By air
Sofia Airport is the main hub, served by most major European carriers — British Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian, KLM — as well as low-cost options including Ryanair and Wizz Air. Direct flights connect Sofia to London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna, Madrid, and most European capitals. There are no direct transatlantic flights; travelers from North America typically connect through London, Frankfurt, or Istanbul. Varna and Burgas airports handle heavy summer charter and low-cost traffic from the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia, making them convenient entry points if you're heading straight for the Black Sea coast.
By rail
Bulgaria has rail connections to Belgrade, Thessaloniki, Bucharest, and Istanbul. Trains are slow by Western European standards — the Sofia–Bucharest run takes around 10 hours — but perfectly comfortable and cheap. BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways) handles all domestic and international services; book at bdz.bg or at any station. Bucharest is the main overland gateway for travelers coming from Central Europe by train.
By bus
Long-distance coaches are often faster and cheaper than trains for international routes. Services run regularly from Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Belgrade, and Bucharest. FlixBus and a number of Balkan operators serve these routes. Buses arrive at Sofia's Central Bus Station (next to the Central Railway Station) or directly to regional cities.
By car
Bulgaria is well connected by road to its neighbors. Main border crossings: Kalotina (Serbia), Kulata (Greece), Kapitan Andreevo (Turkey), and Vidin/Calafat via the Danube bridge to Romania. Roads are generally in decent condition on the main corridors; mountain routes and secondary roads can be rough. An e-vignette is required to drive on Bulgarian roads — buy it online at bgtoll.bg before you travel.
Entry
Bulgaria is a full Schengen member as of January 2025. EU/EEA citizens need only a valid ID card. Most other nationalities — US, UK, Canada, Australia — can enter without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules. Check current requirements for your nationality before travel.