Train Travel Bulgaria Including Ruse, Sofia, Plovdiv & Varna

Some information on how to travel by train with a dog in Bulgaria. We enjoyed train journeys in Bulgaria. Our route included the cities of Sofia, Ruse, Plovdiv, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo.

Using the trains in Bulgaria was our primary method of travelling between cities with the dog. Trains are our preferred method and are the easiest with a dog. Initially, we arrived from Romania by rail. For the first stage of our Bulgarian railway adventure, we needed to get from Ruse to Sofia, the capital. It went well, and we got from Ruse to Sofia on time with some minor confusion and inconveniences.

Our subsequent railway trip was from Sofia to Plovdiv, the second-biggest city in Bulgaria. Next up was the train trip to Varna on the coast of Bulgaria. From Varna, we caught the train to Veliko Tarnovo, then back to Ruse.

Rules For Travelling With a Dog By Train in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Railways website has a full list of rules for pet travel by train. You can see the latest version here; however, these are the rules we aimed to follow.

Transported as hand luggage can be up to 3 small rabbits or one small cat or dog, placed in waterproof vessels held in the passenger’s lap or left on the floor, only in second-class coaches, provided the animals do not affect the other passengers with their smell or noise, do not disturb them and nobody objects to their presence. In case the other passengers do not agree to having live animals transported in the compartment, their owners, together with the animals, travel in the entry lobby of the coach.

Large domestic, hunting and service dogs are transported only in the entry lobbies of the last coach of the train. Dogs must have muzzles on and a veterinary certificate. The owners should buy for their dog a ½ second-class ticket for the corresponding train category. Animals are not allowed for transportation in sleeping cars, couchette cars and dining cars.

Anyway, nobody had an issue with Henry, as we only had one other passenger in the room for a short period. Nobody asked for the dog’s ticket, and he is a good boy and doesn’t cause a disturbance. He enjoys sleeping on my coat or watching the windows, hoping to spot a puppy girlfriend.

Booking Train Tickets in Bulgaria

To book tickets without a dog, the Bulgarian Railways website is pretty straightforward. The website is a bit clunky but does the job. You need to register with an email address to book. As part of the booking process, you can choose your seats, which is handy. We opted to choose an empty compartment to avoid distractions for Henry.

Booking a dog ticket wasn’t so straightforward. There was no option on the Bulgarian Railways website, so we tried at the ticket office. In Ruse, the ticket office sent us to the information desk. Then at the information desk, they sent us to the ticket office. To avoid getting stuck in a paradox, we gave up and checked we had enough cash for the full ticket price to cover all eventualities. In the end, the various conductors on the train didn’t ask for or mention a dog ticket when checking ours. Just that we couldn’t stay in first class, as we had sat in the wrong area while looking for an empty compartment.

On our next journey from Sofia to Plovdiv, we got all tickets at the ticket office. And it was straightforward to get a ticket for Henry. For our journey to Varna, we purchased tickets online with the intention of getting Henry’s on the train. However, he didn’t get charged for his corridor seat.

Train Journeys In Bulgaria

The Train Journey From Ruse to Sofia

This is a 6-hour journey which passes through some beautiful Bulgarian countryside and a few small cities. It seemed to run within 5 minutes of schedule at all stops. Most passengers stayed on for a few stops, then alighted. The staff was very pleasant throughout.

As with many trains in the region, the facilities were basic – no bar or dining car and not the best toilets. Bathrooms onboard were clean-ish, and, as a bonus, the taps worked. The compartments had plug points to charge devices, which worked throughout the journey.

I like to follow Google Maps as we explore new areas to spot future places to visit or not. This journey threw up some suggestions. First there was Veliko Tarnovo, which was already on my hot list; however, it was nice to see where we would have to change trains.

Next up were the stops to the north of Sofia. Tserovo, Bov and Balkan. These are handy for Iskar Gorge, which looks stunning. The entire area near these stops looks great for a hiking or outdoor adventure.

From Sofia to Plovdiv

Another train journey with the dog was from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, to Plovdiv. Unfortunately, we tried to order too late online for the 13:00 departure and thus had to visit the ticket office in Sofia Central Station. The ticket office had no queue, and we got dog tickets easily for this journey. As a bonus, the cafe bar we visited outside the entrance was dog-friendly.

The trip from Sofia to Plovdiv took 2 hours and 50 minutes. The journey ran smoothly, and we had the cabin to ourselves for most of the journey to Plovdiv. Onboard, the ticket inspectors didn’t give Henry a second glance, and the other passengers seemed intrigued.

On arrival at Plovdiv railway station, it was a pleasant 20-minute walk along Ruski Bulevard towards the central areas and our dog-friendly accommodation.

Trip From Plovdiv to Varna

Our next railway journey was from Plovdiv to Varna, a city on the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria. This required a 6-hour trip across the country. Unfortunately, it was full. Some people seemed uncomfortable with Henry; thus, we opted to sit in the corridor before being moved as per Bulgarian Railways rules.

This was the most uncomfortable we had been on the trains in the country, as it was so busy. If visiting again, I’d choose a route with a change halfway to change things up.

Varna to Veliko Tarnovo

As part of the next phase of our trip from the Black Sea to the Adriatic, we took the train from Varna to Veliko Tarnovo. Getting tickets at the railway station was straightforward, and the total journey time was 4 hours.

This was a pleasant and very empty trip, with a brief change in Gorna Oryahovitsa. The railway line from Gorna Oryahovitsa to Veliko Tarnovo is beautiful, with lots to see. On disembarking, it was a 20-minute walk to our dog-friendly hotel.

Gorna Oryahovitsa to Ruse in Bulgaria

Our last trip was from Gorna Oryahovitsa to Ruse. First, we got a dog-friendly taxi from Veliko Tarnovo to Gorna Oryahovitsa that our hotel organised. We then headed to the ticket office to get tickets for the stretch from Gorna Oryahovitsa to Ruse.

There is a handy bar at the railway station to get refreshments and have a drink while you wait for the train. This was a short travel day and only took 2 hours. It was comfortable and pretty empty; we had a room for ourselves, which was pleasant.

Review of Train trips in Bulgaria

Overall, the trains met the primary goal; we got to the destination with the dog with minimal fuss. The trains were a bit uncomfortable, so ideally we will not be doing 6 hours straight for future trips in Bulgaria. A great excuse to see more places.

The train journeys between the cities were so cheap. Thus, I wouldn’t find it worthwhile using an Interrail pass here unless travelling onwards.