Rallying by Rail | Belgrade, Serbia to Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The Balkans are so diverse and vibrant that modern travelers visit them to learn about the culture, gastronomy, music, ancient and medieval towns, history, and, in general to live and experience the region.

Traveling in the modern Balkans is easier than ever, and since the whole region is settling down after the turbulent ‘90s, travelers have the opportunity to travel by plane, by car, or live the experience of a rail trip.

Start in Belgrade, where you will have the opportunity to experience a young and vibrant city full of active people and a rich history.

What to do in Belgrade

1. The Old Kalemegdan Fortress – Built in 279 BC, Kalemegdan, or Belgrade Fortress, is located in one of the best parks in the famous white city. Kalemegdan is located in the city center.
2. Military Museum is a great way to see old tanks and ammunition while learning about Serbia’s military history.
3. Ruzica Church is the oldest church of Belgrade, and it’s tucked into the side of the Kalemgdan fortress. It’s in the north-eastern walls of the Fortress, under the Zindan gate.
4. Museum of Nikola Tesla is a museum dedicated to this visionary scientist.

Start in Belgrade, where you will have the opportunity to experience a young and vibrant city full of active people and a rich history.

If you want to stay in Belgrade, then Best Western has a really great hotel. The Best Western Premier Hotel Natalija Residence is located on the street Zarkovacka 1, near the Kosutnjak park forest. Proximity to forest park Kosutnjak, allows travelers to enjoy the natural beauty of one of the most famous and beautiful natural assets of Belgrade.

Finishing with Belgrade, we take the train from Belgrade Centre railway station, colloquially known as Prokop. The rail station is new and currently unfinished, but it serves as the de facto main railway station of the city, after replacing the old main station at the Belgrade Waterfront.

There is no direct train connection towards Plovdiv in Bulgaria, and travelers need to change trains in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. Normally, the train from Belgrade takes around 11 hours to reach Sofia, passing through amazing scenery from Serbia and Bulgaria. The train passes through Nis town. Since the days of the Roman Empire, the city of Niš has been on an unofficial boundary between East and West. One man who bestrode that divide was the Roman Emperor Constantine, who was born right here in ancient Naissus and went on to found a “New Rome” at Constantinople.

After Nis town, the train passes through Dimitrovgrad, the border town of Serbia just before entering Bulgaria on its way to Sofia!

During summer times, there is a direct train from Belgrade to Sofia, but during winter time, travelers need to stop and change trains in Nis and Dimitrovgrad. Sometimes an overnight train is offered as well.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Arriving in Sofia, the Sofia Central Railway Station is the main passenger railway station in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, as well as the largest railway station in the country. It is located 1 km north of the city centre after Lavov Most, on Marie Louise Boulevard, in the immediate vicinity of the Central Bus Station Sofia. It was completely renovated in 2016.

Sofia has a lot of stories to tell, and each historic attraction will give you a new perspective on Sofia’s complicated past. Take the churches here that have spent several centuries of their existence as mosques, the overbearing Soviet architecture or the Roman history that is still being uncovered and blended with the modern city.

What to do in Sofia

1. Borisova gradina – Sofia’s most famous park was landscaped in the 1880s right after the Bulgarian Revival, making it the oldest one in the city.
2. Ivan Vazov National Theatre – The Viennese architects Helmer & Fellner, responsible for a catalogue of extravagant buildings across Central Europe, built this theatre in 1909.
3. National Historical Museum – The Museum’s collection is massive; the 65,000 items on display represent only one-tenth of what is held behind the scenes in its archives.
4. Vitosha Boulevard – The fanciest street in the city, Vitosha Boulevard is where all the posh boutiques and fashion houses are clustered.
5. St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral – The scale of this building will blow you away. Inside St. Alexander Nevski has room for 10,000 people, and is the second largest cathedral in the Balkan region.

Where to stay in Sofia

In Sofia, Best Western has many options to choose from that cover various needs and are located in different districts.

• Best Western Plus Bristol Hotel
• Best Western Terminus Hotel
• Best Western Premier Sofia Airport
• Best Western Plus Expo Hotel
• Best Western Art Plaza Hotel
• Best Western Lozenetz Hotel

Without a doubt, one of the smartest ways to travel between lively Sofia and beautiful Plovdiv is by the modern train. Both destinations are part of a very advanced railway network, so the trains running on the Sofia – Plovdiv route boast fast travel times (the journey takes about 2.5 hours) and admirable punctuality. The Sofia to Plovdiv train timetable is very extensive and offers up to 10 daily departures, so you can easily choose a train that works best with your travel plans.