Getting to and from Sofia (2026)

How do you get to Sofia?

Getting There3.3/10Harder to reach than about 75% of cities

Main airport: Sofia (Vasil Levski) Airport

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: sofia-airport.eu, visitsofia.bg

Good to know

Good to Know

Metro and bus tickets are integrated into one system; purchase one ticket (1.60 BGN) valid for 30-60 minutes of unlimited transfers across all transport modes.
Day pass (4 BGN) is maximum charge even if you use public transport 100+ times in a day.
Tap contactless cards (Visa/Mastercard) at validators on metro/bus entry; validation only needed on entry, not exit.
Cash payments accepted on public transport, but many ticket machines accept cards. ATMs widely available at airport and throughout city.
Official airport taxis located at designated ranks at both terminals; avoid unlicensed taxis to prevent scams.
Luggage policy: 2 pieces of hand luggage free with regular transport ticket; additional luggage requires separate ticket.
Metro operates 5:26 am-11:49 pm weekdays (11:33 pm weekends); night buses available.
Central Bus Station and Central Railway Station are adjacent, simplifying inter-transport transfers.
Car rental available at airport if exploring beyond Sofia day-trip radius.
No Uber in Bulgaria; use TaxiMe app, Bolt, or Spark for alternative ride-hailing.
For international rail travel, book in advance via BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways) website or at station ticket offices.
Sofia is walkable for central attractions; metro most efficient for longer distances.

Airport To City

Cost
BGN 1.60
Frequency
Every 6-15 minutes, 5:26 am - 11:49 pm weekdays; 5:27 am - 11:33 pm weekends
Duration Minutes
18
Notes
Fastest and cheapest option. Metro station adjacent to Terminal 2. From Terminal 1, free shuttle bus (every 30-40 min) to Terminal 2 required. Transfers available at Serdika station to M1 and M2 lines.
Every 20-30 minutes, 5:20 am - 11:16 pm
Cost
BGN 1.60
Duration Minutes
35
Notes
Route 84 serves Terminal 2; Route E184 serves both terminals. Single-trip only, cannot transfer to other vehicles with same ticket.
Cost
BGN 18
Duration Minutes
15
Notes
Official Yellow Taxi operates 24/7. Base fare BGN 2.47 (day) / 2.79 (night). Per-km charge BGN 1.22 (day) / 1.41 (night). Use only official taxis at designated ranks to avoid scams.
Cost
BGN 10
Duration Minutes
15
Notes
Airport pickups typically 8-12 BGN. Prices surge during peak hours. Upfront pricing through app.
Cost
BGN 26
Duration Minutes
20
Notes
Sedan transfers approximately 15-20 EUR. Minivans (8 passengers) 20-30 EUR. Meet-and-greet service included.

Rail Connections

Domestic: Sofia Central Railway Station serves major Bulgarian cities including Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas. Sleeper trains available to Varna and Burgas.
Central Station: Sofia Central Railway Station is Bulgaria's largest railway hub with international connections to Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Turkey. Accessible by metro.

International

Istanbul, Turkey
Type
Overnight train (Sofia Express)
Frequency
Daily
Travel time
11 hours
Notes
Modern, air-conditioned Turkish sleeping cars and couchette options available.
Bucharest, Romania
Type
Daytime train (summer); connection via Ruse (other seasons)
Notes
Summer direct service available; winter requires connection at Ruse.
Belgrade, Serbia
Type
Daytime/occasional overnight
Notes
Currently suspended until further notice due to railway reconstruction between Niš and Dimitrovgrad.
Thessaloniki, Greece
Cost
BGN 35
Type
Daytime train
Travel time
8.5 hours
Notes
Direct train departs 15:00, arrives 23:30.

Buses

Domestic: Three major national bus terminals: Central, Western, and Southern. Direct connections to most Bulgarian cities and regions.
International: Domestic and international buses depart from Central Bus Station (next to Central Railway Station). Connections available to neighboring countries.

Airport

Name: Sofia (Vasil Levski) Airport
Details: Bulgaria's largest airport, serving both international and domestic flights to many European and Asian destinations.
IATA Code: SOF
Terminals: 2
Distance From City Center Km: 10

Ferries

Note: Not applicable. Sofia is landlocked with no water-based ferry connections.

Night Transport

Airport Night Bus: N4 night bus available since July 2025, serving both terminals to city center and residential neighborhoods. Service 24/7.

Day Trips Overview

Note: Sofia serves as an excellent base for day trips throughout Bulgaria. Major destinations include Rila Monastery (UNESCO site, 1.5-2 hours), Seven Rila Lakes, Boyana Church, Vitosha Mountain, Plovdiv (ancient city, 2 hours), Bansko (3 hours by bus), Belogradchik Fortress (3 hours), Veliko Tarnovo (3 hours), Melnik wine region, and numerous caves and natural sites.

Ground Transport In City

Daily Pass Cost: BGN 4.00
Single Trip Cost: BGN 1.60
Bus From Driver Cost: BGN 2.00

Metro

Lines: 4
Stations: 47
Note: Lines M1 (red), M2 (blue), M3 (green), M4 (yellow). Frequent, reliable service.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Sofia

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Getting There & Away in Sofia