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Veliko Tarnovo
Photo: MrPanyGoff, CC BY-SA 3.0

Beyond Sofia

Veliko Tarnovo's fortress, Plovdiv's old town, the Black Sea beaches and the routes on to Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Bucharest. The guides here cover the rest of Bulgaria and the trains and buses that get you there.

View of the old town of the city of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.
Best of

12 Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria: My Favourites for 2026

My 12 favourite places in Bulgaria beyond Sofia, ranked, with the time from Sofia and how I get to each one.

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The main entrance of Tsarevets stronghold with the old Patriarchal Cathedral in the background - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.
Guide

Veliko Tarnovo: My Favourite Things to Do in Bulgaria's Old Capital

Bulgaria's medieval capital on the Yantra: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, the craft street, Arbanasi and my one-night plan.

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This is a photo of a monument in Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria identified by the ID
Getting there

Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo: Bus, Train or Car, and the One I Take

How I get from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo: the coach times, the train change, the drive and why I stay a night.

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2014-06-12 in Nesebar.
Guide

The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: My Favourite Places, North to South

My favourite places on the Bulgarian coast, north to south, the beaches I pick and how I get there from Sofia.

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The eastbound Istanbul-Sofia Express waiting to depart Sofia Central Station with a BDZ class 44 electric locomotive leading.
Getting there

Sofia to Istanbul by Night Train, Bus, Plane or Car

How I get from Sofia to Istanbul: the night sleeper, the 8-hour coach, flights and the drive, with euro fares.

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Air photo with view of Thessaloniki from the sea
Getting there

Sofia to Thessaloniki: The Coach, the Drive and Why There's No Train

How I get from Sofia to Thessaloniki: the 4h40 coach, the drive past Melnik and what happened to the train.

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Donau.zwischen km 555 und 490 in Richtung Ruse. Vom Schiff Amadeus Symphony (ship, 2003) aus gesehen. Die Kilometerabgabe bezieht sich von Passau mit 2223 km
Getting there

Sofia to Bucharest by Day Train, Coach, Plane or Car

How I get from Sofia to Bucharest: the day train via Ruse, the 6.5-hour coach, a direct flight and the drive.

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The Lamartine House was built in Old Town in 1829-1830 CE by the merchant Georgi Mavridi—but for three days in the summer of 1833 CE the French poet and
Guide

Plovdiv: My Favourite Things to Do in Bulgaria's Second City

Plovdiv's Roman theatre, painted Old Town and Kapana, with ticket prices, closing days and my two-day plan.

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Belgrade. View to Kalemegdan fortress in evening sunset light
Getting there

Sofia to Belgrade: The Coach, the Nis Route and the Drive

How I get from Sofia to Belgrade: the 6-hour coach, the bus and train via Nis, and the border at Kalotina.

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Macedonia Square in Skopje, Macedonia
Getting there

Sofia to Skopje: The 5-Hour Coach, the Drive and the Border

How I get from Sofia to Skopje: the 5-hour coach, the drive via Kyustendil and the border at Gyueshevo.

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