Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Posted 15 years ago
[b]THESSALONIKI - SOFIA | day / night train[/b]
How to buy point to point train tickets - online shop. Interrail and Eurail pass travel information. Route from Thessaloniki to Sofia.
Train connection from Thessaloniki to Sofia.
:arr: Video documentation Thessaloniki to Sofia: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/thessaloniki-sofia-train-video/[/u]
[b]More information and schedules[/b]:
[b]Thessaloniki-Sofia[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/thessaloniki-to-sofia[/u]
[b]Sofia-Thessaloniki[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/sofia-to-thessaloniki[/u]
[b]Old information:[/b]
Basic fare without InterRail (Greece fares):
Adult 2nd class: EUR 31
Adult 1st class: EUR 45
Student 2nd class: EUR 24
Student 1st class: EUR 35
Child 2nd class: EUR 16
Child 1st class: EUR 24
You get good discounts when travelling with 2 persons or more. Prices may vary ~ 20%, depends if you buy the tickets in Bulgaria (cheaper) or Greece (more expensive).
[b]Update: Nov 2016[/b]
yatinsardana
Traveller
23 comments
Hi Peter.. I agree with you when you say it's probably not worth using the night train as it only takes about 7 hours but what other train is there?
I can't find a day train for this route. The only other train i find is the one that stops at Nis and takes about 15 hours total and both legs of the journey (From Thessaloniki to Nis and from Nis to Sofia need reservation).
Is there a cheaper way that i'm missing out to get from Thessaloniki to Sofia (actually from Athens to sofia but i can't put Athens in the route planner so I'm going to make my way from athens to thessaloniki independently)
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Usually there was a day train which seems to have disappeared some when the last days?!
Tomorrow I will get some new timetables, I will check it.
The currently know international connections are like this:
[u]http://www.bdz-rila.com/index.php?m=960&lang=2[/u]
And like you said, only the night train left for now - very poor.
Peter :)
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Okay, here now the update. It seems that most trains run now Thessaloniki - Nis - Belgrade.
Following options left:
[b]Thessaloniki[/b] dep: 0028 | by night train - [u]https://rail.cc/en/thessaloniki-skopje-belgrade-night-train/f1636[/u]
[b]Sofia[/b] arr: 0809
[b]Thessaloniki[/b] dep: 0640 | it is the night train coming from Athens (dep: 2255) but with 2nd class seats available
[b]Sofia[/b] arr: 1240
[b]Thessalonik[/b]i dep: 1736
[b]Sofia[/b] arr: 2330
Peter :)
Alex1981990
Traveller
12 comments
Hi!
My country of residence is greece so can I board this train with the interrail pass when returning home from bulgaria at the end of my trip??Or will I have to buy a ticket??(Because interrail ticket can't be used in your country of residence)
Thanks in advance
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Sometimes [b]Thessaloniki[/b] is called the border station (even not being directly at the border), sometimes [b]Kulata[/b] (directly in Bulgaria at the border).
Ask at Sofia main station or the train staff. It shouldn't be expensive a normal fare ticket between Kulata and Thessaloniki if you need one. definitely less than EUR 10.
Peter :)
Alex1981990
Traveller
12 comments
Ok thank you very much!!!
Sebpal
Traveller
1 comments
hello.. I am wondering if this train still runs? if any one could let me now please.
if not what would be a great alternative option.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
No,
it does not run as all international train connections to/from Greece are cut since 2011. :|
Best option probably is a direct bus; alternatively you can use trains until Strymonas in Greece, then work your way across the border and take a train from Kulata in Bulgaria to Sofia.
Flo 8)
murdoc
Traveller
4 comments
Hey,
i've got some questions. are the national trains in greece still runing? and if so, are they covered by Interrail?
murdoc
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Murdoc,
yes and yes. :)
Flo 8)
murdoc
Traveller
4 comments
One more question about that, i'm wondering if the bus transfer from sofia to thessaloniki, which is marked on the interrail map is included by interrail? I guess this would be the easiest way to cross the greek border.
Murdoc
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Just follow the links:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/thessaloniki/bus/c[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/thessaloniki-to-sofia[/u]
Peter
murdoc
Traveller
4 comments
thanks!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Update: direct day train between Thessaloniki and Sofia. Please use the links in the first post. :)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hi! According to this web, there's a train from Thessaloniki to Sofia. But according to Trainose and the Rail planner app there's no train. Who should I trust?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
TRAINOSE schedule: [u]http://www.trainose.gr/en/passenger-activity/international-services/international-railway-services/[/u]
BDZ schedule: [u]http://bdz.bg/files/2012/raz_bdz/360.pdf[/u]
Below you can also find a picture of the train in Sofia from last September.
To support the free information and the forum on railcc, please be fair and buy your official Interrail pass via our railcc partner link: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)
Flo 8)
Chillion
Traveller
5 comments
Great info Flo!
Hopefully I won't have troubles getting a train to Sofia from Thessaloniki.