From June there are direct trains to Istanbul, Varna and Sofia. How much are the tickets and how long is the journey

CFR Călători informs that, between June 14 and October 14, 2024, the international train “Romania” will ensure a daily direct connection from Bucharest to Istanbul / Halkali, Varna, Sofia and back. The journey is long due to customs stops and low speeds. Trains stop in many stations in Bulgaria.

The most comfortable is the TCDD (Turkey railway company) four-seater sleeper car, which however takes 19-20 hours for 803 km and because it stops a lot, the car being attached to several slow regional trains in Bulgaria.

There are 509 km from Bucharest to Sofia, and 357 km from Bucharest to Varna. The trains will go to Giurgiu also via the bypass route, via Videle, because traffic has not opened on the bridge from Grădiștea.

The same train already has carriages to Sofia and Varna respectively. The journey to Varna takes almost ten hours, and it is just as long to Sofia.

Traffic schedule and fares

Bucharest – Istanbul / Halkali

International train “Romania” 461 (461/ 465/ 493/ 12504): Bucharest North (departure 10:47) – Istanbul / Halkali (arrival 06:34).

International train “Romania” 460 (12503/ 492/ 464/ 460): Istanbul/Halkali (departure 20:00) – Bucharest Nord (arrival 17:17)

A ticket Bucharest North – Istanbul/Halkali (or return), in the 4-seater sleeper carriage, costs 56 euros.

Halkali station is 25 km from Sirkeci station, the most famous one in Istanbul, and the journey by public transport takes about an hour.

Bucharest – Varna

International train “Romania” 461 (461/ 2615): Bucharest Nord (departure 10:47) – Varna (arrival 20:55)

International train “Romania” 460 (2612/ 460): Varna (departure 07:45) – Bucharest Nord (arrival 17:17)

A ticket Bucharest North – Varna (or return), in 2nd class, costs 31 euros.

Bucharest – Sofia

International train “Romania” 461: Bucharest Nord (departure 10:47) – Sofia (arrival 20:21)

International train “Romania” 460 (2611/ 460): Sofia (departure 07:00) – Bucharest Nord (arrival 17:17)

A ticket Bucharest North – Sofia (or return), in 2nd class, costs 32 euros.

Tickets to/from these destinations are already on sale.

The advance purchase period for train tickets for international travel is 90 days. They can be purchased from CFR Călători stations and travel agencies open to international traffic, as well as online at https://bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/ro with ticket pickup from the train station or delivery by courier.