Picture this: You're standing in Sofia's Централна гара (Central Station), staring at the departure board. You need a train to Plovdiv — but which platform? You approach the билетна каса (ticket office) and say: "Един билет за Пловдив, моля. Отиване и връщане." The cashier tells you the platform and departure time. Suddenly, navigating Bulgaria's rail network feels manageable.
Bulgaria's public transport is remarkably affordable. A Sofia metro ride costs about €0.80, an inter-city bus to Plovdiv around €7, and even a cross-country train ticket rarely exceeds €10. Sofia has an expanding metro system (4 lines as of 2025), plus trams, trolleybuses, and regular buses — all on one integrated ticket system. Between cities, comfortable private bus companies like Union Ivkoni and Biomet compete with the state railway БДЖ. Today you'll master all the vocabulary you need to travel independently — from buying a ticket to asking about delays and transfers.
Section 1
Transport types
Every way of getting around in Bulgaria.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English | Notes | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| автобус | avtobus | bus | Inter-city and local | |
| тролей | troley | trolleybus | Electric bus — common in Sofia | |
| трамвай | tramvay | tram | Mainly Sofia | |
| метро | metro | metro / underground | Sofia only | |
| влак | vlak | train | БДЖ = Bulgarian State Railways | |
| такси | taksi | taxi | Always use a metered taxi | |
| кола | kola | car | Everyday word | |
| мотоциклет | mototsiklet | motorbike | More formal than мотор | |
| велосипед | velosiped | bicycle | Also колело in speech | |
| самолет | samolet | aeroplane | For flights | |
| кораб | korab | ship / ferry | Less common inland | |
| пеша | pesha | on foot | How you go somewhere |
Section 2
At the station — key vocabulary
The words you need at a Bulgarian railway or bus station.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| гара | gara | railway station | |
| автогара | avtogara | bus station | |
| летище | letishte | airport | |
| перон | peron | platform | |
| коловоз | kolovoz | track / line number | |
| билет | bilet | ticket | |
| билетна каса | biletna kasa | ticket office | |
| разписание | razpisanie | timetable / schedule | |
| заминаване | zaminavane | departure | |
| пристигане | pristigane | arrival | |
| закъснение | zakasnenie | delay | |
| директен влак | direkten vlak | direct train | |
| с прекачване | s prekachvane | with a transfer / change | |
| вагон | vagon | carriage / coach | |
| място | myasto | seat / place |
Section 3
Buying a ticket
Everything you need at the ticket window.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Един билет за... моля. | Edin bilet za... molya. | One ticket to... please. | |
| Отиване и връщане. | Otivane i vrashtane. | Return (there and back). | |
| Само отиване. | Samo otivane. | Single (one way only). | |
| За кога? | Za koga? | For when? | |
| За утре сутринта. | Za utre sutrinta. | For tomorrow morning. | |
| В колко часа тръгва влакът? | V kolko chasa tragva vlakat? | What time does the train leave? | |
| Кога пристига в...? | Koga pristiga v...? | When does it arrive in...? | |
| Има ли директен влак? | Ima li direkten vlak? | Is there a direct train? | |
| Трябва ли да се прекача? | Tryabva li da se prekacha? | Do I need to change? | |
| От кой перон? | Ot koy peron? | From which platform? |
Section 4
On the bus and metro
Urban transport phrases.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| С кой автобус да отида до...? | S koy avtobus da otida do...? | Which bus should I take to...? | |
| Качете се на автобус номер... | Kachete se na avtobus nomer... | Take bus number... | |
| Слезте на спирка... | Slezte na spirka... | Get off at... stop. | |
| Колко спирки са? | Kolko spirki sa? | How many stops is it? | |
| Следващата спирка е... | Sledvashtata spirka e... | The next stop is... | |
| Картата, моля. | Kartata, molya. | Your travel card, please. | |
| Еднократен билет | Ednokraten bilet | Single journey ticket | |
| Абонаментна карта | Abonamentna karta | Monthly pass |
💡 Sofia public transport tip
In Sofia, you validate your ticket on the bus or tram at the yellow validator. In the metro, scan or insert the ticket at the gate. An абонаментна карта (monthly pass) covers metro, tram, trolleybus and bus within Sofia. For taxis, use licensed companies and avoid unmarked cars at stations or airports.
Section 5
Useful travel phrases
Short practical phrases for stations, bus stops and asking for directions.
Section 6
Dialogue — buying a train ticket
A complete ticket purchase at Sofia Central Station.
— Добър ден. Един билет за Пловдив, моля.
— Само отиване или отиване и връщане?
— Отиване и връщане. За утре сутринта.
— Влакът тръгва в осем и четвърт и пристига в десет без пет.
— Чудесно. Има ли директен влак?
— Да, директен е. От трети перон.
— Колко струва?
— Шест евро и петдесет цента.
— Заповядайте, седем евро.
— Рестото е петдесет цента. Приятно пътуване!
— Dobar den. Edin bilet za Plovdiv, molya.
— Samo otivane ili otivane i vrashtane?
— Otivane i vrashtane. Za utre sutrinta.
— Vlakat tragva v osem i chetvart i pristiga v deset bez pet.
— Chudesno. Ima li direkten vlak?
— Da, direkten e. Ot treti peron.
— Kolko struva?
— Shest evro i petdeset tsenta.
— Zapovyadayte, sedem evro.
— Restoto e petdeset tsenta. Priyatno patuvane!
— Good afternoon. One ticket to Plovdiv please.
— Single or return?
— Return. For tomorrow morning.
— The train leaves at quarter past eight and arrives at five to ten.
— Great. Is it a direct train?
— Yes, it is direct. From platform three.
— How much is it?
— Six euros and fifty cents.
— Here is seven euros.
— Your change is fifty cents. Have a good journey!
Section 7
Writing task
✏️ Writing task — Day 21
- You want a return ticket to Varna for next Saturday. Write what you say at the ticket office.
- Translate: "Which bus goes to the National Theatre? Get off at the third stop."
- Write the Bulgarian for: platform, timetable, departure, arrival, delay.
- What does "Приятно пътуване!" mean and when do you say it?
Show answers
1. Един билет за Варна, отиване и връщане. За следващата събота, моля.
2. С кой автобус да отида до Народния театър? Слезте на третата спирка.
3. перон, разписание, заминаване, пристигане, закъснение
4. "Have a good journey!" — said when someone is about to travel. Like "bon voyage".
Day 21 Quiz
8 questions · score 6+ to mark day complete
Question 1 of 8
"Return ticket" in Bulgarian:
Question 2 of 8
What is "автогара"?
Question 3 of 8
"What time does the train leave?":
Question 4 of 8
"From which platform?" in Bulgarian:
Question 5 of 8
What is a "абонаментна карта"?
Question 6 of 8
"Do I need to change (trains)?" in Bulgarian:
Question 7 of 8
"Have a good journey!" in Bulgarian:
Question 8 of 8
The word for "delay" in Bulgarian:
Day 21 Recap
Review before Day 22. Every point builds on the last.
| Topic | Key point | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Transport types | автобус · тролей · трамвай · метро · влак · такси · самолет | Know all 8 with gender |
| Station words | гара · автогара · перон · билет · разписание · заминаване · пристигане | |
| Tickets | Един билет за... · само отиване · отиване и връщане · За кога? | Always state destination and date |
| Train questions | В колко часа тръгва? · Кога пристига? · Директен ли е? · От кой перон? | Four essential questions at any station |
| Bus/metro | С кой автобус? · Слезте на спирка... · Колко спирки? | Use formal -те imperative |
| Приятно пътуване | "Have a good journey" — said at departure, like bon voyage. | Universal farewell for travellers |
| 🌎 Culture | Bulgarian transport is very affordable — Sofia metro ~€0.80, inter-city buses ~€7; private bus companies compete with state railway БДЖ | Sofia has 4 metro lines + trams, trolleybuses, buses on one ticket |