Sofia to Varna by train, bus or transfer
On this route the bus is faster than the train, and we say so. The car is for families and groups with luggage, from door to door.
SofiaVarna
- Price per car
- From €345
- Drive time
- about 5 hours 25 minutes
- Distance
- about 442 km
How it works
Book on the site
Pick the date, the time and the pickup point, and pay 20% by card.
The driver meets you
At the pickup point, at the time you set. At the airport, in the arrivals hall with a sign.
Pay the rest to the driver
In cash after the ride. The price is fixed in advance: no meter, no surprises.
How to get from Sofia to Varna
Varna is a Black Sea city with its own airport, and Golden Sands lies north of it. By car it is 5 hours 25 minutes from Sofia, about 442 km, which is longer than the distance suggests: the motorway between Sofia and Varna is not finished, so part of the drive is on ordinary roads.
We will say it straight away: for a couple with light bags, the bus is the sensible choice, and on this route it is also faster than the train. Fourteen buses a day leave Sofia Central Bus Station for Varna, from 00:30 to 22:30, for €19.50 to €21 a person, and the ride takes about 5 to 7 hours.
The train costs a little less, €14.67 to €14.98 a person in second class, but it is slower: the quicker trips BDZ lists take between 7 hours 40 minutes and 9 hours. From 2 November 2026 the only direct trains from Sofia Central Station run overnight, at 20:50 and 23:00, with sleeping cars; by day you change trains once, as the BDZ timetable shows. BDZ asks passengers to check their train again on the day of travel.
The transfer, €345 per car, is worth it for a family or a group with suitcases, or when you want to arrive at a hotel door rather than a bus station. It costs much more than the bus: four adult bus tickets come to €78 to €84. What you pay for is the ride from door to door, when it suits you, with a stop on the way if you ask for it in advance. A car takes up to 4 passengers and 2 suitcases; a large van takes up to 8 passengers and 8 suitcases.
How it works: you enter the exact addresses, in Sofia, in Varna or in Golden Sands, a hotel, an apartment or an airport terminal, and you see the price for them before you pay. Child seats can be requested when you book, with each child's age and height. You pay 20% online by card and the rest in cash to the driver at the end of the ride; bring the exact amount, as drivers need not give change. Cancellation is free 3 days or more before the ride; later than that, the 20% is kept. Any question? Ask us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Sofia to Varna?
About 5 hours 25 minutes by car. The bus takes about 5 to 7 hours and the train between 7 hours 40 minutes and 9 hours.
Is there a direct train from Sofia to Varna?
Yes, overnight. From 2 November 2026 the direct trains leave Sofia Central Station at 20:50 and 23:00 and reach Varna at 05:50 and 06:50, with sleeping cars; a berth costs extra. By day you change once, so check the BDZ timetable on the day you travel.
How much is the bus from Sofia to Varna?
€19.50 to €21 a person, with fourteen departures a day from Sofia Central Bus Station, from 00:30 to 22:30. Tickets for children under 14 are sold only at the ticket desk, against the child's birth certificate, not online.
Bus or train from Sofia to Varna, which is better?
For most travellers the bus: it is faster and leaves more often. The night train suits you if you would rather sleep on the way and arrive early in the morning.
Is the price per person or per car?
Per car. A car takes up to 4 passengers and 2 suitcases, a large van up to 8 passengers and 8 suitcases, and a bigger group can book two cars or two vans.
Can you pick us up at Sofia Airport, or take us to Golden Sands?
Yes. Enter the airport terminal or your hotel as the address and you see the price for it before you pay. At the airport the driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign; give your flight number when you book.
