Sofia Metro Guide: How to Use the Underground in Bulgaria’s Capital

Most first-time visitors to Sofia arrive with one of two problems: they either assume the city is walkable everywhere (it is not, especially in heat above 35°C or when carrying luggage), or they default to taxis and end up paying three to four times more than necessary. In 2026, the Sofia Metro is fast, clean, cheap, and — since the contactless bank card system was properly rolled out — genuinely effortless to use even if you have never been to Bulgaria before. This guide covers everything: the lines, the fares, the apps, the airport connection, and the mistakes that cost tourists time and money.

The Four Metro Lines Explained

The Sofia Metro runs four lines, each identified by a number and a colour. Understanding what each line does takes about five minutes, and it will save you from staring at the map looking confused on a crowded platform.

Line M1 — Red Line

M1 runs east to west, from Slivnitsa in the west through the city centre and out to Business Park Sofia in the south-east. If you are staying near the central area or heading to the business district, M1 is your baseline. It passes through Serdika, which is the main interchange hub, and Vasil Levski Stadium, useful if there is a match or concert on.

Line M2 — Blue Line

M2 runs roughly north to south, from Obelya in the north-west down to Vitosha in the south. It crosses M1 at Serdika and serves two major landmarks that most visitors will use: the Central Railway Station (called Tsentralna Zheleznopatna Gara on signage) and the National Palace of Culture, known locally as NDK. If you are arriving by train from Plovdiv or Varna, M2 connects you straight to the city centre from the station.

Line M3 — Green Line

M3 runs east to west through the city’s central belt, stopping at Orlov Most and Sofia University. It connects with M1 at Opalchenska and with M1 and M4 at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. For travellers based near the university quarter or Lozenets neighbourhood, M3 is the most direct route.

Line M4 — Yellow Line

M4 is the one most tourists care about immediately upon landing, because it connects Sofia Airport Terminal 2 directly to the city centre. It runs from Obelya in the north-west through Serdika and Sofia University, then continues to the airport. One ticket, no bus, no taxi negotiation. The journey from the airport to Serdika takes roughly 25–30 minutes depending on the time of day.

By 2026, the network covers approximately 50–52 stations across a route length of around 55–60 kilometres. Minor extensions to M3 or M4 may have been completed or are under construction, but the core structure described above is stable.

Operating Hours and Train Frequency

The metro runs daily from 05:00 to 00:00 (midnight). There is no 24-hour service, so if your flight lands after midnight or you are heading to the airport for an early morning departure, check the first train time carefully.

During peak hours — roughly 07:00 to 09:30 in the morning and 17:00 to 19:30 in the evening — trains run every 5 to 8 minutes. Outside those windows, expect a wait of 8 to 15 minutes. On weekends and public holidays, the frequency drops slightly to around 10 to 15 minutes between trains.

If you are catching an early flight, note that the first train on M4 from the city centre leaves around 05:00. For flights departing before 07:00, a taxi or rideshare app is the safer option. Yellow! Taxi and TaxiMe both operate around the clock in Sofia.

Tickets, Passes, and the Daily Cap System

This is where many tourists either overpay or underpay (and get fined). The Sofia Urban Mobility Centre manages the fare system. Here is every option available in 2026:

Single Journey Ticket

Costs 1.80 BGN (approximately 0.92 EUR). Valid for one journey on the metro, regardless of how many stations you ride or how many line transfers you make within a single uninterrupted trip. You do not need to buy a new ticket when transferring between lines — more on that in the transfers section.

24-Hour Pass

Costs 7.00 BGN (approximately 3.58 EUR). Valid for unlimited travel across all public transport — metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses — for 24 hours from the moment of first validation. If you are spending a full day exploring the city and expect to make more than four journeys, this is better value than single tickets.

72-Hour Pass

Costs 17.00 BGN (approximately 8.70 EUR). Same coverage as the 24-hour pass but valid for three full days. For a long weekend in Sofia, this is the most economical choice if you plan to move around frequently.

The Daily Cap for Contactless Bank Cards

This is the most useful feature introduced in late 2024 and fully operational by 2026. If you tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard (debit or credit) at the metro turnstile, the system automatically tracks your journeys within a 24-hour window starting from your first tap. Once your total reaches 4.50 BGN (approximately 2.30 EUR), the system stops charging you for that day — every additional metro journey is free until the 24-hour window resets. Note that the daily cap applies only to metro journeys made with that specific card — it does not automatically extend to buses or trams unless those also support the same capping logic.

Sofia City Card

A reusable plastic card that you load with either credit (value) or a time-based pass. The physical card costs 3.50 BGN (approximately 1.79 EUR) to purchase — that fee is non-refundable. Once you have the card, you load value or a 24-hour/72-hour pass onto it and tap at turnstiles. If you are staying for more than a few days and prefer not to use your bank card for every journey, the Sofia City Card is a sensible backup.

Cards are available at ticket kiosks at metro stations, Sofia Urban Mobility Centre offices, and some EasyPay offices around the city. A virtual version of the Sofia City Card can be managed through the SofiaGO app, which means you can load passes onto your phone and tap it at the turnstile without carrying a separate card.

How to Buy Your Ticket — Every Method Explained

Ticket Machines

Every station has at least one self-service machine. Select your ticket type on the touchscreen, pay with coins, banknotes, or a bank card. The machines display instructions in Bulgarian and English. Take your paper ticket before walking to the turnstile.

Ticket Kiosks (Manned Windows)

Most stations have a staffed window where an attendant will sell you a ticket. You can pay with cash and most accept cards too. Basic English is understood at most kiosks. This is the slowest option during rush hour but the most reassuring for first-timers who want to confirm they have the right ticket.

Contactless Bank Card at the Turnstile

The simplest method. Walk to a turnstile, look for the contactless symbol (the four curved lines), and tap your card. A green light means you are through. The daily cap system activates automatically — you do not need to register or set anything up. This works with most international Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay on compatible phones and watches.

SofiaGO App

Download SofiaGO (available for both Android and iOS) before arriving. You can purchase single tickets or time-based passes directly in the app and either scan the QR code at the turnstile or show an activated ticket to station staff at the gate. The app also provides real-time departure information across the entire public transport network — metro, bus, and tram.

The official website for the Sofia Urban Mobility Centre is www.sofiatraffic.bg and the metro operator Metropolitan EAD runs www.metropolitan.bg. Both have fare and route information in English.

Riding the Metro — From Entrance to Exit

1. Find the station entrance. Metro stations are marked with a blue “M” sign visible from street level. Some entrances are underground stairwells; others have escalators.
2. Buy or prepare your payment method. Do this before joining the turnstile queue. If using a contactless card or the SofiaGO app, you are already ready.
3. Validate at the turnstile. Tap your card, physical Sofia City Card, or phone. Insert a paper ticket into the slot if that is what you have. Wait for the green light and the barrier to open.
4. Follow the signs to your platform. Station names appear in both Cyrillic and Latin script. Direction signs show the terminal station for each direction — match this to your mental picture of the network.
5. Wait behind the yellow line. Platforms have a marked safety line. Stand back until the train stops fully and the doors open.
6. Let passengers exit first. This is standard etiquette on the Sofia Metro and largely observed, especially outside rush hour.



7. Board and check the digital display. Inside the carriage, a display shows the next station. Announcements play in both Bulgarian and English — the English pronunciation is clear enough to follow.
8. Exit at your stop. Follow the “Изход / Exit” signs up to street level. There are no exit turnstiles requiring a second tap.

Transferring Between Lines Without Paying Twice

This confuses a lot of new visitors, so it is worth spelling out clearly: a single ticket or single tap of your contactless card covers one continuous journey, including transfers between metro lines, as long as you stay within the paid area of the network.

The key transfer points are:

• Serdika — transfers between M1 and M2, and connecting to M4
• Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski — transfers between M1, M3, and M4
• Opalchenska — transfers between M1 and M3

At these stations, follow the transfer signs — marked with arrows and line numbers — from one platform to the other. You walk through internal corridors without passing through any exit turnstile. Your original ticket or tap remains valid. Do not exit to the street thinking you need to re-enter — that would require a new ticket.

Getting to Sofia Airport on the Metro

Sofia Airport Terminal 2 is served directly by Line M4. This is by far the cheapest and most predictable way to get between the airport and the city centre, particularly now that the airport taxi queue can stretch long on busy summer afternoons when temperatures on the asphalt push past 38°C.

The metro station is located below Terminal 2 and is signposted from the arrivals hall. If you arrive at Terminal 1 (used by some charter flights and smaller carriers), a free shuttle bus connects T1 to T2 — board that first, then take the metro from T2.

A single ticket costs 1.80 BGN. If you are using a contactless bank card, just tap. The journey to Serdika in the city centre takes approximately 25–30 minutes. From Serdika you can change to M1 or M2 to reach most hotels and neighbourhoods.

To reach the Central Railway Station from the airport, take M4 to Serdika, then change to M2 direction Obelya and ride one stop to Tsentralna Zheleznopatna Gara. Total journey: around 35 minutes, costing one single ticket of 1.80 BGN if you are paying per journey, or covered by your daily cap if you have already tapped once that day.

Connecting the Metro to Buses, Trams, and BDZ Trains

The metro covers the main corridors, but Sofia is a large enough city that plenty of neighbourhoods — Boyana, Dragalevtsi, the older residential areas in the east — are only reachable by surface transport. The good news is that the public transport system is integrated.

A 24-hour or 72-hour pass covers metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses under one payment. If you are using single tickets, note that a metro ticket is valid only for the metro — you need a separate ticket (also 1.80 BGN) for bus or tram. The SofiaGO app lets you buy both types.

For intercity travel, the Central Railway Station on M2 is the departure point for BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways) trains to Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, and other major cities. The metro makes the station accessible from virtually anywhere in Sofia within 20–30 minutes. BDZ tickets are purchased separately at the BDZ ticket counters inside the station or online at www.bdz.bg.

Taxis remain useful for late-night travel after the metro closes at midnight and for reaching destinations not covered by any public route. Yellow! Taxi, Green Taxi, and TaxiMe are the reputable apps. Always book through an app to get a metered, confirmed fare — flagging a taxi on the street near the airport or major tourist spots carries a higher risk of overcharging.

2026 Budget Reality — What a Day of Metro Travel Actually Costs

Here is what to realistically expect to spend on metro transport in Sofia in 2026, based on different usage patterns:

• Budget (1–2 journeys per day, contactless card): 1.80–3.60 BGN per day (0.92–1.84 EUR / approx. 1.00–2.00 USD). A tourist who walks most of the city centre but takes the metro from the airport and back to the hotel will spend almost nothing on transport.
• Mid-range (3–6 journeys per day, contactless card with daily cap): Maximum 4.50 BGN per day (2.30 EUR / approx. 2.50 USD). The daily cap kicks in after two or three journeys and that is it for the day. No extra charges.
• Comfortable (multiple days, heavy use, 72-hour pass): 17.00 BGN for three days (8.70 EUR / approx. 9.50 USD). This covers metro plus buses and trams, and works out to under 3.00 EUR per day with full flexibility across all public transport.
• Physical Sofia City Card + loading value: 3.50 BGN (card cost, non-refundable) plus 1.80 BGN per journey, or load a 24h/72h pass for the same prices as above.

For context, a taxi ride from the airport to the city centre costs approximately 20–30 BGN (10–15 EUR) depending on traffic. The metro makes the same journey for 1.80 BGN. Over a week-long trip with daily movement around the city, the savings are significant — often 50–80 BGN compared to casual taxi use.

What Has Changed Since 2024

If you last visited Sofia in 2024 or read an older guide, a few things are worth knowing about.

Fare adjustment: Single journey tickets increased from 1.60 BGN to 1.80 BGN, with proportionate increases for passes. This reflects wider inflation and operational cost increases, but Sofia public transport remains among the cheapest in Europe.

Daily cap system fully live: The contactless bank card daily cap of 4.50 BGN was introduced in late 2024 and is fully functional by 2026. Older guides will not mention this — it is a genuine improvement for tourists who previously had to decide upfront whether to buy a day pass.

Paper multi-journey tickets phased out: The old 10-trip paper tickets have been largely retired in favour of the Sofia City Card and contactless payment. If you see advice about buying a strip of tickets, that information is outdated. Stick to the contactless card, Sofia City Card, or SofiaGO app.

SofiaGO app upgrades: The app now includes real-time train tracking, integrated journey planning across all transport modes, and QR-code ticket purchases. It is the most capable version the system has had and genuinely useful from day one of your visit.

Network scope: Major new line openings were not completed in this period, but minor extensions and station refinements have continued. The airport connection on M4 and the Central Railway Station link on M2 remain the two most important connections for visitors, and both are fully operational.

Common Mistakes Tourists Make

These come up repeatedly, and most are easy to avoid once you know about them.

• Exiting the paid zone during a transfer. At Serdika and other transfer stations, some exits lead to street level. If you follow “Exit” signs by accident, you will need a new ticket to re-enter. Follow “Transfer” or line-number signs only.
• Using a foreign card that blocks transit payments. Some prepaid travel cards or certain bank-issued cards have settings that prevent contactless transit transactions. Test your card at a low-cost journey first. If it does not work, buy a single ticket at the machine or kiosk and sort out the card issue later.



• Arriving at Terminal 1 and looking for the metro there. T1 does not have a metro station. Take the free shuttle to T2 first. This is marked inside the terminal but easy to miss when you are tired from a flight.
• Assuming the metro runs 24 hours. It does not. Last trains are around midnight. Plan around this if you are going out late.
• Buying a 24-hour pass when the daily cap is cheaper. If you are only making metro journeys (not buses or trams), the contactless daily cap at 4.50 BGN is cheaper than the 24-hour pass at 7.00 BGN and requires no upfront purchase. The 24-hour pass makes sense only if you are also using surface transport regularly.
• Ignoring the SofiaGO app. Even if you use your bank card for payment, the app’s real-time information and network maps are useful. Download it before your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Pay or Apple Pay on the Sofia Metro?

Yes. As of 2026, the metro turnstiles accept contactless payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay on compatible phones and smartwatches. The transaction works the same as tapping a physical bank card. The daily cap of 4.50 BGN applies to digital wallet payments tied to a Visa or Mastercard, as long as the same underlying card is used consistently throughout the day.

How do I get from Sofia Airport to the city centre using the metro?

Take Line M4 from the station below Terminal 2. A single journey costs 1.80 BGN (approximately 0.92 EUR). The ride to Serdika station in the city centre takes around 25–30 minutes. If you arrive at Terminal 1, take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 first, then board the metro. Trains run from approximately 05:00 to midnight.

Do children travel free on the Sofia Metro?

Children under 7 years old travel free on the Sofia Metro. No ticket or card is needed for them. Children aged 7 and above require a valid ticket. Discounts for older students or seniors apply only to Bulgarian citizens and permanent residents with a personalised Sofia City Card — foreign tourists do not qualify for these reduced fares.

Is it safe to use the Sofia Metro at night?

The metro is generally considered safe throughout its operating hours. Stations are well-lit and staffed. The standard precaution applies: keep an eye on your bags and phone in crowded carriages during peak hours, particularly at busy stations like Serdika and NDK. The metro closes at midnight, so late-night travel requires a taxi or rideshare app such as TaxiMe or Yellow! Taxi.

What is the difference between the Sofia City Card and a regular ticket?

A single ticket is a one-use paper ticket for one journey costing 1.80 BGN. The Sofia City Card is a reusable electronic card (costs 3.50 BGN to buy, non-refundable) that you load with value or time-based passes. It makes more sense for stays of several days. The physical card can also be managed digitally via the SofiaGO app as a virtual card on your phone.

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📷 Featured image by Georgi Draganov on Unsplash.