disabilities.
Is it cheaper to buy round-trip?
When buying return tickets, a 10% discount is given off regular prices. This offer is given for traveling in all categories of trains. For children between 7 and 10 years of age, an additional 50% discount is given; however, a Child railway card must be produced.
When buying return tickets, a 20% discount is given off regular prices along certain routes. This offer is given for traveling in fast and express trains. For children between 7 and 10 years of age an additional 50% discount is given, a Child railway card must be produced.
For travels in suburban zones within distances of up to 50 km on Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays, BDZ EAD offers holiday return tickets at a 20% discount.
Flexible tickets.
The balkan-flexipass is only supposed to be a flexible ticket. in other cases you can buy a one-way ticket or a round-trip ticket.
Rules of boarding.
Before the passenger can enter the train, the staff will check your ticket and passport.
Discounts for group travel.
For small groups of 3-6 passengers, a 15% discount on the normal one-way fare is available. This offer is valid for travel on all train categories. The discount does not apply only to routes with zone fares, as the latter are themselves preferential, i.e. reduced, fares.
In the case of organized groups of travelers at least ten people and one guide, against a list with their names in two copies, they are entitled to traveling at a 20% discount off the regular price, and the ticket must be issued as a return ticket.
Entitled to a 75% discount are students up to the age of 26 when traveling as organized groups at least ten students and a person in charge.
Age groups and discounts.
The following categories of passengers are entitled to free travel:
• Children under 7 years of age.
• Traveling groups of children under 7 years of age
• Disabled people with a 71% disability or more than 71% permanent disability (first and second disability group), disabled war veterans, children with severe bodily or mental impairments, and
• War veterans
• Holders of the Order of Valor
• Mothers with many children
• Members of Parliament
Owners of passes Youth, Classic and Railcard "O" are entitled to purchasing passes at a 25% discount off regular prices
Tickets with a 50% discount are offered to certain social groups (adults and students) in pursuance of the obligations for rendering public transport services by rail. For its permanent clients, BDZ offers a 50% discount off regular prices when traveling with railway cards. These also entitle the clients to buying route passes at discount prices on certain lines. These are offered to various age groups, families, disabled persons, etc.
Age limitations for minors.
Didn't find any official information.
Handicapped passengers.
The transport servicing of people with reduced mobility is carried out by the station services of the Bulgarian Red Cross at the railway stations of Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Burgas and Varna, and by the Information Desks at the railway stations of Pleven, Cherven bryag, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Yambol and Shumen. It is at these stations or through the telephone numbers shown in the Internet site of the Bulgarian State Railways that orders for organizing their transport are received. The terms for making the order are the following:
- for carrying out the transport service within the country – at least 24 hours before the traveling;
- for carrying out the transport service outside the country or in the cases of necessity of using combined Train-Automobile transport – at least 48 hours before the traveling;
People with reduced mobility can travel on the territory of the country in certain trains in which there are specialized cars with special seats for people moving in wheelchairs and their accompanying persons. There are toilets in these trains meeting the international requirements.
This category of passengers can also use without any problem the diesel and electrical Desiro multiple units traveling on various routes in the country. Each multiple unit is equipped with a portable folding platform for servicing people with reduced mobility. No preliminary order is necessary for traveling in these trains. The servicing of people with reduced mobility for their getting on and off the train is carried out by the transport personnel.
Seat reservations in Bulgaria trains.
Seat reservations are made only against a ticket or other travel document.
The price for a seat reservation in a fast train, whatever the distance and the class of traveling, is 0.25 EUR.
Comfort classes on the trains.
Most trains in Bulgaria are day trains, which means that the overwhelming number of cars are seated.
There are daytime-seated trains with compartmentalization. In second class one compartment has eight seats (two four-seater sofas facing each other), and in first class there are six (two sofas consisting of three seats each), there is room for luggage, hooks for clothes
There are also day trains with common carriages and without division into compartments.
The seats in them are arranged in the scheme "2 + 2".
Sleeping cars
Old-style cars with six shelves , cars with a compartment of SV class, where there are only two shelves
Old-school trains are gradually being replaced with new comfortable trains.
Sleeper cars are divided into three classes:
• in business class, the compartment is for one person;
• in first class, a compartment for two passengers;
• and in the second class, respectively, for three travelers.
Food and drink in Bulgaria trains / train restaurant.
Dining car. On what principle a dining car is added to the train is not quite clear. There is no information about it on the Bulgarian railroads website. Most likely such cars are added for the period of the summer timetable, when there are a lot of . It's better to find out in advance at the station ticket office, if your train is going to have a dining car or a bistro car.
Night trains in Bulgaria?
Night trains in Bulgaria
Night trains in Bulgaria are old, but quite decent trains. They have many sleeping arrangements. For example, simple straight seats or shared compartments. These trains can take you across the Balkans and into Turkey (Bucharest, Istanbul, Thessaloniki).
From Bucharest you can go to Hungary, Moldova and Ukraine. From Istanbul opens the entire Asian continent. Traveling through the Balkan region is a whole adventure, and these overnight trains can be delayed for hours. Even considering the customs inspections in the middle of the night and the lack of information before and during the trip, traveling on these night trains to and from Bulgaria has a certain charm.
All night trains require an extra bed fee on Interrail.
Important train routes in Bulgaria.
SOFIA - PLOVDIV / 2:30 hours / from 5,70 EUR / every 1-2 hours (July 2023)
SOFIA - VARNA / 7:30 hours / from 15,30 EUR / every 3-4 hours (July 2023)
BURGAS - SOFIA / 6:00 hours / from 12,20 EUR / every 2-3 hours (July 2023)
RUSE - PODKOVA / 9:55 hours / from 10,70 EUR / one train per day (July 2023)
International train routes.
There are direct international trains from Romania, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Serbia.
Tourist / scenic routes in the Bulgaria.
The Iskar River Gorge
After the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878, the whole nation began to build a new country, from roads and towns to new railroads, which at the time were considered a great innovation. The construction of the section of the railroad, passing through the gorge of the river Iskar (from Sofia to Svaghe), was closely watched by everyone, and some of the most popular writers of the time dedicated stories to it (Aleko Konstantinov, Ivan Vazov). The railroad itself curves and turns, following the bends of the River Iskar through the gorge, crossing from village to village. All the settlements up to the town of Vratsa are scattered on steep hills on either side of the railroad and are full of natural wonders to visit, such as waterfalls, caves and scenic ecological trails.
Narrow gauge train
There were several narrow gauge railroads in Bulgaria in the past, but today only one survives: the Septemevri - Dobrinishte train. It passes through three mountains and stops at the highest railway station on the Balkan Peninsula - Avramovo station. The route is so winding that at some turns the train literally crawls. According to urban legends, the low speed allowed young guys in the past to woo the ladies they liked: guys would jump off the train from the first car, pick flowers along the railroad tracks, and then jump back on the train at the last car. The space between the cars is open, making it the perfect place to enjoy the ride outdoors, waving to the fishermen along the way.
Valley of the Roses
Take the train from Sofia to Kazanlak to pass through part of the Valley of the Roses. The towns of Pavel Banya, Karlovo, and Kazanlak are home to many rose and lavender fields in June. Kazanlak itself is the capital of the Valley of Roses, where a monthly rose festival is held every year. Take part in the Rose Parade or spend the night in town to get up before sunrise and take part in the traditional rose picking that takes place every weekend during the festival.
Luggage information.
You can bring as much luggage as you can carry. Overhead compartment fits big suitcases.
Bicycle on the train.
The transportation of bicycles is permitted in:
On the entrance platform of the last coach in the composition of all fast and passenger trains or in the luggage zone in electric multiple units.
In case of a group of bikers, the bicycles are distributed on the entrance platforms of the other coaches in the train composition.
The bicycle transportation fee amounts to BGN 2.00 and is payable upon the purchase of a ticket from a ticketing desk.
The passengers take care of their own bicycles during journey time.
Ski or snowboard on the train.
There is no official information about the possibility of transporting skis or snowboards on trains.
Luggage lockers on the stations in Bulgaria.
Railway Station - Varna - luggage can be stored:
07:00 to 19:00 hours - winter working hours
07:00 to 21:30 hours - summer working hours
Price per day: 2 lev - 1 piece of luggage.
Lost and Found Items.
No information about lost and found items at train stations in Bulgaria.
Pets on the trains.
Small animals can be transported as hand luggage in waterproof vessels in second-class coaches if they don't disturb other passengers. Large dogs are allowed only in the entry lobbies of the last coach with a muzzle and veterinary certificate. Animals are not permitted in sleeping cars, couchette cars, or dining cars. Visually impaired passengers can travel with dogs in specific train compartments, with the dog wearing a muzzle and having a veterinary certificate, ID card, and non-flexible leash.
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