Train service between Istanbul and Sofia has started. But it’s not easy to reach to clear official information. Only chance is travellers’ shares, where you need to check if the information is up-to-date or not.
We travelled to Sofia for you, and prepare this little guide:
What’s inside?
Timetable, tickets, access to train
Sleepers
Couchettes
WC, luggages, lights, air conditioning
Life on way
Cover Photo: Onur Uysal ©
Categories: Passenger
Why are there so few passengers on the Sofia/Bucarest-Halkali Istanbul route ? Well, I took the Bucarest Halkali sleeper last month, but only very few people know it exists. The DB or SBB online timetable show all the relations with train changes (3 train changes for the Bucarest Halkali train) but they don’t mention anything about direct carriages (…) – If they would update their website info, or if TCDD would tell them to do, then they would stand a chance to attract more travellers (apart from the rail enthusiasts, the Interrail travellers …)
you are completely right. I will tell this, when I find chance to meet anyone responsible for passenger transport.
Hi, I want to take the train from Sofia to Istambul. Do you know where I can buy the tickets in Sofia? Thanks for the help!
Sofia train station will be the best place to buy. See location and details at https://travel.railturkey.org/2017/07/08/sofia-train-station/
How much did you pay for your tickets?
With SBB at the station in Switzerland they proposed 1st class single sleeper Bucuresti – Halkali Istanbul for CHF 200; the same purchased at Bucuresti the day of the travel came out half price (and they accept CC payments). In meantime I learnt that the sleeper car has been cut.
67 € per double one-way
Yes, sleeper from Bucharesti to Istanbul is announced to run only during summer..
My mom and are will be traveling from Istanbul to Bulgaria and then beyond. We have the Eurail Global Pass which says it includes trains into and out of Turkey. We will be traveling to Sofia from Halkalı and would like to purchase a Sleeper compartment. What would be our cost for each ticket (double occupancy one-way)?
the supplement is mentioned in the website of TCDD as 15 €/person if you reserve double occupancy in sleeper.
That was great train and the quality was high…but we right now are in sofia, unfortunately we bought the return ticket from istanbul and we want to change the date, today we go to station international part and they said we should pay 60 AB to change the date, there is no hint or at least rule for that and the lady could not just explain the situation….
Sorry to hear that. Let me check what happens if you want to change a return ticket of Sofia Express in Turkey.
Thanks for this informative site, Onur! I’m on the train now. It’s great.
You might want to add a couple things:
1) they took my ticket away and now I’m not sure what time it stops next Plovdiv. Around 8, I think. So stopping times would be great!
2) Might be worth mentioning that their is no WiFi, as far as I can find.
Thanks again. 🙂
Hi Steffani. There’s a link to timetable in the post. I prefer a link rather than a image, since timetable may change..
And thanks for WiFi info.
I hope you enjoyed your trip..
How should I buy the ticket? At the sirceci station?
yes.. or halkali..
Hi, do you know if is usually train delay? I have a lot of experiences with high delay of Balkans trains… I would like to catch flight at 12:00 from Sofia airport and I don´t know if is it possible, thanks.
You should be ready for delays until 90 minutes. Border crossing makes it hard to guess.
Can you take pets on the train(sleeper)? Our dog is about 6kg, not so big.
Pets are not allowed at sleepers. And there’s only sleepers at this train.
Hi,
I’m planning a trip to Turkey and I would like to take the train from Sofia to get off at Edirne. There is no way to reserve tickets on the Bulgarian railways website. Can they be booked only at the Sofia station? Looking at the timetable the train stops at 3-4a.m. at Edirne station, is it correct? Are there connections from the station to the center at that time?
Thanks, Gio
unfortunately, sofia express is not sold online. yes, arrival at Edirne is too late (or too early should I say). train station is at the edges of the city, 5 km from city center. only transport to city center is by taxi at that time. ask help from station staff if needed.
hello, thank you for sharing this information of train to Sofia. This is very useful for us.
And excuse me that I have a question. If I would take the train from Edirne to Sofia. How much is the ticket price? (I cannot find any hints or info from internet, there is only price from Istanbul to Sofia.)
Thank you very much.
They charged me 10 EUR for my bike, even when I took of the wheels and it fitted perfectly in my compartment. At the ticket office they said I could take the bike without any cost, on the train I had to pay 10 EUR. Also the trainstaff is very unfriendly.
Can I buy sleeper tickets in Istanbul for the train Plovdiv-istanbul?
Also if I read correctly there is no sleeper trains from Oct 2 on, I’m travelling Oct 19
Where did you read that info about no sleepers from Oct 2?
Can’t remember but found out since that it’s incorrect but apparently because of construction on the line there have been long delays and the train goes only part of the way in Turkey and then you get bussed the rest because there are stations closed due to the same rail construction what do you know?