SofiatoBurgas:Train,BusorFlight?HowtoCrossBulgariain2027
From Sofia you have three realistic options: a domestic flight (about 1 hour), an intercity coach (6–7 hours, from around €15–23) or the train (7–8 hours, roughly €13–20). Coaches and trains both drop you in central Burgas, side by side; flying wins on time but not always on total door-to-door cost.
TL;DR
Fly if your time matters, take the coach if your budget does, take the train if the journey itself is part of the trip.
Plenty of visitors land at Sofia Airport (SOF) because it has year-round flights from across Europe, then wonder how to get across the country to the coast. Here's the honest comparison.
The three options
Domestic flight — about 1 hour. Sofia is Bulgaria's biggest hub, and a short hop gets you to Burgas Airport (BOJ) at Sarafovo, 10 km from the centre. From there, city bus line 15 runs into town in around 25 minutes for roughly €0.80, or a metered taxi costs €10–15.
Intercity coach — 6–7 hours, around €15–23. Bulgaria's coach network is dense and comfortable, and services arrive at Burgas Yug station, right beside the railway station in the middle of the city.
Train — 7–8 hours, roughly €13–20. Scenic and slow. Burgas is the coastal terminus, and the station sits in the city centre, a few minutes' walk from Bogoridi Street and the Sea Garden.
Which one for Eurovision week?
Shows fall on 11, 13 and 15 May 2027, and demand on every route into Burgas will spike around those dates. Book the flight early if you want it; if prices jump, the coach is the reliable fallback and still lands you walking distance from your hotel. Compare all the routes on our getting here guide, and see getting around for buses once you arrive.
Don't forget Varna
If Sofia and Burgas flights are both expensive, Varna Airport (VAR) is two hours away by coach for about €10–15 — often the cheapest way into the region.
Planning your route? More practical guides at travelburgas.com.
Questions
- Is there a night train from Sofia to Burgas?
- Bulgarian Railways has traditionally run overnight services on the Sofia–Burgas line with sleeping and couchette cars. Timetables change seasonally, so check current BDZ schedules before relying on one.
- Where do buses from Sofia arrive in Burgas?
- At Burgas Yug (South) station, immediately next to the railway station in the city centre. Regional buses to Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Sozopol and Pomorie leave from the same spot for €3–6.
- Do I need a car to get from Sofia to the Black Sea coast?
- No. Coaches and trains cover the route well, and Burgas itself is walkable. A car only pays off for the villages south of Sozopol or the Strandzha mountains — and parking during contest week will be difficult.
- transport
- sofia
- getting here
- eurovision 2027
- trains
Written in response to a reader question: source thread
