Getting around · Getting around
To Sofia by train
The nightly sleeper to Bulgaria
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Plamen Agov (user:MrPanyGoff) · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout To Sofia by train
The Sofia–Istanbul Express sleeper runs every night between Istanbul Halkalı and Sofia, via Edirne and Plovdiv, in about ten hours, with sleeping cars and couchettes (reservations compulsory; bring food and drink). Per the April 2026 timetable it leaves Halkalı at 20:00, but check current times with TCDD or BDZ. Our sister guide, the ULTIMATE Sofia City Guide, covers the Bulgarian capital.
Why it's on our list
- Nightly sleeper train
- About 10 hours
- Read our Sofia guide
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with To Sofia by train before you go.