How to get from Sofia to Burgas
Burgas is about 400 km from Sofia. You can go by bus, by train, by plane or by car. This page compares the options, shows where you arrive and how to reach the resorts afterwards.
- ≈400 kmfrom Sofia to Burgas
- ≈5.5–7 hby bus or train
- 4–5 hby car on Trakia
Timetables and prices change. The prices below come from reference services and are shown as ranges. Check them on the carrier’s site before buying a ticket.
Ways to get there
Bus and train take about the same time. The bus is usually a bit faster and the train a bit cheaper.
Bus
Direct services by Union Ivkoni and other companies, about six a day according to Omio. The journey averages about 6 hours, and the fastest service takes about 5 hours 40 minutes. A ticket costs roughly €17–25, and each carrier has its own booking system.
BDZ train
By day the journey takes about 5.5–7 hours and, according to reference services, costs roughly €10–20 depending on class. There is also a night train: about 8 hours, leaving after 22:00. There are no international trains to Burgas, so coming from abroad you change in Sofia.
Plane
Bulgaria Air flies from Sofia to Burgas every day. Burgas airport is in Sarafovo, about 10 km from the centre.
By car
About 400 km; on the Trakia motorway it usually takes 4–5 hours with a stop. Parking in the centre is paid, and in summer there are few free spaces in the resorts.
Transfer
A comfortable door-to-door ride across the country. You can book it with our partner Welcome Pickups.
Times and prices from Wikivoyage, Omio and Rome2Rio. The services disagree with one another, so ranges are shown.
Arriving in Burgas
Where you arrive and how to get on to the centre or the resorts.
West bus station
Buses from Sofia and other inland cities arrive here. Check the exact stop on your ticket: some services may arrive at the South bus station.
Central railway station
Trains arrive at Burgas Central next to the port. All trains also stop at the Vladimir Pavlov station.
South bus station
Buses to the coast leave from here: Pomorie, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Sozopol and further south. It is next to the central railway station.
Burgas airport
Bus no. 15 runs to the South bus station in about 25–30 minutes. More on the airport page.
On to the resorts
From Burgas, coastal buses to Nessebar and Sunny Beach take about 70 minutes. More on the Nessebar, Sozopol and Sunny Beach pages.
Station names and routes from the transport and airport pages of this site and from Wikivoyage.
Questions and answers
The journey in brief
How long is the bus from Sofia to Burgas?
On average about 6 hours; the fastest direct service takes about 5 hours 40 minutes. About six direct services run a day (according to Omio).
How long is the train from Sofia to Burgas?
Day trains take about 5.5–7 hours and the night train about 8 hours. A 2nd-class ticket costs roughly €10–16 and a 1st-class ticket roughly €14–21 (according to reference services).
Which is faster and cheaper, the bus or the train?
The journey time is similar. The bus is usually a little faster and the train a little cheaper. Check final prices on the carriers’ sites.
Can you fly from Sofia to Burgas?
Yes, Bulgaria Air flies from Sofia to Burgas every day. Burgas airport is 10 km from the centre, and bus no. 15 runs to the South bus station.
Timetables and prices change; check them on the Union Ivkoni, BDZ and airline sites.
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Sources
- Burgas — Wikivoyage ↗
- Sofia to Burgas bus — Omio ↗
- Sofia to Burgas — Rome2rio ↗
- Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) ↗
- Union Ivkoni ↗
Timetables and prices change; check them on the Union Ivkoni, BDZ and airline sites.