Not many people know that you can get from Bulgaria to Turkey in a comfortable train overnight. A compartment for two is equivalent to the cost of a bus ticket. The train follows the route Sofia - Istanbul (Halkali station). Some call it the "Orient Express", but this comparison is not entirely accurate, since the predecessor of the modern train (on which French general Charles de Gaulle, Queen Elizabeth of England and, of course, the literary character Hercule Poirot traveled) was abolished in 1950. At one time, the quality of the service provided and the finishing of the Orient Express train was incomparably higher, just like the cost of the ticket. Nevertheless, today everyone has the opportunity to follow the legendary route.
Modern train
Train made in Turkey. The compartment is designed for two people, the opaque door is locked with a key. There is air conditioning (adjustable from the inside), a sink with soap and a mirror (a towel is provided free of charge by the conductor), an outlet (you can charge gadgets), a small refrigerator and a bedside table with two shelves, clothes hangers, a large glass shelf for luggage (so that forgotten things can be seen) . Unfortunately there is no Wi-Fi. The compartment window is equipped with an opening window and a thick curtain. Bed linen is white and consists of two sheets and a pillowcase. In the compartment you will also find 2 pillows and woolen blankets. There is carpet on the floor, there is a ladder for descending from the second shelf, also covered with carpet.
Wagon Coupe interior
Where to buy a ticket
Unfortunately, it is not possible to purchase a ticket online. You need to go to the ticket office of the railway station of one of the cities: Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Blagoevgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa, Vidin, Gorna Oryahovitsa. The ticket office for international transportation is located in a separate window and is called “RILA”. Citizens of the Russian Federation must present a foreign passport; a personal card is not required for purchase. Tickets contain the date and time of departure.
How much does it cost
The price of a ticket for an adult (one way) varies from 36.18 BGN to 54.18 BGN, depending on the class . Ticket price for a child is 18.19 BGN. Children under 4 years old travel free of charge (but a separate bed is not provided). Reservation - the ability to postpone the trip to the next date is paid additionally: 18.38 BGN - 29.34 BGN. If you do not want to overpay, be sure to tell the cashier that you do not need a reservation, otherwise they will kindly add it to the total cost. Tickets are accompanied by a receipt, which can be used to refund money if necessary.
Departure station (Sofia / Bulgaria)
The train's departure point is the central railway station in Sofia (Sofia Central Railway Station). There is free (unguarded) parking nearby located across the road. The station building has a large waiting room with metal benches, an electronic departure board, “byrza khrana” (baked goods and coffee of questionable quality), a bookstore and two security guards. There is a large BILLA supermarket on the corner of the station building.
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Free parking near the railway station in Sofia.
Arrivals station (Halkali / Türkiye)
The final arrival station is called Halkali. Unfortunately, at the moment, the station itself is under construction, and the waiting rooms have not yet been equipped. You won't be able to have a snack or sit down. Not many people know that the ticket price includes a free transfer (bus) to the center of Istanbul - Marmaray Sirkeci station, the departure location is indicated on the map below, but the easiest way is to follow the general flow of passengers. You can also get from Halkali railway station to the center of Istanbul by metro.
Transfer stop Halkali - Istanbul (Marmaray Sirkeci station)
Border
Along the train's route, your sleep will be disturbed twice by border guards, first by Bulgarian, then by Turkish. The first ones will walk along the train to collect your passports, and after a while they will bring them back to you with a stamp, not forgetting to shine a flashlight in your eye. In 10-20 minutes the train will arrive at the Turkish border, where you will have to get off to present your passport at the passport control window. Turkish border guards are less friendly and will gladly get into your personal belongings when inspecting the train. Citizens living in Bulgaria with a personal card will need to present it.
Departure / arrival time
The train departs from Sofia daily at 21.10. Arrival time at Halkali station is 8.30. The train is often late due to delays at the border.
BorderFree bonusesSink and socket in the compartment
Additional information
The train consists of 4-5 carriages, usually half empty. Perhaps because Bulgarians prefer to travel to Istanbul by bus, and in the daytime. The guides speak Turkish, a little Bulgarian and English. Passengers begin to be allowed onto the train approximately an hour before departure. Each person receives a small bottle of water, juice in a cardboard box, a pack of cookies and solid soap in a package. The toilet is located at the beginning and end of the car, is in satisfactory condition, paper towels and toilet paper are provided. There is no dining car.
One passenger can take up to 30 kg of hand luggage. The name of the Bulgarian border station is Svilengrad, the Turkish one is Kapikul. BZD stands for “Bulgarski djerzhavni zheleznitsi”, that is, Bulgarian Railways. Overall, the trip is quite comfortable, except for waking up at the border. We advise you to take slippers, pajamas, a sleep mask and a bottle of champagne to enhance your pleasant experience on the Orient Express.