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Guide · Sofia

Getting around Sofia

Sofia's airport has its own metro station: one line, no change, straight to the centre.

Metro from the airport·4 lines
From the airport
Metro M4, about 20–25 min, €0.80
Taxi from the airport
€13–14, per ride
One ride
€0.80
Sofia
Sofia · Photographer: Mosbatho, CC BY 4.0

Where to go: five more questions →

Sofia has a metro station right by Terminal 2 of its airport. From there the M4 line reaches Serdika in the centre in about 20–25 min, with no change at all. Three more metro lines and a network of trams and buses cover the rest of the city, all on the same ticket.

From the airport to the centre

Sofia Airport (SOF) has its own stop on line M4, which joins line M1 at Mladost and runs straight through to Serdika in the centre — about 20–25 min, €0.80, the same fare as any other ride on public transport. A taxi is €13–14 per ride (not per person) and makes sense late at night, when the metro runs less often, or with more luggage.

Where to stayOnce you're in the centre, which area suits you:Where to stay in Sofia →

The metro and city transport

Four metro lines (M1–M4) and a network of trams and buses cover the city, all on the same ticket: €0.80 for one ride, €3 for 24 hours, €7.60 (72 h) for 72 hours. For a two- or three-day stay with several rides a day, the multi-day ticket pays for itself quickly.

BudgetHow these tickets fit into the daily budget:What Sofia costs →

On foot through the centre

The centre around Vitosha, Sveta Nedelya and Serdika is a pedestrian area — between the main sights on a first day there is no need for the metro, just a street to cross. It becomes useful once you head further out, towards Lozenets, Boyana or the airport.

2 daysThis is the order the centre is walked, step by step:Sofia in 2 days →

Trains and buses for day trips

For trips out of the city — Rila Monastery, Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa — transport and timing for each are covered on the day-trips page.

Day tripsWhich train or bus for which trip, and how long it takes:Day trips from Sofia →

Getting to Vitosha

The mountain is southwest of the city, reached by bus line 66 to Aleko. For hiking or winter snow, it is the one ride on this page that leaves the city, on the same ticket as the metro.

When to goWhich month suits Vitosha, and which does not:The best time to visit Sofia →FoodTo the Ladies' Market and the restaurant districts, on the same tickets:What to eat in Sofia →Hidden gemsHow to reach the places off the main list:The Sofia the six-sight list skips →MistakesWhat most often goes wrong with transport here:Mistakes everyone makes in Sofia →
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Frequently asked

Before you go

Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.

Does the metro run straight from the airport to the centre?

Yes, on line M4, which joins M1 at Mladost — about 20–25 min to Serdika, with no change.

Do you need a separate metro ticket?

No — the same ticket covers the metro, trams and buses. One ride is €0.80.

How do you get to Vitosha?

Bus line 66 to the Aleko stop, southwest of the city.

Plan the trip

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Photo credits and licences (11)

All photographs come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the licence stated beside each one.