Book your ticket through Rail Europe by visiting the Web site (see Resources) or calling a North American agent at (888) 382-RAIL.
Decide on your preferred sleeping arrangements for the 13-hour, overnight trip to Sofia. You can simply book a regular seat if you desire, but the sleeper supplement will probably prove well worth it.
Arrive at the train station by 9:30 for your 10:00 departure. This 30-minute buffer should be plenty of time to load luggage and have any last-minute questions answered before your trip.
Disembark the train briefly at the Bulgarian border for a passport stamp. The train cars will switch at Dimitrovgrad where your Bosphorus Express trip will become the Balkan Express for the last leg of your trip.
Take a look at a regional map to get an idea of where you're going and what possible stops lie in your path. If your timing is truly impeccable, you should stop in at Koprivshtitsa for the once-every-fifth year folk festival in which thousands of participants compete for prizes.
Look at the train schedules on the Turkish Railways Web site for the most current timetables and rates. The Web site has an English-language button for those who need to brush up on their Turkish.
Discuss your trip plans with a travel agent in Istanbul for ideas on the trip if you have questions or concerns. An agent may prove quite helpful and you'll be under no obligation to book your ticket (with added surcharge) through the agent if you don't want to.
Consider alternate forms of transportation if train travel is not an imperative for your trip. You may find that the bus or a flight fits better into your schedule. Oftentimes a flight will cost about the same as the train and will obviously get you to Sofia much faster.
