Traveling Through Bulgaria

A Comedy of Buses, Trains, and Rakia

The land of mind-blowing landscapes, food that could make a Greek weep with envy, and rakia, a spirit so powerful it might just turn you into a philosopher after three sips. The national beverage, of course, is also an excellent remedy for anything from heartbreak to minor injuries. Just sprain your ankle? Have some rakia. You’ll either forget you even had an ankle or be too drunk to care.

Oh rakia – the national spirit that can either cure what ails you or knock you out faster than a Bulgarian winter wind.

But let’s get to the real adventure

Getting around this beautiful chaos

But enough of the romanticism, let’s get to the real Bulgarian experience: the transportation.

Let’s talk about how you actually get around this beautiful country. First, you’ll likely hop on a bus, because, well, why would you want the comfort and luxury of an actual car? Let’s be real, buses in Bulgaria have an unmatched charm. The smells, the sounds, the riveting sense of suspense as you try to figure out if the bus is still technically going to make it to your destination. Forget fancy air conditioning, 3 of my 4 bus journeys have broken A/C – who needs that when you’ve got natural ventilation courtesy of the open window (that may or may not fall off at any moment)?

The bus ride is a game of “Will I make it?” Will the bus break down? Will you get lost in a random village? Will the air conditioning mysteriously not work while your sweat beads up like you’re in a sauna?

And just when you think you’ve survived that journey, there’s the all-important “is this my stop?” game, where you’re left guessing whether you’ll be dropped off in a random field in the middle of nowhere. Fun, right? Tune in for this thriller that will leave you questioning every life decision you’ve ever made. 

Getting on the Night Train

But wait, your adventure doesn’t end there

But this isn’t where the adventure ends! Oh no, dear traveler, for my last adventure in this country, I took a night train to Turkey. The night train, a romantic journey for the bold and the brave.

The night train, a magical vessel that promises to take you to a whole new level of “Where on Earth am I?” While it may sound romantic, like something out of an old-school mystery novel, what you’re actually signing up for is the symphony of terrible train noises, random stops, and midnight stop at border control to check that everyone had their Visas while we were ambushed by the herd of welcoming cats.

But hey, you’re in the Balkans, so what’s not to love? You’ve got rakia to keep you company as the train lurches on, and before you know it, you’ll be in Turkey – hopefully with all your belongings and a newfound appreciation for the fact that buses and trains are, in fact, not meant to be luxurious experiences. The bus ride from Sofia to Istanbul typically takes around 8 to 10 hours, depending on traffic, border crossing times, and the specific route. It’s a pretty straightforward journey, but make sure to account for a potential stop or two at the border for passport control – it can sometimes add a little extra time to the mix.

In the end, you’ll reach Turkey with all your limbs intact and a deep sense of pride – because you survived Bulgaria’s transportation system. Welcome to the madness and enjoy the ride!

_{Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion.  There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.}