Train Travel

Travelling to Bulgaria

London to Sofia

Travelling to Bulgaria is easy. Its a two night journey via Paris on Eurostar, then from Paris to Vienna on the overnight sleeper and either a sleeping car direct from Vienna to Sofia, via Belgrade or the the TransBalkan sleeping car from Budapest to Sofia through Romania.

Train times London to Sofia (option 1, via Belgrade): Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London at 12:09 and arriving at Paris Nord at 15:59. Walk from the Gare du Nord to the nearby Gare de l'Est. Travel from Paris to Vienna on the 'Orient Express', leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 17:16 and arriving in Vienna at 08:30 next morning. This is a real treat as its the real Orient Express. The Orient Express has comfortable modern air-conditioned Austrian couchettes (4-berth and 6-berth) and a modernised sleeping car with 1, 2 and 3 bed rooms each with washbasins.

Leave Vienna for Sofia by direct sleeping car, departing Vienna at 20:03 and arriving in Sofia at 17:40 next day. This train travels via Budapest and Belgrade (Hungary & Serbia). One sleeping-car of the Bulgarian railways runs direct Vienna to Sofia, with 1, 2 and 3 bed compartments with washbasin. There are no food or drink facilities so you will need to take your own.

Train times London to Sofia (option 2, via Romania). Leave London for Paris on Eurostar, leaving London at 12:09 and arriving at Paris Nord at 15:59. Walk from the Gare du Nord to the nearby Gare de l'Est. Travel from Paris to Vienna on the 'Orient Express', leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 17:16 and arriving in Vienna at 08:30 next morning. This is the real Orient Express, not the expensive tourist one. The Orient Express has comfortable modern air-conditioned Austrian couchettes (4-berth and 6-berth), and a modernised sleeping car with 1, 2 and 3 bed rooms with washbasins.

Take the air conditioned InterCity train 'Avala' from Vienna at 10.03 and arriving in Budapest at 12.58. There is a small restaurant car available and a small supplement is payable.

Travelling from Budapest, via Romania to Sofia on the 'TransBalkan', leaving Budapest Keleti station daily at 19:15 with ordinary seats (which are not recommended for overnight travel) and a sleeping-car (1, 2 and 3 bed rooms with washbasin, the recommended option) for Sofia, arriving 21:30 the next day. It is routed via Romania, a pleasant and scenic journey. There is no restaurant car, so you need to provide your own food and drinks.

Train times Sofia to London (option 1, via Belgrade). Leave from Sofia for Vienna by direct sleeping-car, leaving Sofia at 13:10 and arriving at Vienna station at 09:10 the next day. Return to Paris from Vienna overnight on the Orient Express leaving daily at 20:34 and arriving Paris Est at 10:27. Walk over to the Gare du Nord. Eurostar leaves Paris Nord at 11:43, arriving London Waterloo at 13:25.

Train times Sofia to London (option 2, via Romania). Leave from Sofia to Budapest on the 'TransBalkan', leaving Sofia at 08:10 and arriving at Budapest Keleti station at 10:12 the next day. Return to Vienna from from Budapest on the Bartok Bela leaving Budapest (Keleti) station at 13:10 and arriving Vienna at 16:06. The Bartok Bela is an air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car. A small supplement is payable, reservation is essential. If the TransBalkan runs late (as it may do), there is another train at 15:50 arriving Vienna at 18:40.

Travel from Vienna to Paris overnight on the Orient Express leaving daily at 20:34 and arriving Paris Est at 10:27. Walk over to the Gare du Nord. Eurostar leaves Paris Nord at 11:43, arriving London Waterloo at 13:25.

Approximate fares: You may find it more cost effective to purchase an InterRail pass or Eurodomino / Freedom passes for this journey. However, depending on your age (whether you are under or over 26, an InterRail card may not necessarily be the cheaper option once sleeper supplements and the Eurostar fare are added.

London to Paris by Eurostar: Fares start at £59 return 2nd class, £139 return 1st class. There are no one-way leisure fares, so for one-way journeys, buy a return and throw away the return half.

FARES Paris to Vienna

FARES Vienna to Budapest

FARES Budapest to Sofia

Buy tickets - To book these journeys choose any of the following : Either a UK rail agency such as Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 0870 2 43 53 63, www.europeanrail.com on 020 7387 0444, www.trainseurope.co.uk on 0871 700 7722 or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 512400. Booking fees may be payable.

Recommended guidebooks

Never travel, independently or in a group without a good guidebook. The best guides are the the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. Both guidebooks have the same excellent level of practical information and cultural and historical background.