Bulgaria by bus
Traveling by bus in Bulgaria is definitely one of the safest and cheapest ways of traveling while ensuring at the same time that you don't miss out on the beautiful natural landscapes around the country. Thanks to the well connected bus network between Bulgaria cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.Table Of Contents
Intercity buses in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria intercity buses are available on more than 574 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 55 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Bulgaria intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Sunny Beach - Varna or Nesebar - Varna can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.
Domestic routes
As mentioned above there are more than 574 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Bulgaria. Below you will find some of the most popular Bulgaria travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:
International routes
From Bulgaria there are international bus routes to neighboring countries such as North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey, as well as to other countries such as Albania, Ukraine and Germany.The majority of these international bus lines are daily departures, that are operated by various Bulgaria bus companies.
Most of the International bus departures drive from Sofia, Blagoevgrad and Bansko. Of course, there are also some international bus departures from other cities throughout the country.
Below we have listed the most popular international bus routes:
Airport buses in Bulgaria
If you are flying to Bulgaria you will land in one of 5 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Bulgaria airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.International airports:
Bus companies in Bulgaria
There are over 54 bus companies operating in Bulgaria. 38 companies offer intercity bus lines, 1 companies drive airport shuttles, 4 companies operate regional and local lines, 23 bus companies offer bus rental and 14 companies offer bus tours. The bus companies are located in 17 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Sofia and Varna.38 intercity bus companies operating in Bulgaria are very different in size. The largest Bulgaria company Union Ivkoni connects more than 193 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company M And M Travel only has service to 10 cities.
Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in Bulgaria. Full list of bus companies in Bulgaria can be found here.
Bus stations in Bulgaria
In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In Bulgaria there is a total of 103 bus stations, below we have listed 15 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Bulgaria click here.
Hire a coach in Bulgaria
Bulgaria bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in Bulgaria. Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group.Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in Bulgaria:
Has Turizm
Matpu
Group Ltd.
Air Kona
Union Ivkoni
Public transportation in Bulgaria
In the majority of larger Bulgaria cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like Sofia or Varna you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the centre of the town.Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in.
Here is a list of some Bulgaria companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.
Union Ivkoni
Burgasbus
Hebrosbus
Municipal Transport Ruse
Gradski Transport Varna
Public transportation in Bulgaria
As a visitor of Bulgaria, you have lots of great Bulgaria sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are Tsarevets Fortress (Veliko Tarnovo), Aladzha Monastery (Varna) and Boyana Church (Sofia). That said, there are a lot of other sights in Bulgaria worth visiting! Some of the sights do not have an entrance fee, whilst others charge for entrance. Below you will find a list of the most popular sights in Bulgaria:
Tsarevets Fortress
monumental building
Aladzha Monastery
monumental building
Boyana Church
monumental building
Pirin National Park
national park
Rila Monastery
monumental building
Belogradchik Fortress
monumental buildingFAQ about buses in Bulgaria
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