BDZ trains

BDZ, the Bulgarian State Railways, operates the country's domestic and international train network from its main hub at Sofia Central Station. If you are travelling around Bulgaria by train, whether on a standard ticket or with an Interrail or Eurail pass, BDZ is the operator you will be dealing with on almost every journey.

BDZ runs three main types of domestic trains: local passenger trains (patnicheski), the somewhat faster barz vlak services, and the express trains (Expresen vlak), which are BDZ's fastest domestic option, connecting Sofia with Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse. Seat reservation is compulsory on the Expresen vlak, and this is the detail travellers miss most often. The reservation itself is cheap at €0.51, but it is not optional, and it cannot be booked through the Interrail or Eurail online reservation system. Local (patnicheski) and barz vlak trains need no reservation at all. If you want to skip the booking step entirely, they are the easier choice, just slower.

BDZ also runs several domestic night trains from Sofia to the Black Sea coast (Varna and Burgas) and inland towns such as Pleven and Ruse, offering seats, couchettes or sleepers depending on the route. These get busy in summer. Book the couchette or sleeper you actually want well ahead if you are travelling in July or August, since the cheaper compartments tend to sell out first.

International connections from Bulgaria are more limited than in much of Western Europe. The only regular daytime link is Sofia, or Varna in summer, to Bucharest via Ruse. Services toward Serbia and Greece remain suspended due to long-running construction and operational issues, so check the current status before you plan a route through either country. A long-standing night train also connects Sofia and Plovdiv with Istanbul. Reservations are mandatory on all of these international trains, and they cannot be booked through Interrail's online tool either.

Reservations for BDZ trains, domestic or international, are made at station ticket desks or at a Rila Travel Agency, found at major stations across the country. Ask for "zapazeno myasto" if you need help at the counter. If you are relying on a rail pass, plan to visit a station ticket window a day or two before any Expresen vlak or international departure, rather than assuming you can sort it out online or right before boarding, because BDZ's booking system is not set up for that.

For most travellers moving between Bulgaria's main cities, the practical default is simple. Take the Expresen vlak between Sofia and Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas or Ruse when speed matters, and be ready to pay the small compulsory reservation fee at the station in advance. For shorter hops, or a slower and cheaper option, the barz and patnicheski trains need no planning at all.