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

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There are 14 ways to get from Essen to Bulgaria by plane, train, bus, night train, 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 Varna Airport

    best
    1. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane plane DUS - VAR
    6h 18m
    $189–472

  2. Fly Dortmund Airport to Sofia Airport

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane plane DTM - SOF
    6h 49m
    $74–388

  3. Train, bus via Leipzig

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Leipzig Hbftrain train 51
    2. Take the bus from Leipzig to Sofia Central Bus Stationbus bus
    27h 36m
    $173–540

  4. Night train, train

    1. Take the nighttrain from Essen Hbf to Wien Hbfnighttrain night train Nj
    2. Take the train from Wien Hbf to Bucuresti Nordtrain train 347
    3. Take the train from Bucuresti Nord to Sofiatrain train 461
    42h 36m
    $376–688

  5. Drive  1,918.8 km

    1. Drive from Essen to Sofiacar car 1,918.8 km
    16h 55m
    $316–457

  6. 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 46m
    $152–462

  7. Fly Düsseldorf International Airport to Burgas Airport

    1. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Burgas Airport (BOJ)plane plane DUS - BOJ
    5h 45m
    $111–385

  8. Train to Cologne Bonn Airport, fly to Varna Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain train
    2. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane plane CGN - VAR
    8h 54m
    $170–593

  9. 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 20m
    $78–460

  10. Fly Dortmund Airport to Varna Airport

    1. Fly from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane plane DTM - VAR
    7h 20m
    $128–467

  11. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Bucharest Otopeni, bus

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP)plane plane FRA - OTP
    3. Take the bus from Buchurest to Rusebus bus
    9h 11m
    $160–457

  12. Train, bus

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Kassel-Wilhelmshoehetrain train Re
    2. Take the bus from Kassel Grüner Waldweg to Sofia Serdica Bus Stationbus bus Citylines 17
    30h 50m
    $162–361

  13. 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
    $168–776

  14. Drive, car train

    1. Drive from Essen to Fuldacar car
    2. Take the cartrain from Fulda to Villach Hbfcartrain train
    3. Drive from Villach Hbf to Sofiacar car
    21h 10m
    $348–489

Essen to Bulgaria by night train, train, and tram

Calendar14Weekly Services
Duration42h 36mAverage Duration
Ticket$376Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Essen to Bulgaria.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,896.8 km
  • Duration: 6h 18m

What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Bulgaria?

TUIfly and Austrian Airlines fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Varna Airport (VAR) once daily. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Essen Hbf to Serdika via Niš, Autobuska Stanica, Sofiya, Avtogara Serdika, and Central Station in around 36h 12m.

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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.

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