The metro in Sofia is the backbone of local public transport and the most reliable form of travel. Sofia's metro network was significantly expanded and modernised between 2003 and 2020.
The Sofia metro is very efficient, safe and the stations and cars are clean and modern.
Find out how much metro tickets cost, how often trains run and where to find official information.
Find a hotel near a metro station
For an overview of the official website, visit metrosofia.com.
Map and metro lines of Sofia
The Sofia metro network has a total of 52 km of lines and 4 lines. However, lines M2 and M4 are interconnected and can be reached without changing from one end of the M2 line to the end of the M4 line.
Line M1 shares most of its route with line M4 and separates from it only at the last 3 stations.
The metro is reliable, frequent and fast.
The official metro map can be found at: metrosofia.com/en/maps.
Metro lines are divided by color and number.
- M1 - The Red Line provides fast transport from the outlying housing estates in the northwest and southeast of the city to the city centre.
- M2 - The blue line runs in a north-south direction and can be used to travel to Vitosha station, where the line 66 bus connects to the mountains, as well as to the main train and bus stations. Trains of line M2 change to line M4 at Obelya station and continue towards the airport.
- M3 - The green line is the newest and its route runs along the southern edge of the centre towards the east. At Krasno Selo station, the 63 bus continues into the mountains.
- M4 - The yellow line runs from Sofia SOF airport to the city centre and then, together with the red line, north-west to Obelya station, where the train changes to line M2 without the need for a change and continues towards Vitosha.
Metro tickets
The same fares apply for the metro as for trams or buses.
The fare system is described in more detail in the Transport chapter.
How much does the metro cost?
The fare system is not complicated. The entire metro, bus and tram network is in one zone.
- 1,60 bgn - A transfer ticket for 30 minutes
- 2,20 bgn - 30-minute transfer ticket
- 4 bgn - all-day ticket valid for the calendar day only
- 6 bgn - 24-hour ticket valid for a full 24 hours from the time of marking
- 15 bgn - 72-hour ticket valid for a full 72 hours from the time of marking
Where to buy tickets?
You can buy a single 30-minute ticket for 1,60 lv. at the ticket machines in each metro station. You can pay only in cash.
All other tickets can only be bought at the ticket counters, which are also in all metro stations. Tickets are also available on the surface at kiosks marked with a blue letter "C".
In all cases you can only pay with cash.
A more convenient way to pay your fare is with your own contactless card. Of course, you can also pay by mobile phone or watch.
If you pay with your own contactless card, a daily limit of 4 leva counts. The transport company deducts the money from your account at the end of each calendar day.
How to use tickets?
All metro stations are entered through turnstiles.
Attach a paper ticket, your own contactless card (phone/watch) to the blue reader and the turnstile will open.
You don't need to use your ticket to exit the station. The turnstile opens automatically when it registers movement.
Is the Sofia Metro in operation 24/7
None of the metro lines run around the clock.
Every day, metro service starts at about 5:00 am (departures from terminal stations) and ends between 11:30 pm and 12:00 am.
Intervals between trains are 4 to 5 minutes during the day on weekdays. Early morning, late evening and weekends the interval can be 6 to 10 minutes.
Detailed timetables and connection searches can be found on the website: metrosofia.com/en/schedule.
What do the stations and trains look like?
The metro stations are modern and very clean. Each station is equipped with a ticket machine and a staffed office.
There are normally no toilets in metro stations and there are no shops directly in the metro lobbies.
On the M1, M2 and M4 lines, there are refurbished old Soviet-era cars that are very spacious and clean.
Line M3 is served by brand new Siemens cars.
