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Reservation Sofia to Istanbul

  • October 15, 2022
  • 5 replies
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An important note about this train. It is frequently fully booked on the day and sometimes a few days before. The clerk at the international desk told us it was full on Friday Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Unfortunately it can’t be booked outside of Bulgaria so you must allow time to buy in person. You must have your passport with you when buying these reservations. A double sleeper costs the equivalent of 30 euros.Specialist agencies can help as they use local contacts to buy the tickets and deliver them to hotels or can even meet you in person but you have to pay for this level of service!

Best answer by mcadv

Thanks for this and to add: this is rather new, as untill before all reports were that it was more empty as taken. Also there was a recent report that the INTern office in Sofia is now closed SUNs.

If available, some more info about which local agents can assist then would be useful for others.

IF stuck and do not want to ait-there should still be several overnite buses-faster too and ending at a more convenient giant OtoGar in IST as that suburban train stop. Bus stat in Sof right to left of trains.

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  • Full steam ahead
  • 3893 replies
  • Answer
  • October 15, 2022

Thanks for this and to add: this is rather new, as untill before all reports were that it was more empty as taken. Also there was a recent report that the INTern office in Sofia is now closed SUNs.

If available, some more info about which local agents can assist then would be useful for others.

IF stuck and do not want to ait-there should still be several overnite buses-faster too and ending at a more convenient giant OtoGar in IST as that suburban train stop. Bus stat in Sof right to left of trains.


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  • Author
  • 339 replies
  • October 15, 2022

The office in Sofia station is now open every day but they close at 18:00 despite the notice! Discover by Rail are UK based and offer the collection service


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  • Railmaster
  • 10502 replies
  • October 16, 2022
cdwatkins19 wrote:

An important note about this train. It is frequently fully booked on the day and sometimes a few days before. The clerk at the international desk told us it was full on Friday Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Unfortunately it can’t be booked outside of Bulgaria

Are you sure DB can't book it? They can also book Bucharest - Istanbul (only in this direction).


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  • Author
  • 339 replies
  • October 17, 2022

I rang DB a few days ago. They said that in the past they had access to this train but no longer! It may be the clerk was incorrect so any updates from the community would be appreciated. We were able to get our sleepers but with four days notice.


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  • Author
  • 339 replies
  • October 17, 2022

Incidentally Romanian Railways can’t book it either! They can do Bucuresti to Istanbul couchette when this train runs but it is suspended for the winter.