Romania Resumes Direct Trains to Varna, Sofia and Istanbul: New Opportunities for Passengers from Ukraine and Moldova

Romanian railway operator CFR Călători is resuming seasonal direct passenger services from Bucharest to Varna, Sofia and Istanbul in June. The international train “România” will run daily throughout the summer tourist season, providing additional travel options to Bulgaria and Türkiye.

The new routes are important not only for Romanian citizens. They expand the range of transport connections available to passengers from Ukraine and Moldova, who can use Bucharest as a regional interchange hub.

Direct services between Bucharest and Varna will start on 12 June 2026. The train will depart from București Nord railway station at 10:46 and arrive in Varna at 19:56. Services in this direction will continue until 11 October, while return journeys will operate from 13 June until 12 October.

The direct train to Sofia will start running on 13 June. It will depart from Bucharest at 10:46 and arrive in the Bulgarian capital at 20:41.

The connection to Istanbul, with Halkalı as its final station, will also be available from 13 June. The train will depart from București Nord at 10:46 and arrive in Istanbul at 09:56 the following day. This route includes an overnight journey in a couchette carriage.

The cost of a second-class ticket will be:

— Bucharest — Varna: EUR 27;
— Bucharest — Sofia: EUR 33.6.

A ticket from Bucharest to Istanbul in a four-berth couchette compartment will cost EUR 57.8.

Ticket sales are already open. Tickets can be purchased in advance at CFR Călători international ticket offices and agencies, as well as online through the Romanian operator’s website.

The resumption of seasonal routes is also important for Ukraine, given the development of international rail links in the southern direction. Bucharest is gradually becoming one of the key transport hubs through which Ukrainian passengers can travel to countries in South-Eastern Europe.

A daily rail service between Kyiv and Bucharest is already in operation. This makes it possible to view the Romanian capital not only as a final destination, but also as a transit hub for onward travel to Bulgaria and Türkiye.

The Varna route is particularly significant. Ukraine and Bulgaria previously announced that they were considering the launch of a direct train on the Kyiv — Lviv — Chernivtsi — Suceava — Bucharest — Varna route. Even before the final introduction of this service, CFR Călători’s seasonal trains provide an additional transport alternative for Ukrainians travelling to Bulgaria via Romania.

For Ukraine, the development of such routes is important not only from a tourism perspective. It contributes to the resilience of passenger logistics during wartime, expands connections with European Union member states and provides more accessible overland travel options for citizens, including families with children.

The new trains may also be in demand among passengers from Moldova. An international train operates between Chișinău and Bucharest, making it possible to travel to Varna, Sofia or Istanbul with a transfer in the Romanian capital.

During the summer season, this offers an alternative to air and road travel, particularly given the rising cost of air tickets and the increased seasonal pressure on border crossing points.

Comment by the Institute for Danube Research

The IDR noted:

“The resumption of direct trains from Bucharest to Varna, Sofia and Istanbul should be viewed as more than an ordinary expansion of the summer tourist offer. Romania is consistently strengthening its role as a transport bridge connecting Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

This is particularly important for Ukraine. During wartime, rail transport remains one of the most reliable instruments of international mobility. The more routes become available through Romania, the more resilient the entire regional transport system becomes.

The formation of a fully developed southern passenger corridor linking Ukrainian cities with Bucharest, the Bulgarian coast and Türkiye is a promising prospect. Such an approach would contribute not only to tourism, but also to stronger humanitarian ties, the development of cross-border cooperation and Ukraine’s further integration into the European transport area.”