I recently visited Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. Initially, I wasn’t too sure how to navigate getting around the city, especially because the Bolt taxi app – which I’ve used in Bucharest and Chisinau – doesn’t really work.
However, I found some ways to travel around Sofia easily! Here’s how to get around Sofia, with exactly what I did on my trip here.
Does Bolt work in Sofia?
Bolt doesn’t work in Sofia – at least not how you might usually use it! It’s essentially an app to hire bikes, rather than ride-hailing. You cannot use it to take a taxi.
Does Uber work in Sofia?
Equally, there is no Uber in Sofia. If you open the app, you won’t find any rides (or any bike hires, for that matter!).
In a rush? Here are my favourite hotels in Sofia
⭐⭐⭐ Maison Sofia – MGallery – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐ WorkNomads LAB Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
⭐ BG Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
Are there taxi apps in Sofia?
Yes, there are local taxi apps in Sofia. These are called TaxiMe and Yellow Taxi. I was told by my hotel that TaxiMe is easy to use, and is most similar to Bolt or Uber. However, with slight app fatigue, I didn’t really want to download another!
Is Sofia walkable?
One of the main ways I travelled around Sofia was on my own two feet! The capital’s centre is quite walkable – I walked to and from Sofia Serdika Bus Station, and then around the historic centre area. Here’s everything I saw on foot. I also walked to and from the metro stop (more on that in a moment!) to my hotel.
That said, I imagine it’s a bit more challenging for those with mobility issues. Some of the pavements outside of the immediate centre are a little narrow and can have quite steep curbs!
Don’t forget your Bulgaria eSIM!
However you’re travelling to Sofia, I’d highly recommend getting a Holafly eSIM.
I use one whenever I travel; they have unlimited data (which is SO useful in a city like Sofia, where you’re often looking up directions and facts about where you are!) and if your package runs out of days, the “Always On” feature means you get an extra 1GB of data to sort out your plan!
Click here to get 5% off your Holafly SIM!
How to use the Sofia metro
The Sofia metro is really easy to use – and it actually makes Sofia a more appealing city to visit, IMO!
I just used my Monzo card (on my Google Wallet) to tap for contactless entry, and it let me in. The map is fairly easy to understand, although sometimes the translation of the names can be a bit confusing. For example, my stop for my hotel was James Bourchier in English, and in джеймс баучер in Bulgarian, and they sounded a bit different when spoken out loud!
A single ride costs 0.80, and there’s a daily cap of 2, so it’s super cost-effective! (See my cost breakdown for mty day in Sofia here). Just make sure you use the same card or device (e.g. if you start using Google Pay, carry on using Google Pay), to ensure that it logs the cap correctly.
How to get from Sofia Central Railway Station to the city centre
Sofia Central Railway Station, which is also the location of Sofia Serdika Bus Station, is walkable from the city centre – I did this when I arrived. It takes around 20 minutes.
However, you can also get the M2 line (blue line) from Central Railway Station to Serdika II metro station (different place to the bus station!), which takes 3-5 minutes. There are also trams available, which takes around 10 minutes, but these are mostly used by people who want to stop in other places on the way.
How to get from Sofia airport to the city centre
As I was taking coaches to and from Sofia, I didn’t go to the airport. But I did get a message from my partner when he was there, saying:
“Easiest ride to the airport I’ve ever done. 1 euro, 20 mins on the metro right to the terminal door”.
For me, I’d absolutely take the metro. However, if you prefer a private transfer, I’d recommend booking one via GetYourGuide.
This transfer is highly rated and costs around €18 (£15).
Although it seems a bit daunting initially without the usual taxi apps, Sofia is an easy city to get around! I’ll have a full vlog about the city on my YouTube soon! 🙂
