London to Bulgaria

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From London to Bulgaria by coach

The European coach network Eurolines operates a coach line between the UK and Bulgaria. The stops in Britain include London Victoria Station, Gillingham and Dover.
In the UK the coach to Sofia start in London, but passengers must change coach in Paris. From there is a convenient Eurolines’ connection to Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Burgas and Varna.
The coach from London to Paris/Sofia also stops in other French cities. Along the way you'll see amazing landscapes in France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia (or Hungary), Serbia & Montenegro.
The coach ride between London and Sofia takes approximately 50 hours, the travel time is about one hour shorter from Gillingham and 2 hours from Dover. The coach doesn’t terminate in Sofia, but goes to other Bulgarian cities, so travel time is dependent of the town or city’s distance. There are two direct Eurolines services per week between the UK and Bulgaria in both directions. For exact timetable see Eurolines website.

It is recommended to book tickets online in advance at least several days prior to departure. One-way ticket from London to Bulgaria costs from £85. There is a discount for a round trip as well for children, students and people over 60. The cheapest way to travel to Bulgaria is definitely the coach. If you are on a tight budget, then taking the coach can offer some amazing cost savings.
Whilst offering excellent fares some of these coach companies featured offering a very high quality service - you can expect reclining seats, extra hold luggage, free wifi, sometimes they offer you free tea or coffee and you also have power sockets at each seat.

It is recommended to book tickets online in advance at least several days prior to departure. 

Note that timetables and fares are subject to change and EuropeBus can't guarantee accuracy of this information. Go to Eurolines EU website to see current timetable and prices and book a ticket for a international journey. All passengers travelling to Bulgaria are rquired to carry a passport for transit through Serbia. Any other photo ID won’t be accepted by Serbian border authorities.

Discover Bulgaria

Bulgaria is still seen as the perfect place to relax. It is a country, which has a lot to offer to tourists; beautiful mountains that allow practicing all winter sports and the stunning Black Sea, where you can swimming, diving or surfing. Bulgaria is a place where all year round you can enjoy the nice weather. A special place, almost magical for many tourists is the Kazanlak. It is a town in central Bulgaria, almost in the center of the Valley of Roses, north of Stara Zagora. The town is known for its production of rose oil, which is derived from  roses. In the early summer, gardeners are picking leaves from beautiful and fragrant rose bushes, which are then converted into rose oil. In this part of Bulgaria you can see huge roses fields. It is not only a great landscape but it is an experience for the sense of smell. Useful guides: Lonely Planet Publications

Useful links to coach timetables & fares

• London to Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Silven, Burgas and Varna

How to buy tickets & some helpful information

• How to buy coach tickets from the UK to Bulgaria online?
• Are you looking for a budget hotel or hostel in Europe?
• Get a travel insurance for the journey to Bulgaria
• Currency Exchange online
• Car rental in Bulgaria
• Book your Theme Park Tickets with the UK market leader! - AttractionTix

The Eurolines coach network is an inexpensive way to travel through Europe. Eurolines coaches have different categories, from Standard class to Business class and they go everywhere. You can reserve seats in advance on the internet.

Eurolines operators

Eurolines is a coalition of independant bus and coach companies that operate under one brand name. They serve the majority of European countries, reaching hundreds of destinations across Europe from Ireland to Russia and from Norway to Portugal. Some also serve Turkey and Morocco. Eurolines coaches are comfortable and upscale.
You can reserve a seat online, If your journey begins from the UK, you just go on the Eurolines EU web page. The Eurolines offices are usually located inside the long distance bus stations, but it can also be a travel agent in the city.

Travelling from outside London

Megabus and National Express have an expanded network in the UK so you can travelling not only from/to London, but from many other cities and towns in the UK. So you can get to or from London in one easy booking. Just enter the name of the place from which you start the journey, in the box defining the place of departure and London as your start or final destination. Book your connecting travel through the National Express and Megabus websites.

Trains & airlines from the UK to Bulgaria

If our information is insufficient for you to convince you to travel by coach, or simply you don’t like this transportation arrangement then we encourage you to take advantage of rail or flight services. If you want to travel from the UK to Bulgaria or vice versa by train we suggest you to visit the Voyages-sncf website, while good flights between Britain and Bulgaria are recommend on the Budget Air’s website

Rail services in Europe are fast, frequent and convenient. Tickets can be bought in advance easily via a train reservation service available at Voyages-sncf.com
Regular European air link services can be checked and booked at www.budgetair.co.uk. Flights connections are available to various destinations in Europe and worldwide.

To Bulgaria by coach, see current international timetable & fares

London to Bulgaria

If you are planning to go to Bulgaria you can travel from London using a Eurolines coach to Frankfurt, the direct overnight connection, then an another Eurolines coach from Frankfurt to Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Burgas and Varna. You can book the Eurolines London - Bulgaria coach at www.eurolines.co.uk.

London to Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Burgas & Varna

_{M = Monday, T= Tuesday, W = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday, n = Daily except...
© = You’ll need to change coach in Paris, changeover possible in Sofia
➀ = Day 1, ➁ = Day 2, ➂ = Day 3, ➃ = Day 4}

Fares

During peak times all passengers travelling to Bulgaria must pay a supplement on top of the normal ticket prices of £7 (single) or £10 (return).

Age categories: Children: 0-12 years, Youth: 13-25 years, Seniors: 60+ years.

How to buy tickets online for travel from Britain to Bulgaria?

To purchase tickets online you can do it on the Eurolines EU website. Simply fill out all fields in the journey planner and follow the instructions to buy a ticket. Early booking is highly recommended, because the Eurolines route between London and Bulgaria is very popular and the coaches are fully booked on some days. 
Passengers with open date return tickets, must confirm/reserve their return journey with a local Eurolines office at least 4 days before the date they wish to travel.

There are several simple ways:

• For most of the connections offered by Eurolines you can make a purchase online through their website.
• To purchase tickets online, you can also do it directly through the Infobus booking tool. Use the special journey planner form, for Eurolines services. Anyone from any country can buy tickets this way.  Do a dry run first to check prices and availability before booking for real.
  Open the special journey planner and book from London to Sofia or any other destination in Bulgaria and back looking for the direct coach with 0 changes. The search results will also show cheap savings fares (if they will be available) or standard fares. You pay by debit or credit card and print out your own tickets.  Easy! The prices shown are in Euros, EuropeBus recommends registering when it asks you before completing the purchase. Do the same with the Bulgaria-London ticket.

Travelling to Europe from outside London

Megabus and National Express have an expanded network in the UK so you can travelling not only from/to London, but from many other cities and towns in the UK. So you can get to or from London in one easy booking. Just enter the name of the place from which you start the journey, in the box defining the place of departure and London as your start or final destination. Book your connecting travel through the National Express and Megabus websites.

The journey from London to Bulgaria by Eurolines

The connection to Bulgaria is a direct route and requires change in Paris.
Transport from London to Sofia and other Bulgarian cities is carried out with traditional Eurolines’ vehicles. All Eurolines’ coaches have on-board toilet and washroom facilities, reclining seats and air-conditioning as standard.
Sometimes the coach that picks you up from your departure point has only the final destination displayed on the front windscreen. This is because the majority of Eurolines routes include multiple stops and it would be impractical to display every stop on the front windscreen. Also, you may have booked a journey which requires a change of coach. In both examples, please ask the driver to confirm that his/her coach is going to the destination stated on your ticket.
Eurolines put the safety and comfort of passengers first, so the vehicles are equipped with a large number of safeguards. The operators are using modern vehicles with large panoramic windows and increased legroom.
Eurolines coach services to Bulgaria depart from Victoria Coach Station in London which is located close to Victoria Underground and bus stations. Eurolines coaches in Bulgaria arrive and depart from the main bus stations. Buy a ticket online now.

The carrier provides service to any person who has purchased a ticket. Number of tickets for the designated route is limited to the number of seats. Having a valid ticket guarantees you use of the service (seat on the coach), however it does not reserve any particular place.
Single and return tickets (with the indicated date and time) are for a specific journey, you cannot miss the departure, because you will lose the ticket.
Best to buy tickets well in advance. Eurolines has many discounts for those who decide to purchase tickets in advance. Constant, although a slight discount is provided for youth, elderly and disabled people. Up to 50% discount is provided for children. Unless you get a good promotional fare, return fares are much cheaper than two single fares each way.

• Before leaving home for your Eurolines service, check you have packed all documents and items needed for your journey, especially your ticket, passport (sometimes it is enough to travel with ID card) and if your journey requires a special visa to enter or transit.
• Arrive at the Victoria Coach Station in London at least one hour before the departure time, as check-in proceedings are quite lengthy. Customers need to check-in at the Eurolines check-in office located adjacent to Gate 19. Check-in commences one hour before departure and closes 15 minutes before to enable all customers to board and to ensure a prompt departure.
• Your luggage should be marked tags bearing name, address and telephone. Please weigh your luggage at home.
• Never accept other persons luggage for transport! Should you notice any luggage left unattended, never touch it! Report the fact to the station’s service staff immediately. Never leave your luggage unattended!
• When approaching the check-in desk, have your passport and ticket ready. This will streamline the procedure.
• Border control & customs: When going through security check, place all metal items such as keys, watches, belts with large buckles, mobile phones, walkmans, small change etc in the boxes, and place them on the conveyor belt of the X-ray machine together with your hand luggage & suitcases. It is advisable to place your overcoats in the boxes. This will streamline and facilitate security control.
• If needed, remember to take your doctor’s certificates.

Check-In at London Victoria Coach Station

Check in commences one hour before departure and closes 15 minutes before to enable all customers to board and to ensure a prompt departure. You should have your passports and other travel documents ready for inspection at check-in. A boarding card for each customer and luggage labels will be issued and customers will be advised from which gate their coach will leave. Check in time at other UK departure points is 30 minutes before departure. If the office for check-in is already closed, check-in takes place directly on the coach. Buy a ticket online now.

Check-in in Bulgaria

You must check-in no later than 30 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket. Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure.
If there’s no office for check-in, then check-in takes place directly on the coach. Services returning to London arrive in Victoria Coach Station’s Arrivals terminal, customers making onward coach connections will need to cross the street to the Departures terminal

Sea crossings

Once you get to Dover (for the ferry) or Folkestone (for the train) you’ll have to go through passport control – the driver or coach attendant will explain exactly where and when to get off. On entry at the ferry port or Eurotunnel terminal, customers will be required to disembark from the vehicle and pass through both UK and French Border Control offices and show their passports. In Folkestone and on board the ferry you can find a restaurant, shops, bars, cafes, arcade games and loads of sitting spaces – so you can keep well entertained for the 1 hour 30-minute crossing.

Rest stops

Will the international coach stop for a break?
Of course, on the majority of services.  All international coach operators provide refreshment breaks on longer journeys, especially overnight services. The European law obliges the driver to take a break every four and a half hours.

Carriage of luggage

All Eurolines customers must label their luggage which will be loaded into the hold of the coach and will normally remain there until arrival at the destination or interchange point. The coach driver will load and unload customers’ luggage but customers are responsible for seeing their own luggage onto and off the coach on which they are travelling.
One medium sized suitcase is carried free of charge from London to Bulgaria or return. A charge of 5,-€ will be made for a second piece, and if space permits, a charge of 25,-€ for a third piece.

Are you looking for a budget hotel or hostel in Europe?

Our Accommodation page offers access to over one million verified accommodation reviews via Tripadvisor, allowing you to see what other people thought of a place before you book. And with rooms or hostel beds from as little as £3 per night, you can expect great value for money when you book with Europebus.

Travel insurance

The best way to protect against unexpected accidents is to buy travel insurance. In my opinion, so that the journey is stress-free, you should never travel without travel insurance. You can insure only for travel, it’s possible directly on the Eurolines website, during ticket purchase. You can also insure individually with another insurer. This will be the insurance that will apply during the journey and while in a foreign country. The insurance should cover: loss of cash and goods, cancellation of travel and the main treatment abroad. If you travel several times a year and want to save money, you may want to buy an annual insurance policy. Click here to buy insurance.

Currency

The official currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev. Do you want to exchange currency? Currency Exchange online.

If you're going on holiday, a prepaid currency card is a great item to have in your wallet. Here, we take a closer look at prepaid card option from My Travel Cash. There are a lots of great reasons why using a one of MyTravelCashs’ currency cards. They've found that different types of travellers use their products for different reasons, so, they've created special tailored products, for exapmle: Euro Currency Card, US Dollar Currency Card and Multi-Currency Card.
However, if you think that the traditional exchange of currency is a better option for you, then use the home delivery service offered by Post Office Travel Money. It’s a convenient and fantastic value option.
Post Office Travel Money has been awarded Best Foreign Exchange Provider for the last 3 years running by the British Travel Awards.  You can order online and get currency or Travellers’ Cheques delivered to your front door or pick up from one of 12,000 local Post Office branches.

Visit My Travel Cash and Post Office Travel Money websites and choose most convenient option.

Car Rental

Do you need a fast, reliable car hire service when on holiday or business trip? Rent with recognised agents; we provide quality hire cars and a friendly service at a great value price. Use one of the links on Rent a car page to be redirected to a recognised agent. Let's go: Enter your rental dates, a town name in the form to get a car.