How to get to Burgas from Varna, Plovdiv and Istanbul
A comparison of routes to Burgas from three neighbouring cities: Varna, Plovdiv and Istanbul. Each shows the journey time and a price guide. The route from Sofia has its own page.
- ≈130 kmfrom Varna
- ≈3.7–5 hfrom Plovdiv
- ≈5–8 hfrom Istanbul by bus
Reference services disagree with one another, so times and prices are given as ranges. Check exact timetables and prices on the carriers’ sites.
Routes to Burgas
The three most common routes besides Sofia. The route from Sofia is on its own page.
From Varna: bus
About 2 hours to 2 hours 40 minutes, a ticket costs about €10 (according to reference services). There is no direct train: the services show a change, and we did not find a timetable.
From Varna: by car
About 130 km along the coast. You can book a transfer from Varna to your address with our partner Welcome Pickups.
From Plovdiv: train
About 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours, two services a day, a ticket costs roughly €9–15. The BDZ train is usually faster and cheaper than the bus.
From Plovdiv: bus
A direct Union Ivkoni service takes about 4 hours 55 minutes and costs about €14. The distance is about 230 km (according to Omio).
From Istanbul: bus
About 5–8 hours including border formalities, a ticket costs roughly €12–40. Several direct services run a day, for example from the Istanbul bus station to the West bus station in Burgas in about 5 hours 45 minutes.
From Istanbul: by car
About 4–5 hours including border formalities (according to Wikivoyage). Check the queues at the border before you go.
Times and prices from Omio, Rome2Rio, Wanderu, Kiwitaxi and Wikivoyage. Prices in other currencies are converted roughly.
Before you travel
A few tips for any route.
Tickets from the carrier
Timetables and prices on reference services do not always match. Buy your ticket on the carrier’s site (Union Ivkoni, BDZ and others) or at the station.
Summer and May days
In July and August and on the Eurovision days, 11–15 May 2027, tickets sell out fast. Book ahead.
The border from Turkey
Buses and cars from Istanbul go through border control. Allow extra time and keep your documents handy.
From Sofia
The route from Sofia by bus, train, plane and car is on its own page, “Sofia to Burgas”.
Burgas airport
There are many direct flights to Burgas in summer; more on the airport page.
Tips based on general travel rules and Wikivoyage.
Questions and answers
The journey in brief
How do you get from Varna to Burgas?
Best by bus: about 2 hours to 2 hours 40 minutes, a ticket costs about €10. The distance is about 130 km. There is no direct train, and travelling with a change takes longer.
Which is better from Plovdiv to Burgas, the train or the bus?
The train is usually faster and cheaper: about 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours and roughly €9–15, against about 4 hours 55 minutes and about €14 for the bus.
How long is the journey from Istanbul to Burgas?
By bus usually 5–8 hours including border formalities, by car about 4–5 hours. A bus ticket costs roughly €12–40.
Where do you buy tickets?
On the carriers’ sites and at stations. Prices on reference services are approximate, so check timetables at the source.
The figures are approximate; timetables and prices change, so check them with the carrier.
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Sources
- Burgas — Wikivoyage ↗
- Plovdiv to Burgas — Omio ↗
- Istanbul to Burgas — Rome2rio ↗
- Burgas – Varna — Kiwitaxi ↗
- Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) ↗
The figures are approximate; timetables and prices change, so check them with the carrier.