Paris to Sofia by train
Travel from Paris (France) to Sofia (Bulgaria) by train (1758km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
To travel by train from Paris in France to Sofia in Bulgaria, please read the following information and blog posts.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1Paris (France) - Munich (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria)
- 2Paris (France) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria)
1758 km
How to use the following information: railcc shows you the best routes and where to buy tickets. On longer routes you may need more than one ticket. Book your tickets step by step as explained. If you have questions about the route from Paris to Sofia, please ask in the Raildude forum. Of course, sometimes there are as well other travel routes possible.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections : popular connections travelled by other users
Sofia - Paris / Paris - Burgas / Paris - Plovdiv / Paris - Varna / Bordeaux - Sofia / Lille - Sofia / Lyon - Sofia / Marseille - Sofia / Nice - Sofia / Toulouse - Sofia1 Paris (France) - Munich (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
1a Travelling from Paris (France) to Munich (Germany)
Travel from Paris to Munich by ICE and TGV high-speed-trains. Ticket fares start at EUR 39. The journey time is 5 hours 40 minutes. There is a direct daily connection between Paris and Munich without changing trains. Departure is at 15:55 from "Paris Est". Arrival at Munich Central Station (‘München Hbf’) at 21:36. In addition, there are at least five more daily connections with only one change.
If you want to travel comfortably overnight, book a train ticket for the "ÖBB nightjet" night train from Paris via Munich to Vienna. Departure is at 19:12 from "Paris Est" railway station. Arrival is at 05:43 in the morning at "München Ost" railway station. This night train does not run daily.
Find the exact train schedule and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Munich?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE) / ICE Alleo Germany - France (ICE Alleo) / TGV Alleo France - Germany (TGV Alleo)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
ÖBB nightjet NJ468 Vienna - Paris / ÖBB nightjet NJ469 Paris - Vienna
train company:
DB Deutsche Bahn
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Munich - Paris
1b Travelling from Munich (Germany) to Budapest (Hungary)
To travel from Munich to Budapest by train use one of the direct Railjet trains. Train tickets are available as "Sparpreis Europa" (saver price) from 39 EUR. The journey times is seven hours. The Railjet trains offer at least five direct connections per day.
There is a night train available as well offering tickets from 29 EUR. The journey time of the night train is 9:30 hours.
Find ticket prices and schedules via our booking links. The ticket price depends on your travel date.
Where to buy a ticket from Munich to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 463 Munich - Budapest / EN 462 Budapest - Munich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Munich
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
1c Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Belgrade (Serbia)
The train connection from Budapest to Belgrade is currently only possible with two changes. The line has been under reconstruction since 2019 and should be fully operational again from 2026. Until now, direct trains took around six hours to cover the 350-kilometre route. In 2026, the journey time should be reduced to 2 hours and 40 minutes, at a possible speed of 200 km/h.
Your train departs from "Budapest Nyugati" station. You have to change trains in Szeged and Subotica. Then you continue via Novi Sad and arrive at "Beograd Centar" station.
You have to buy the following tickets:
#1 From Budapest to Subotica with the Hungarian railway MAV. If you buy one train ticket, it costs 26 EUR. If you buy two train tickets, it is cheaper. First from Budapest to Szeged from 6 EUR. Then from Szeged to Subotica for 5 EUR.
#2. From Subotica to Belgrade, the ticket costs 15 EUR. These can be bought on the Serbian Railways website. At the moment it is only in Serbian, but you can understand it. Otherwise, buy the ticket at the station.
There are currently three train connections per day with departure from Budapest at 05:50h, 11:50h and 14:50h. Arrival in Belgrade is at 12:40h, 18:40h and 21:20h. You can find the exact timetables on the websites of the Hungarian and Serbian railways.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Belgrade?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
EuroCity (EC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
G 341 Budapest - Belgrade
train company:
MÁV Magyar Államvasutak - MÁV START / SV Srbija Voz
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Belgrade - Budapest
1d Travelling from Belgrade (Serbia) to Sofia (Bulgaria)
Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train connection. In off-season (October to May) you have to change trains in Nis and Dimitrovgrad. Sometimes an overnight train is offered as well.
The journey time from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train is 11:30 hours. Train tickets are available from 21 EUR in 2nd class. Buy your ticket locally at the railway station. The departure time in Belgrade (Topcider) is 09:15. The arrival time in Sofia is 20:45.
If no direct train is available, you have to travel in several steps:
1. Belgrade to Nis. It might be the case that you have to stay overnight in Nis.
2. Nis to Dimitrovgrad.
3. Dimitrovgrad to Sofia.
Find the exact schedules via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Belgrade to Sofia?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Sofia - Belgrade
2 Paris (France) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from Paris (France) to Zurich (Switzerland)
Travel from Paris to Zurich by direct TGV Lyria high-speed-train. The ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The journey time is four hours. There are at least six train connections per day. The trains depart every two hours.
The departure station is Paris Gare de Lyon. The arrival station is Zurich HB.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Zurich?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
TGV Lyria France - Switzerland (Lyria)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Zurich - Paris
2b Travelling from Zurich (Switzerland) to Budapest (Hungary)
There is a direct Railjet train from Zurich to Budapest every day, as well as a direct Nightjet night train.
How much does a train ticket cost from Zurich to Budapest?
The train ticket on the Railjet day train costs from 44 euros. On the night train, a ticket in a seat car costs from 29 euros, in a couchette car from 49 euros and in a sleeper car from 69 euros. The earlier you book, the greater your chance of getting a savings price.
How long does it take to travel from Zurich to Budapest by train?
The train journey takes 10 hours.
What is the schedule of the day train connection in the Railjet from Zurich to Budapest?
The departure of the Railjet RJX165 in Zurich is at 10:40h. Arrival in Budapest at 21:19h.
What is the schedule (departure/arrival) for the Nightjet night train from Zurich to Budapest?
The departure of the Nightjet EN40467 is at Zurich HB at 21:40h. Arrival in Budapest at 09:24h.
What experience have we had with the Zurich to Budapest train connection?
Book early to buy saver fare tickets. Our recommendation is the Nightjet night train: You save money on a hotel and the trip is very comfortable and inexpensive.
Where to buy a ticket from Zurich to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ) / ÖBB Nightjet (NJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 40467 Zurich - Budapest / EN 40462 Budapest - Zurich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Zurich
2c Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Belgrade (Serbia)
The train connection from Budapest to Belgrade is currently only possible with two changes. The line has been under reconstruction since 2019 and should be fully operational again from 2026. Until now, direct trains took around six hours to cover the 350-kilometre route. In 2026, the journey time should be reduced to 2 hours and 40 minutes, at a possible speed of 200 km/h.
Your train departs from "Budapest Nyugati" station. You have to change trains in Szeged and Subotica. Then you continue via Novi Sad and arrive at "Beograd Centar" station.
You have to buy the following tickets:
#1 From Budapest to Subotica with the Hungarian railway MAV. If you buy one train ticket, it costs 26 EUR. If you buy two train tickets, it is cheaper. First from Budapest to Szeged from 6 EUR. Then from Szeged to Subotica for 5 EUR.
#2. From Subotica to Belgrade, the ticket costs 15 EUR. These can be bought on the Serbian Railways website. At the moment it is only in Serbian, but you can understand it. Otherwise, buy the ticket at the station.
There are currently three train connections per day with departure from Budapest at 05:50h, 11:50h and 14:50h. Arrival in Belgrade is at 12:40h, 18:40h and 21:20h. You can find the exact timetables on the websites of the Hungarian and Serbian railways.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Belgrade?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
EuroCity (EC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
G 341 Budapest - Belgrade
train company:
MÁV Magyar Államvasutak - MÁV START / SV Srbija Voz
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Belgrade - Budapest
2d Travelling from Belgrade (Serbia) to Sofia (Bulgaria)
Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train connection. In off-season (October to May) you have to change trains in Nis and Dimitrovgrad. Sometimes an overnight train is offered as well.
The journey time from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train is 11:30 hours. Train tickets are available from 21 EUR in 2nd class. Buy your ticket locally at the railway station. The departure time in Belgrade (Topcider) is 09:15. The arrival time in Sofia is 20:45.
If no direct train is available, you have to travel in several steps:
1. Belgrade to Nis. It might be the case that you have to stay overnight in Nis.
2. Nis to Dimitrovgrad.
3. Dimitrovgrad to Sofia.
Find the exact schedules via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Belgrade to Sofia?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Sofia - Belgrade
Need a cheap place to sleep? railcc recommends booking.com
Find a cheap flight! Compare prices on Kiwi.com
Do you have questions about the connection between Paris and Sofia? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in the Raildude forum and get competent answers from rail travel experts.
Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.
