--- title: "Trains from Sofia to Bucharest | EveryRail" description: "The direct seasonal train takes about 9h56 from Sofia to București Nord, with daily departures through 12 October 2026." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/sofia-to-bucharest/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Bulgaria]()Sofia to Bucharest by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Bulgaria]()Sofia to Bucharest by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About Sofia to Bucharest by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Bucharest]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last reviewed October 2026 # Sofia to Bucharest by train The direct seasonal train takes about 9h56 from Sofia to București Nord, with daily departures through 12 October 2026. Origin [Sofia]() Destination [Bucharest]() Main stations Sofia Central to București Nord Countries [Bulgaria](), [Romania]() The direct seasonal train from [Sofia]() to București Nord takes about 9h56 and runs daily through 12 October 2026. ## The direct daytime train [CFR Călători]()’s international train 460, shown with the 20231 connection number, leaves Sofia at 07:00 and reaches București Nord at 16:56. The journey takes about 9h56, and the train runs daily from 13 June to 12 October 2026. The train also calls at Ruse and Giurgiu Nord. Scheduled times can change because of railway works; the current CFR international booking page or BDZ timetable shows the date-specific service. ## The route calls at Ruse and Giurgiu Nord The route includes Ruse in Bulgaria and Giurgiu Nord in Romania. Border-control timing can add to the scheduled journey, so leave room for a late arrival when arranging an onward train or hotel check-in. ## Tickets and seat reservations A 2nd-class Sofia to Bucuresti ticket is 30,60 EUR / 59,85 BGN. The BDZ direct-train seat reservation charge is 1,25 EUR / 2,44 BGN. The ticket price and reservation are separate items; the seller’s booking flow shows the applicable terms. ## After the seasonal window The direct train runs through 12 October 2026 in this seasonal timetable. After that date, connections may vary by day; search the exact date in the CFR international booking page or BDZ timetable before planning the journey. ## Plan the day around the arrival The train reaches București Nord in the afternoon. If your onward trip has a fixed departure, allow margin after the scheduled 16:56 arrival. București Nord is the arrival station; match its name to your ticket before travel. ## Where to book ### Train tickets - Omio Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning. [Check times & prices]() ### Train service - [BDZ]() BDZ runs Bulgaria's domestic rail network from Sofia; Expresen vlak trains require a €0.51 reservation, while local and barz vlak services do not. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [CFR Călători]() CFR Călători runs Romania's rail network; InterCity and InterRegio require seat reservations, while Regio trains do not. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in Bucharest [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Bucharest**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a direct train from Sofia to Bucharest? Yes. CFR train 460, shown with the 20231 connection number, runs directly from Sofia to București Nord each day from 13 June to 12 October 2026. After that date, this seasonal timetable does not provide a direct train. ### How long does the train from Sofia to Bucharest take? The 07:00 to 16:56 schedule takes about 9h56. Engineering or timetable changes can alter the exact arrival. ### Which stations do trains use from Sofia to Bucharest? The journey starts at Sofia and ends at București Nord. Use those station names on your ticket before departure. ### How often does the Sofia to Bucharest train run? Train 460 runs daily from 13 June through 12 October 2026. Repair work can change the timetable, so the travel date determines the available departure. ### Does the Sofia to Bucharest train cross the border at Ruse? The route includes calls at Ruse and Giurgiu Nord. Border-control timing can add to the journey, so allow time beyond the scheduled duration when planning onward travel. ### Do I need a seat reservation for the Sofia to Bucharest train? The BDZ direct-train seat reservation charge is 1,25 EUR / 2,44 BGN. It is separate from the ticket price, and the seller’s fare conditions determine how it is handled. ## More routes [![View of Sofia, Bulgaria]()Bucharest to Sofia by trainA direct seasonal train takes about 9h55 from București Nord to Sofia, with daily departures through 12 October 2026.]()[![View of Sofia, Bulgaria]()Varna to Sofia by trainBDZ offers direct daytime and overnight Varna to Sofia trains; fastest connections take 7 hours 35 minutes with a change, and train 2626 has a sleeping car.]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/sofia-to-bucharest/#webpage", "name": "Trains from Sofia to Bucharest | EveryRail", "description": "Train travel information for Sofia to Bucharest. 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