Hey everyone, was just hoping to get some advice on the best way of travelling from Istanbul to Varna, in Bulgaria. I have an interrail ticket so would be looking at getting the train, is there a direct one? If not, how would I go about the journey? Alternative options are Istanbul to Burgas (was looking for some Black Sea Coast sun) or if both options prove too difficult, Istanbul to Bucharest, bypassing Bulgaria altogether, as I have read about a train that makes that journey. Thanks for any help!
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I trekked around Istanbul finding this out yesterday!Metro bus - cost is 65 TL whether you get off at Burgas or Varna. Bus leaves Istanbul at 7.30pm, it is 7 hours to Burgas, or 9 hours to Varna. They said their bus leaves from their office nr Taksim sq (tourist info can point you in the right direction), and to turn up at least an hour or so before to get the ticket. I guess it then stops at the otogar on it's way out of Istanbul.
At the train station they said no trains to Bulgaria at all (which I knew, shame because the sleeper train last year was lovely!) and that to deal with the bus companies direct, like Metro. But if I wanted to go all the way to Buchurest, a combination of bus and then train, they would sell me a ticket for 90TL with the bus leaving from the train station at 10pm, connecting with a train somewhere along the way and getting to Bucharest 6.30pm the next day.
Hope that helps!
