Navigating Sofia: Your Guide to Public Transport and Getting Around

💰 Click here to see Bulgaria Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: October, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = €0.88

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: €35.00 – €50.00 ($39.77 – $56.82)

Mid-range: €60.00 – €100.00 ($68.18 – $113.64)

Comfortable: €150.00 – €200.00 ($170.45 – $227.27)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: €5.00 – €20.00 ($5.68 – $22.73)

Mid-range hotel: €55.00 – €95.00 ($62.50 – $107.95)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: €7.00 ($7.95)

Mid-range meal: €20.00 ($22.73)

Upscale meal: €60.00 ($68.18)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: €1.00 ($1.14)

Monthly transport pass: €26.00 ($29.55)

Sofia‘s public transport has a reputation that doesn’t always match reality. Visitors in 2026 arrive expecting chaos — outdated buses, zero English signage, bewildering ticketing — and instead find a city mid-transformation. The Metro has grown significantly, contactless payment now works across most of the network, and ride-hailing apps have made taxis a genuine option rather than a gamble. That said, the surface network still has quirks, and a few tourist traps at the airport taxi rank remain stubbornly in place. This guide cuts through all of it.

Sofia’s Transport Network in 2026: The Big Picture

Sofia is run by Stolichen Elektrotransport and Центъртранс (Centre Transport), two separate city-owned operators that together run trams, trolleybuses, and buses. The Metro sits under its own operator, Metropoliten EAD. In 2026, these networks still don’t share a single app or unified pass — a frustration locals live with daily — but the physical infrastructure has improved considerably.

The most significant development since 2024 is the completion of Metro Line 3 Phase 2, which extended the line westward through the Nadezhda and Lyulin residential districts. This brought metro access to areas that previously depended entirely on slow surface trams, cutting cross-city commute times by up to 25 minutes during peak hours. A further extension toward Bankya is under construction but not expected before 2028.

For most visitors, the day-to-day transport mix looks like this: Metro for longer cross-city journeys, trams for the central zone and Lozenets, and taxis or ride-hailing for anything the rail network doesn’t reach. Walking covers a surprising amount of the old centre.

The Sofia Metro: Fast, Clean, and Expanding

The Sofia Metro is genuinely the best way to move across the city. Trains are air-conditioned, arrive every 3–5 minutes during peak hours and every 8–10 minutes late evenings, and run from around 05:30 to 00:00 daily. The network has three lines as of 2026:

• Line 1 (M1) — runs northwest to southeast, connecting Obelya through the city centre (Serdika, Sofia University, G.M. Dimitrov) down to Business Park Sofia. This is the spine of the network for most visitors.
• Line 2 (M2) — intersects M1 at Serdika station and runs from Lozenets in the south up through NDK (National Palace of Culture), Sofia University, and the airport. Critical for airport transfers.



• Line 3 (M3) — opened its western extensions in 2025, now running from Hadzhi Dimitar through the centre (connecting at Sofia University with M1/M2) out to Lyulin. Still less relevant to tourists but useful for reaching western residential areas.

Key stations to know: Serdika is the central interchange hub. NDK drops you steps from the National Palace of Culture and the southern end of Vitosha Boulevard. Sofia Airport (Terminal 2) is served directly by M2 — the ride to Serdika takes about 25 minutes.

A single Metro ticket costs 1.60 BGN (approx. 0.82 EUR / 0.88 USD). You can buy paper tickets from machines at every station, or tap a contactless bank card or mobile wallet directly at the gates — this was rolled out network-wide in late 2024 and works reliably in 2026. No need to buy a special transit card if you only use the Metro occasionally.

Trams and Trolleybuses: Slower, but Part of the City’s Character

Sofia’s tram network is old. Some of the rolling stock is genuinely vintage, and you’ll hear the groan of the tracks as the tram swings around the tight corner at Eagle Bridge (Орлов мост) — a sound so distinctly Sofia that locals barely notice it anymore. But the trams serve parts of the city the Metro doesn’t, particularly along Evlogi Georgiev Boulevard, through Lozenets, and out toward Studentski Grad (the university district).

Useful tram lines for visitors:

• Tram 1 and Tram 7 — connect the city centre with the Lozenets residential neighbourhood
• Tram 10 — runs from Oborishte through the centre toward Ovcha Kupel
• Tram 20 — useful for reaching the southern edge of the city near Hladilnika market area

Trolleybuses cover similar overlapping territory and follow fixed overhead wire routes. They’re quiet and smooth but equally slow in traffic. A single ticket on any tram or trolleybus is 1.60 BGN — the same as the Metro. You can buy from the driver with exact change (they rarely have change for large bills) or from vending machines at major stops. Validate your ticket in the orange machines inside the vehicle immediately after boarding.

City Buses: The Widest Network, the Steepest Learning Curve

Sofia’s bus network reaches practically every corner of the city and its inner suburbs. There are over 80 bus routes operated across the capital. For visitors, the challenge is navigation — bus stops vary in their English signage, and route numbers alone won’t tell you much without a map or app.

The most useful buses for tourists include Bus 84 (Vitosha area access), Bus 63 and 111 (connecting western and eastern residential zones), and the express airport bus (more on that in the airport section). Night buses run on select routes after the Metro closes — look for lines numbered in the 70s and 80s on Moovit.

Fares are identical to trams: 1.60 BGN per single journey. Contactless payment was being piloted on select bus routes as of early 2026, but it’s not yet universal — carry a few coins or a pre-loaded transit card (Карта за градски транспорт) if you plan to use buses heavily.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing: What to Use, What to Avoid

Taxis in Sofia are metered and relatively affordable by European standards, but the airport and major tourist sites have a persistent problem with unlicensed drivers quoting flat rates that are 3–5 times the metered fare. The solution is simple: use an app.

Yandex Go (formerly Yandex Taxi) and inDriver are the two dominant ride-hailing platforms in Sofia as of 2026. Both show upfront pricing in BGN, allow in-app payment, and let you track the driver’s route. Yandex Go tends to have shorter wait times in the city centre; inDriver works on a negotiated price model which can produce lower fares for longer trips.

Licensed yellow taxis are also legitimate if you use a reputable company. Look for OK Supertrans (tel. 02 973 2121) and Yellow Taxi — both have metered rates starting at 0.89–1.00 BGN per kilometre in 2026 daytime rates, with a starting flag-fall of around 0.70 BGN. A ride across central Sofia rarely exceeds 8–12 BGN (4–6 EUR).

Never get into an unmarked car whose driver approaches you at the airport or outside Serdika station. It’s a scam that’s been running for 15 years and shows no signs of stopping.

Getting from Sofia Airport to the City Centre

Sofia Airport Terminal 2 is well-connected to the city in 2026. You have four realistic options:

1. Metro Line 2 (M2) — the cheapest and often fastest option. The airport station is directly beneath Terminal 2. Cost: 1.60 BGN. Journey to city centre (Serdika): approximately 25 minutes. Trains run from early morning until midnight.
2. Bus 84 (Express Airport Bus) — runs from Terminal 2 to Sofia Central Bus Station and continues to Eagles Bridge. Cost: 1.60 BGN. Journey time varies from 30 to 55 minutes depending on traffic. Useful late at night when Metro frequency drops.
3. Yandex Go / inDriver — typical fare from the airport to the city centre is 12–18 BGN (6–9 EUR) depending on destination and time of day. Order from inside the terminal and walk to the designated pickup zone near exit doors.
4. Licensed taxi meter — should cost similar to ride-hailing apps. Only use taxis from the official rank inside the terminal, not drivers who approach you in arrivals.

Terminal 1 (used by some low-cost carriers) is a 5-minute shuttle bus ride from Terminal 2, then the same Metro/bus options apply. The shuttle is free.

Cycling and E-Scooters: Sofia’s Micro-Mobility Scene in 2026

Sofia’s relationship with cycling is improving, slowly. The city added around 40 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes between 2022 and 2025, concentrated mostly in the southern districts (Lozenets, Ivan Vazov, Yavorov) and along the extended ring road cycle path. The central area still has stretches where you’re sharing space with tram tracks — tram tracks are genuinely hazardous for bike tyres, so cross them at a wide angle or dismount.

The LIME e-scooter network operates across central Sofia and is the easiest micro-mobility option for visitors. Pricing in 2026 is approximately 0.25 BGN to unlock plus 0.28 BGN per minute. Scooters are geo-fenced out of pedestrian zones and must be parked in designated areas to avoid end-of-ride charges. The app is in English and payment is by card.

For cycling, Nextbike Sofia runs a dock-based bike-share scheme with stations around the central park and southern boulevards. Day passes cost around 6 BGN (3 EUR) for the first hour free on each trip.

Walking Sofia: What You Can Reach on Foot

The historic centre of Sofia is compact and genuinely pleasant to walk, especially on a crisp autumn morning when the plane trees along Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard drop golden leaves across the pavement. Within a 25-minute walk from the Serdika Metro station, you can reach the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Theatre, the Presidency, the Roman ruins at Largo, and the beginning of Vitosha Boulevard — the main pedestrian shopping street.

The walk from NDK (National Palace of Culture) to Eagle Bridge along Evlogi Georgiev is one of the nicest in the city — tree-lined, relatively quiet, and flanked by some of Sofia’s best café terraces. That stretch is roughly 1.5 kilometres.

What you cannot easily walk: Vitosha Mountain (you need transport to the trailheads), the airport, Boyana, and most residential neighbourhoods of interest like Studentski Grad. But for cultural sights and food, your feet will take you far.

Day Trips by Public Transport from Sofia

A car is not required for the most popular day trips from Sofia. Here’s what works well by public transport:

• Vitosha Mountain — Bus 66 from Hadzhi Dimitar Metro station reaches Aleko (the main mountain base) in about 45 minutes. Buses run hourly in summer, less frequently in winter. Free to access.
• Boyana — Tram 19 or Bus 64 reaches the Boyana neighbourhood (UNESCO church, Boyana Residence area) in around 35–40 minutes from the centre. Useful for combining with Vitosha.
• Bankya — Suburban train from Sofia Central Station reaches this mineral spa town in 30 minutes. Trains run roughly every 1–2 hours. Ticket: approximately 2.50 BGN (1.28 EUR).
• Dragalevtsi Monastery — Reachable by Bus 64 and then a short walk through the Dragalevtsi district. A quiet half-day trip that most tourists miss entirely.
• Rila Monastery — Direct bus from Sofia Central Bus Station (Овча Купел terminal). Journey approximately 2 hours. Return buses are limited — check the schedule before you go. Ticket: around 14–18 BGN one way.

Transport Passes, Tickets, and How Not to Get Fined

Sofia uses a zonal system for surface transport. Almost everywhere visitors go falls within Zone 1, which covers the entire city boundary. A single Zone 1 ticket is 1.60 BGN and is valid for one journey on one vehicle — transfers require a new ticket unless you have a timed pass.

The most useful pass for visitors staying several days is the 24-hour pass at 4 BGN (approx. 2.05 EUR), valid on all trams, buses, and trolleybuses (not Metro — that’s separate). A 72-hour pass costs 10 BGN and includes Metro access from 2024 onward — a genuine improvement. You can buy passes from driver booths, ticket machines at Metro stations, and selected kiosks near major stops.

Ticket inspection is real and regular. Inspectors board trams and buses without warning — they’re in plain clothes about half the time. The fine for traveling without a valid ticket is 40 BGN (approx. 20 EUR) payable on the spot, rising to 60 BGN if not paid immediately. Validate every ticket in the orange stamp machine as soon as you board.

Practical Tips for Getting Around Sofia Without Frustration

Rush hour on the Metro runs 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:30. Trains get genuinely packed during these windows — if you have luggage, avoid them. Surface trams are worst around 08:00 when they share road space with morning traffic on narrow central streets.

Google Maps is reasonably accurate for Sofia Metro in 2026 but still makes occasional errors with surface tram and bus routes. Moovit tends to be more reliable for surface lines. For live bus locations, the Sofia Traffic website (sofiatraffic.bg) has a real-time map that works well on mobile browsers.

Bulgarian is written in Cyrillic, and Metro station names are displayed in both Cyrillic and Latin script on the platforms and inside trains. Bus and tram stops vary — many central stops have Latin transliteration, but outer routes are Cyrillic-only. Screenshotting your destination’s name in both scripts before heading out saves confusion.

Most Metro station staff speak minimal English, but they are generally patient and will point you in the right direction. Showing a map on your phone works universally.

What Transport Costs in Sofia: 2026 Budget Reality

Sofia remains one of the most affordable capitals in Europe for getting around. Here’s what realistic daily transport spending looks like by tier:

• Budget traveller — relying on Metro, buses, and walking: 3–6 BGN per day (1.50–3 EUR). A 24-hour pass at 4 BGN covers most needs. Metro single tickets at 1.60 BGN add up fast if you’re making many separate trips.
• Mid-range traveller — mix of Metro, occasional taxi or ride-hailing, e-scooter: 10–20 BGN per day (5–10 EUR). A Yandex Go ride across town plus Metro use plus a scooter for a short hop is comfortable within this budget.
• Comfortable traveller — taxis or ride-hailing for most journeys, no concern about fares: 30–60 BGN per day (15–30 EUR). Even regular taxi use in Sofia stays cheap by Western European standards — you’d need to be genuinely extravagant to exceed this.

Airport transfer costs are additional: Metro is 1.60 BGN, licensed taxi or ride-hailing is 12–20 BGN depending on destination. Pre-booking a transfer from a hotel typically costs 25–35 BGN — only marginally more convenient than a metered taxi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sofia Metro go to the airport?

Yes. Metro Line 2 (M2) connects directly to Sofia Airport Terminal 2. The journey to the central interchange at Serdika station takes approximately 25 minutes. A single ticket costs 1.60 BGN (about 0.82 EUR). Trains run from approximately 05:30 to midnight daily. Terminal 1 passengers take a free 5-minute shuttle bus to Terminal 2 first.

Can I use a contactless bank card on Sofia public transport?

On the Metro, yes — contactless bank cards and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work at all gates as of 2026. On buses and trams, contactless payment is being piloted but is not yet universal. For surface transport, carry the correct cash or a pre-loaded transit card to avoid issues, particularly on outer routes.

Is it safe to take a taxi in Sofia?

Licensed, metered taxis from reputable companies like OK Supertrans or Yellow Taxi are safe and affordable. The real risk is unlicensed drivers at the airport and near tourist sites who quote inflated flat rates. Use Yandex Go or inDriver apps for transparent upfront pricing and to avoid any ambiguity about the fare before you get in the car.

What is the cheapest way to get around Sofia for a week?

Buy a 72-hour transport pass for 10 BGN (covers Metro, trams, and buses), then renew it or switch to individual tickets. Walking covers most of the central cultural sites. Total transport spending for a full week of active sightseeing — using public transport and walking — comfortably stays under 50 BGN (about 25 EUR) for one person.

Are there English-language signs on Sofia public transport?

Metro stations display names in both Cyrillic and Latin script on platforms and inside trains — easy to navigate. Surface tram and bus stops are more inconsistent: central stops usually have Latin transliteration, but outer routes are Cyrillic-only. Using Moovit or Google Maps with the destination pre-loaded removes the need to read Bulgarian stop names entirely.

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📷 Featured image by Georgi Kalaydzhiev on Unsplash.