Book your ticket out of Sofia through the Rail Europe Web site (see Resources below). You can also book by calling Rail Europe at 1-888-382-RAIL. The journey will be moderately priced.
Choose a connection city. You'll need to transfer between Sofia and Saint Petersburg. The Way to Russia Web site (see Resources below) offers a number of connection cities to choose from. Book the second part of your journey through this Web site.
Book both parts of your journey at least two weeks before your departure date.
Know that you can also purchase a ticket directly from the train station in Sofia and in your connection city, or through a travel agent.
Visit the official Bulgarian State Railways Web site (see Resources below) for information about travel in and around Sofia.
Decide what type of ticket you need. If you are traveling only from Sofia to Saint Petersburg, you might want to purchase a single one-way ticket. If you are traveling from multiple countries in Europe, look into purchasing a European Rail Pass that services most European rail systems.
Avoid traveling through Belarus because the country requires that you purchase a $30 travel visa. The Way to Russia Web site has sample routes that avoid this country and make for a cheaper, more scenic trip.
