Getting Around In Sofia
Getting around Sofia is easy, with a multitude of options available. The city has a burgeoning public transit network that incorporates buses, trolleys and trams as well as a relatively new underground subway. Taxi service is also plentiful and car hire is available for taking better advantage of the sights in the city during your stay.
By Metro
The Sofia Metro is a relatively new subway. So far, only one line is complete and it stretches just over eight kilometres. Trains are scheduled every six to eight minutes, running from 05:30 to 24:00, and day passes are available.
By train
Train travel in Sofia is mainly concerned with departures for other destinations in Bulgaria, or for international travel, with international trains serving destinations such as Kiev, Istanbul, Vienna and Athens. The impsosing Tsentralna Gara, Sofia’s main rail station, is situated at 112 Maria Louiza boulevard, a 10-minute drive north of the city centre. Here you will find left-luggage facilities as well as moneychangers, ATMs and eateries.
By bus
The local public bus system is very thorough and the transit system incorporates trams and trolleys, which altogether cover nearly all of Sofia. Buses run from 05:00 to 23:30, with trams stopping at 24:30. Tickets are for single use for any distance and can be used on any mode of transport. The transit authority also offers daily, weekly and monthly passes.
Taxis
Taxis are plentiful in Sofia and the city has made efforts to improve its image by monitoring taxi rates, with drivers shedding their former reputations for overcharging foreigners. In 2000 the city mandated that taxis are painted yellow and charge a prescribed rate tallied by a meter, which must be displayed prominently in the cab. However, extra fees are often levied according to the time of day as well as for dispatch service. Also, you should note that in general, dispatchers and taxi drivers only speak Bulgarian, so you may need some help with communicating your destination.
An alternative to the yellow taxis are the privately-run ‘Marsh-route taxis’. These blue minibuses run on broad, fixed routes, and passengers can hail or request to be dropped off at any point.
Tourist services
Privately-run bus services offer visitors to Sofia an informative guided tour of the city’s popular sights. Full-day and half-day excursions are available, allowing visitors to take in such sights as the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Rotunda, mosque and the national museum. On the longer tours, lunch is often included.
From the airport
Travel between Sofia Airport and the city centre is easy, with a popular public bus departing every 10 to 15 minutes. For more direct and personal transportation, a taxi rank is located outside the terminal. The roads to the city centre are also clearly marked, and car hire is available from the airport although car hire in Bulgaria is generally expensive, more so than in Western Europe. Online booking is advised if you want to take advantage of better rates and choice of vehicle.