Public transport to the centre of Sofia is provided by metro and bus.
The metro stops only at Terminal 2, from where you can take a free shuttle bus to Terminal 1 once every 20 minutes. Bus lines 84 and 184 run to the centre from both terminals.
| Price | Travel time to the centre |
Travel time from the centre |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro M4 | 1,60 bgn | 28 minutes | 28 minutes |
| Bus 84 | 1,60 bgn | from Terminal 1 - 30 minutes from Terminal 2 - 25 minutes |
to Terminal 1 - 40 minutes to Terminal 2 - 25 minutes |
| Bus 184 | 1,60 bgn | from Terminal 1 - 25 minutes from Terminal 2 - 40 minutes |
to Terminal 1 - 25 minutes to Terminal 2 - 30 minutes |
View the top 10 best hotels in Sofia
Public transport tickets
Tickets are valid for all modes of transport in Sofia, i.e. metro, buses and trams. You can transfer freely between all means of transport.
You don't need to buy tickets at all. Just use your own contactless card, which you attach to the turnstile every time you enter a metro station. You can also use the card on buses and trams by attaching it to a reader inside the car.
However, you can still buy tickets in paper form (one-off) or as a rechargeable card (Sofia City Card).
Single tickets can be purchased at the machines in the metro station (cash only). Day and multi-day tickets can only be purchased at the manned ticket counter in each metro station (also cash only).
| Ticket | Validity | Price | Payment method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket 30+ | One trip with transfer, which must take place within 30 minutes of the time of the sign |
1,60 bgn | Contactless card Paper ticket |
| Ticket 60+ | One journey with a transfer, which must take place within 60 minutes of being marked |
2 bgn | Contactless card Sofia City Card |
| All day | Only on a given calendar day from 0:00 to 24:00 | 4 bgn | Contactless card* Sofia City Card |
| 24-hour | Valid 24 hours from the time of marking | 6 bgn | Sofia City Card |
| 72-hour | Valid 72 hours from the time of marking | 15 bgn | Sofia City Card |
*In practice, the daily limit of just 4 leva works. Once you reach it, no more can ever be charged to the card per day. However, you still have to attach the card to the reader each time.
If you are travelling from the airport by bus, you can only buy day or multi-day tickets at the metro station in Terminal 2.
Metro M4
The yellow M4 metro line is the fastest and most convenient transport to the city centre if you are coming from/to Terminal 2.
When travelling from the city centre, the red M1 line also stops at the M4 platforms in the same direction, but does not run to the airport.
From the airport, the metro will take you directly to the centre (St. Kliment Ohridski and Serdika stations) without changing trains.
At the final station "Obelya", the yellow line M4 changes automatically into the blue line M2, which goes for example to the main train and bus station, without getting off. However, it is significantly faster to get to the station by changing at Serdika station.
- Traveltime - 28 minutes (Serdica station), 35 minutes to the railway station with a change at Serdika station
- Frequency - 7 to 14 minutes
- Last metro from the airport - 23:52
- First metro from Serdika station - 5:09
- Official metro website: metrosofia.com/en
- Transport Finder: sofiatraffic.bg/en
- Cheap hotel near Serdika station: Hotel Central Point **
Buses
Bus lines are the most convenient transport to Terminal 1 without the need to change buses. Buses also have longer operating hours than the metro.
A pair of bus lines 84 and 184 run to the centre to the General Gurko terminus, where you can transfer to metro lines M3 (Orlov Most station) or M4 (St. Kliment Ohridski station).
Both have the same route. The only difference is the way to the terminals:
- 84: Centrum -> Terminal 2 (waiting time 3-5 minutes) -> Terminal 1 -> Centrum
- 184: Centrum -> Terminal 1 -> Terminal 2 (waiting 3-5 minutes) -> Centrum
Line 84 on the way from the centre has a longer time to Terminal 1 than line 184. On the other hand, line 184 is faster from Terminal 1 to the centre.
If you take line 84 from the centre to Terminal 1 and do not have large luggage, it may be more convenient to get off at the "Restorant Aleksandriya" stop and walk about 10 minutes to Terminal 1.
Detailed timetables can be found on the website: sofiatraffic.bg/en/schedules
- Travel time - 30 minutes (General Gurko Str.)
- Frequency - 10 to 15 minutes
- Last bus from the airport - 23:30 (Terminal 2), 23:35 (Terminal 1)*
- First bus from downtown - 4:30
- Top hotel by the station Sv. Kliment Ohridski: InterContinental Sofia *****
* The last bus at 0:09 does not go to the centre, but ends its journey at the garage on the southern outskirts of Sofia.
There is also a 384 line to the airport (only to Terminal 2), but it is not usable for going to the centre. Route 384 serves only the housing estates in the eastern suburbs of Sofia.
Taxi
There are plenty of taxis waiting outside both terminals at all hours of the day and night. The price is calculated according to a taximeter that combines the distance travelled and the total journey time.
On average, you will pay approximately 22 bgn and can only be paid in cash. Taxi drivers also commonly accept euros. The nominal amount in euros is always half that of the Bulgarian leva.
There are no apps like Uber or Bolt operating in Sofia yet.
Rent a car
There are many local and international car rental companies at Burgas Airport.
Prices in the summer season for weekly rentals are significantly lower than at the coastal airports and start as low as 70 eur.
Renting a car is a great option if you're heading straight from the airport to the Rila Mountains, the Pirin Mountains or to explore the Bulgarian countryside.
