Rome2Rio

How to get fromEssen to Bulgariaby plane, train, bus, car, or car train

Find Transport to Bulgaria

See all options

There are 13 ways to get from Essen to Bulgaria by plane, train, bus, car, or car train

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly Düsseldorf International Airport to Sofia Airport

    best
    1. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane plane DUS - SOF
    7h 12m
    $95–344

  2. Fly Dortmund Airport to Sofia Airport

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane plane DTM - SOF
    6h 49m
    $49–480

  3. Train, bus

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Braunschweig, Hauptbahnhoftrain train 10
    2. Take the train from Braunschweig, Hauptbahnhof to Leipzig Hbftrain train 55 / ...
    3. Take the bus from Leipzig to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus bus
    28h 39m
    $159–328

  4. Train, bus via Ljubljana

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Düsseldorf Hbftrain train 10 / ...
    2. Take the train from Düsseldorf Hbf to Villach Hauptbahnhoftrain train Drf
    3. Take the train from Villach Hbf to Ljubljanatrain train 19 / ...
    4. Take the bus from Ljubljana to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus bus
    30h 9m
    $165–317

  5. Drive  1,918.8 km

    1. Drive from Essen to Sofiacar car 1,918.8 km
    16h 59m
    $316–457

  6. Train to Cologne Bonn Airport, fly to Sofia Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Koeln/Bonn Flughafentrain train
    2. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane plane CGN - SOF
    6h 44m
    $84–321

  7. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Sofia Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane plane FRA - SOF
    6h 51m
    $159–376

  8. Train, train to Eindhoven Airport, fly to Sofia Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Viersen Bahnhoftrain train
    2. Take the train from Venlo to Eindhoven Centraaltrain train
    3. Fly from Eindhoven Airport (EIN) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane plane EIN - SOF
    8h 27m
    $78–429

  9. Fly Dortmund Airport to Varna Airport

    1. Fly from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane plane DTM - VAR
    7h 20m
    $153–419

  10. Bus via Kassel

    1. Take the bus from Essen central train station to Kasselbus bus 023 / ...
    2. Take the bus from Kassel Grüner Waldweg to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus bus Citylines 17
    31h 15m
    $130–189

  11. Train, bus #2

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train 41 / ...
    2. Take the bus from Frankfurt Central Train Station to Sofia Serdica Bus Stopbus bus
    33h 27m
    $161–281

  12. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Essen Hbf to Niš, Autobuska Stanicabus bus
    2. Take the bus from Niš, Autobuska Stanica to Sofiya, Avtogara Serdikabus bus
    36h 12m
    $164–207

  13. Drive, car train

    1. Drive from Essen to Fuldacar car
    2. Take the cartrain from Fulda to Villach Hbf ARZcartrain train
    3. Drive from Villach Hbf ARZ to Sofiacar car
    20h 54m
    $348–479

Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights

Calendar53Weekly Planes
Duration5h 51mAverage Duration
Ticket$77Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Essen to Bulgaria.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,629.5 km
  • Duration: 7h 12m

What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Bulgaria?

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Sofia Airport (SOF) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Essen central train station to Sofia Serdica Bus Station via Kassel Grüner Waldweg in around 31h 15m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Booking & Getting There