Transfer from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
From your address in Sofia to your hotel in the old capital, with no bus station in between.
SofiaVeliko Tarnovo
- Price per car
- From €172
- Drive time
- about 2 hours 45 minutes
- Distance
- about 220 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 Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of the medieval Bulgarian kingdom from the late 12th to the 14th century, and the Tsarevets fortress still stands on its hill in the old part of town. From Sofia it is about 220 km and 2 hours 45 minutes by car.
We will say it plainly: there is a bus, and it is a good one. According to Sofia Central Bus Station, 17 buses a day leave for Veliko Tarnovo, a ticket costs €14.50 to €15.50, and most of them take about three and a half hours. For a couple with backpacks, that is the sensible choice.
The train is slower. There is no direct train: you change at least once, usually at Gorna Oryahovitsa. The fastest connection BDZ lists for Thursday 5 November takes 4 hours 33 minutes, for €9.20 in second class.
The transfer costs €172 per car, not per person, for up to 4 passengers and 2 suitcases; a large van takes up to 8 passengers and 8 suitcases. It earns its price for a family with children and luggage, a group of friends, or a late start: the driver picks you up at your address in Sofia and drops you at your hotel's address, in the old town or in the village of Arbanasi nearby. No bus station, and no taxi at the other end.
When you book, you enter the exact pickup and drop-off addresses and see the price for them before you pay. You pay 20% online by card and the rest in cash to the driver at the end of the ride. Cancellation is free up to 3 days before the ride, and the route can be booked the other way too, from Veliko Tarnovo back to Sofia.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo?
About 2 hours 45 minutes, for about 220 km.
Is there a bus from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo?
Yes, 17 a day from Sofia Central Bus Station, €14.50 to €15.50 a ticket, most of them about three and a half hours. Tickets for children under 14 are sold only at the ticket desk, against the child's birth certificate.
Is there a direct train from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo?
No. On the dates we checked, every BDZ connection had a change, usually at Gorna Oryahovitsa, and the fastest took 4 hours 33 minutes. BDZ asks passengers to check their train again on the day of travel.
Is the price per person or per car?
Per car. €172 per car covers up to 4 passengers and 2 suitcases; a large van takes up to 8 passengers and 8 suitcases, and a bigger group can book two cars or two vans.
Can we have a child seat?
Yes. Ask for it when you book and give each child's age and height.
Can we come back to Sofia the same way?
Yes. Book the return as a second ride, from Veliko Tarnovo to Sofia, on the date you want.
