Sofia transport - taxis, public transport, parking, private transfers, routes and more
Find all the necessary information on transportation in Sofia, no matter if you travel by airplane, train or by car
First of all, every tourist should buy a detailed city map-plan of Sofia showing not only the lines but also the stops of the city transport. Nowadays Sofia city has plenty of bus lines, connecting the capital with nearby settlements, as well as covering shorter distances in the city itself /quarter to quarter/, trolley buses, trams and well-maintained subways. You will probably find the center of Sofia more accessible by tram, bus, or a trolley bus rather than by car because of the shortage of parking space. Public transport runs from 5 a.m. till midnight for buses and trolley buses.
Once on board each ticket must be validated by punching it in one of the pronged devices positioned near the doors of the vehicle. Tickets are inspected by the authorized personnel at random by conductors. A strip of 10 tickets costs ?Lv, but make sure that you use them in sequence – tickets numbered 1 to 9 are not valid unless you have got the tenth one in your possession. Fixed-route taxi minibuses are fast and convenient means of transport if you are in a hurry and you wish to arrive at a certain place. Rent-a-car companies offer their services as well and you could hire a car at a reasonable price.
Sofia is modernizing rapidly and the Government has invested substantial sums into the capital and its infrastructure in the recent years. Taxis are very cheap to travel in Sofia and around, as well as a very safe way to travel. However, it is essential to emphasize that one should be aware of the legal taxi companies and always to ask in advance how much it will cost to reach point B from point A. Please, beware of deceivers who will try to get more money from you if possible.
The excellent infrastructure of Sofia makes it easy to reach any location in the city. There are buses, which arrive and depart from the Central Sofia Station - there are buses and trains available to and from any European location.
The Sofia Airport is the largest airport in Bulgaria with scheduling flights connecting the country directly with most of the major airports in Europe.
Major Tram Lines. Routes
- Number 1 and 7: route passes through the Central Railway Station, the luxurious Sheraton Hotel, and the trendy Vitosha Blvd.
- Number 6 and 9: route passes through the Central Railway Station, the National Palace of Culture underpass, Losenets area, Hladilnika quarter /the Zoo/
- Number5: runs from the National History Museum down Tsar Boris 3rd Blvd. to Knyazhevo area.
Major Bus Lines
- Number 84: runs from the Airport to The Sofia University /center of Sofia/.
- Number 213 and 313: run from the Central Railway Station through “Lion's Bridge” down Tsarigradsko Shousse Blvd. to Mladost area.
- Number 280: runs from Sofia University down Tsarigradsko Shousse Blvd. to Darvenitsa quarter
- Number 94: runs from Sofia University through Losenets area to Darvenitsa quarter
Official website of Sofia's Urban Mobility center
I have already arrived. How do I go next?
1. I have arrived By plane
Sofia International Airport-it is 10km east of the city centre,and is divided into two terminals – the old Terminal 1 and the recently opened modern Terminal 2. The arrivals halls at both terminals boast cafés, car-hire counters, ATMs, snack bars and exchange offices (although the rates here are not as generous as you may wish to, so it will be better to change enough cash for your transport).
Getting to the city: avoid the taxis, welcoming you in the arrivals halls and head instead for the official ranks of yellow taxis parked outside.
Alternatively you can catch the cozy bus - No 84 from Terminal 1 or No 284 from Terminal 2. Both run to Orlov Most and the Sofia, departing roughly every 10-15 minutes between 05:00am and 23:00pm. Tickets cost 1.00 BGN if you buy from the kiosks atthe bus stop or directly from the driver. You also have to buy a separate ticket for each bulky luggage of yours. Otherwise you undertake the risk of being fined by ticket inspectors.
2.By train
Sofia’s Central Railway Station is opened from 05:00 am till midnight. Facilities include left-luggage, money exchange kiosks, ATMs, bars and fast-food kiosks. Cheapest way of getting to town is to catch a tram No 1 or 7 (buy ticket from kiosks or from the driver – 1.00 BGN), please, head for the subterranean underpass to find the tram platform. Once you have caught the tram, you will reach central Sofia and its most valuable landmarks, so get off when you see the luxurious Sheraton Hotel on your left.
The taxi drivers hovering outside the station may make you pay a fortune, so check whether their meters are switched on or agree a flat fare before setting off.
3. By car
Once you have entered the city, the first thing you need to do is reduce your speed /the maximum is 50km/h/ to avoid the many police checks on incoming roads. Should you encounter a traffic jam, just remain patient, pay attention to the signature and the light signals. Parking can be really difficult to find in the city, and you should be aware that the blue zones cost 2 BGN per 2 hours stay. Failure to pay can lead to unpleasant consequences like clamping and your car being towed away after 2 hours. Parking vouchers are sold on the spot by parking attendants or you can just send as SMS with your registration number, and you will be notified when the time is over, giving you the chance to pay for the next hour.
4.By bus
Most international and domestic buses arrive at the Central Bus Station which is located only 200m east of the Central Railway Station. The bus station is modernly designed, cozy with clean toilets, many shops, cafes, a pharmacy and an ATM. There is also a 24-hour left-luggage office in the main ticket hall.
Should you wish to reach the centre of Sofia, simply walk 200m west to pick up either tram No 1 or 7 outside the train station. There is also a taxi booking office just next to the main exit.
Some international buses arrive between the main train and bus stations. However, this is nothing more than a parking lot, encircled by ticket offices and café kiosks, so you’ll have to walk to the main stations on the either side to find more facilities.
I have a car. How could I find a parking lot in Sofia city?
If you have a card for a Bulgarian mobile operator, you can park in the so called Blue Zone, by sending SMS to number 1302 with text registration plate ¹ of the vehicle. Payment with a SMS is for a stay for up to 1 hour. The Content of a SMS must literally reproduce the contents of the registration plate of the vehicle. The price of the service " SMS Parking" and "Parking by a phone call" with VAT for 1 hour parking is determined by the Sofia Municipal Council and is equal to the price of parking ticket with VAT, the price of a SMS is determined separately - by the mobile operator.
There are threå types of parking tickets:
- 30 min stay - ticket costs 0.50 BGN
- 1 hours stay - ticket costs 1 BGN
- 2 hours stay - ticket costs 2 BG
What is the location of the penalty car-parks?
- on the corner of blvd. Evlogi Georgiev and blvd. Madrid
- on the corner of Petko Yu. Todorov blvd. and Midia str. against Ivan Vazov market
- on the corner of Dunav str. and Kozloduy str.
Where is my car?
If you parked in violation of the Bulgarian Road Traffic Law or in "Blue Zone" without paying and your vehicle is missing, it is most likely that your car is at some of the penalty car parks.
Òî find out where is your vehicle call 02/9836747
Taxi in Sofia city
There are over 15,000 taxis in Sofia. Please, take into account that legitimate taxis are coloured yellow and have an oval sticker on the windscreen, they also display a square sticker on the window, indicating the rates in BGN. Charges are supposed to be metered, but some drivers will switch the meter off and demand an inflated fare if they think you’re a naive foreigner. Basically the charges are fairly cheap, ranging from 0.50BGN – 0.60 BGN per kilometre during the daytime to 0.55BGN – 0.70 BGN per kilometre at night.
Normal rates for Sofia taxi cabs:
- 0.50 BGN (0.25 euros) – initial fare
- 0.50 BGN per kilometer during the day and 0.60-0.65 BGN during the night (after 10 p.m.)
- 0.15 BGN per minute idle time – traffic or stopped
Usually to ride a taxi to a restaurant in the city center will cost up to 5.00 BGN (2.5 EUR, $3). But if you catch the wrong Sofia taxi, it could cost even 25 euros. Be prepared to pay cash (you could not pay with a credit card) and have small change (notes of 5, 10 BGN), because taxi drivers may declare that they have no change. You can recognize busy from a free taxi car depending on the light on the upper corner of the windscreen – red for a busy and respectively green for a free taxi.
Our advice: sit next to the taxi driver as on the board at driver’s right side there is a taximeter device which displays the fee at every moment. If the fee gets beyond 2-3 BGN in the first two-three minutes of your stay, this means that you are in a scam taxi. Politely ask the driver to stop, pay him what is displayed at the taximeter’s screen and leave the taxi as soon as possible. Yes, you will lose small amount of money, but you can catch another taxi prior to paying a real fortune.
You can’t complain against scam taxi cabs, because actually the tariff is always written somewhere (with very small letters, so the fault is yours that you haven’t read it. Every taxi company can set up its own tariffs.
Most taxis hang around at the big intersections, despite you can order them over the phone, however, just don't expect to get through to an English-speaker (you can always ask the hotel receptionist to do it for you). We strongly recommend you the taxi companies enlisted below in order for you to keep overcharging problems to a minimum.
OK taxi: +359 2 973 21 21
CV taxi: +359 2 9 12 63
Fixed-route taxi /Minibuses/
Several popular cross-town routes are operated by privately owned minibuses (marshrutki). Rather than being limited to a specific stop, they can be caught at any point along their route, and will drop passengers off upon their request. There aren’t any tickets to be bought in advance: simply jump in, find your place, and pass 1.50 BGN forward towards the driver. Many people prefer using these route taxis to regular buses because of their speed and convenience.
Rent-a-car in Sofia
Do you wish an economical, but reliable car rental company? Do you need a car for travel in and around Sofia city?
You will find many local car rental companies in Sofia city, but some of them will all be expensive for a good value for the money car. Should you deal with them, we kindly advise to ask whether everything is included, taxes, insurance etc. Beware since sometimes the number seems good until they add it all up.
Bulgaria has a well developed network of roads, 90 % asphalted. Please, note that speed limits apply on all public roads - 50 km/h in populated areas, 90 km/h outside towns and villages, 130 km/h on highways.
Hertz
Address1: Business Park Sofia, build. 1A., 2nd floor
Telephone: 439 02 22,/fax: 489 81 09
e-mail: office@hertz.autotechnica.bg
Address2:Sofia Airport
Telephone: 945 92 17, 945 99 60
Address3: 73, Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd.
Telephone: 72 25 90; fax: 72 04 49
Autojet
Address: Asen Jordanov str.8
Phone: +359 2 9790505
Fax: +359 2 9789111
Mobile phones:
+35989 905 05 05 Reservations rent a car
+35989 999 79 06 Spare parts
+35989 999 79 09 Car sales & insurance
+35989 999 79 10 Pick up and delivery
+35989 999 79 11 Reservations rent a car
+35989 999 79 12 Pick up and delivery
E-mail : autojet@autojet-bg.com
Autorental Bulgaria Ltd.
Address: Sofia, Fr.Nansen N 11-13
tel/fax: (+359 2) 952 41 79
(+359 88) 851 70 64
(+359 88) 798 97 04
SAVOY RENT A CAR
Address: 1172 Sofia, Bulgaria
23 Nikolay Haytov Str. /near to "Petrol" petrol station/.,
Phone: (+359 2) 962 19 41
Mobile: (+359 88) 723 94 83
(+359 89) 984 90 74
Working time:
Mon-Fri - 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
Sat-Sun - 10.00 am - 2.00 pm