If you’re planning a trip across Serbia and Bulgaria, a possible route between the two countries is to travel through the cities Belgrade-Novi Sad-Niš on the Serbian side and follow through Sofia-Veliko Tarnovo-Varna on the Bulgarian side, which I did during my backpacking journey in Eastern Europe.

A railway journey between Belgrade and Sofia takes about 12 hours. Departing from Niš, you can take a train to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, a trip that takes about 6 hours. I did the route from Niš to Sofia by train; I had previously heard from locals that it’s a smuggling route, and then the border control is reinforced. My trip was tranquil, but the border control inside the train was stronger than what I had seen at other borders across Eastern Europe, including inspection of the passengers’ luggage.

Other possible routes you can consider to this region are arriving in Istanbul and from there moving to Bulgaria and afterwards to Serbia; or arriving in Budapest, where you can take a train to Belgrade.

Cities to visit in Serbia

If you have more time to travel in Serbia, I recommend visiting Valjevo in the Eastern region, 1 hour from Belgrade. For tips about Serbian food and drinks, you can check this article. Once in the Balkans, you must stop at the pekaras as an experience to taste local fast food. Most travelers end up visiting Belgrade and Novi Sad, but it’s also worth visiting Niš if you’re heading to Bulgaria and Guča if you’re in Serbia in August.

Belgrade

Capital of Serbia, Belgrade is the biggest city that attracts visitors looking for nightlife, historic places, gastronomy, museums, and an intense life in public spaces during the summer. I recommend at least 2 days to visit this city without any rush. An itinerary to Belgrade must include the Church of Saint Sava, the Nikola Tesla Museum, tasting local food at the pekaras, walking by the Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Street, hang out at Kalemegdan Fortress. At night, go walk across the bohemian Skadarlija Street and party on the Serbian way at a kafana. On days with good weather, the park Ada Ciganlja attracts people who go to outdoor activities and the lake. If you have time, explore the charming view of the Zemun neighborhood marked by Austro-Hungarian architecture.

For detailed travel tips on what to do in Belgrade, we have these articles suggesting what to do in 1 day and in 2 days.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is a charming town located in the North of Serbia, about 1 hour by train from Belgrade. Small and compact, it’s easy to explore in a day trip. I visited this city on a cold day in the winter; however, I was impressed by the architecture and the variety of restaurants along Dunavska Street. From Petrovaradin Fortress, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the Danube River. In summer, Novi Sad attracts visitors from all over the Balkans who go to events like EXIT Festival and have the opportunity to experience outdoor activities.

Niš

Niš is located in southern Serbia, near the Bulgarian border, making it an excellent option for travelers heading to Sofia. Also a small and compact city, easy to explore on foot. Among the places to visit are the Niš Fortress in downtown and a concentration camp that showcases the local history during the Nazi invasion. For gastronomy, Niš is known for the best pljeskavica in Serbia, and it’s also worth trying the deep-fried dough mekika and the local beer Zaječarsko.

Guča Festival

If you’re travelling in Serbia in August, an interesting event to go to is the Guča Trumpet Festival that happens in the town of Guča, located 3 hours from Belgrade. This festival lasts 4 days, with parties and bands playing trumpets that attract about 700,000 visitors who go to party hard. Performances and concerts happen across the streets, squares, and bars during the event.

Cities to visit in Bulgaria

Beyond the indicated cities, it’s worth visiting Plovdiv if there is space in your itinerary. Being mountainous, Bulgaria is a good destination for those who look for ski stations, mountaineering, and winter sports. 

In Sofia and in Veliko Tarnovo, I stayed at the Hostel Mostel, one of the best hostels I have been to across my trips around the world and one of the best-rated in the Balkans. In both cities, this hostel is located near the main places to visit by walking. They also have a branch in Plovdiv.

Sofía

Capital of Bulgaria, Sofia is one of the main cities in the Balkans, combining historic architecture from Ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Communist period, as we can see while walking in the city center. Some of the landmarks we can see are the Serdica Amphitheatre, Serdica Archaeological Complex, Saint George Church from 300 E.C and Sveta Petka.

An interesting way to get to know a little of Sofia’s rich history is to join the Free Sofia Tour that guides travelers past the most important monuments of the Bulgarian capital. You can check their schedule on their website and social media, with tours in English and Spanish. 

Veliko Tarnovo

Located in the center of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo enchants with its landscapes combined with beautiful architecture surrounded by mountains around the city and the Yantra River. This city is also on the route of travelers moving between Budapest and Istanbul.

Varna

Located in the east of Bulgaria, Varna is a coastal city facing the Black Sea, near the Turkish border, worth considering on your route if you’re traveling in the summer. Varna conserves Greek-Roman ruins across the city, including old bathing places and houses of the Byzantine Era. During my visit, I took the opportunity to join the Free Varna Tour and to bathe in the Black Sea; it was freezing, while in Odesa (Ukraine) the water was warm.

From Bulgaria, I continued traveling to Romania, departing by bus from Varna to Ruse on the Bulgarian side, where I took a taxi to cross the Romanian border to Giurgiu, where I took a bus to Bucharest.