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The capital of Bulgaria has a good combined transport system by rail and road. Thanks to it, it is possible to move around Sofia quite easily.
GETTING AROUND SOFIA BY METRO
The subway stretches for just over 50 km, and is the first and only rail transport network in the whole nation! Currently, there are 47 stations served by the means of transport, for a total of 4 lines. The metro is a fairly recent project; Line 1 was inaugurated in 1998 with a few stations, and only in the following years did it take on its current appearance. The most recent line, the M4, was only inaugurated in 2020.
The lines are identified by 4 different numbers, and as many colors. Here is the detail:
- Line M1 (Red) – Slivnitsa – Business Park (Lyulin – Mladost).
- Line M2 (Blue) – Obelya – Vitosha (Nadezhda – Lozenets).
- Line М3 (Green) – Hadzhi Dimitar – Gorna banya (Hadzhi Dimitar – Ovcha kupel).
- Line M4 (Yellow) – Obelya – Sofia Airport.
The metro runs every day from 05:00 to midnight, with a frequency of 4 minutes during peak times. For more practical info you can consult the official website.
Photo ©, Stoyan89
TAXI
After the metro, taxis are the most popular way to get around Sofia. The preferred means are RADIO TAXI, of which OK SUPETRANS and RADIO CB TAXI represent the most reliable and honest companies. Be wary of others, who are reputed to often rig up the taximeters.
Keep in mind that drivers are obliged to hand over the receipt with the relevant amount to the customer.
BUS AND TRAM
To get around Sofia, it is much better to opt for the modern metro, young and efficient as opposed to the road network and the tramway, obsolete and with rather old-fashioned means of transport.
After midnight, until 04:00 in the morning, the 4 night lines N1, N2, N3 and N4 are in operation.
TICKETS
There are different types of tickets. The single journey ticket costs 1.60BGN (€0.81). It must be validated at the access gates of the station; allows you to travel by metro within 30′ of validation. If you travel more frequently, the 10-travel card may be useful. It is an electronic ticket that, at a cost of 12 BGN, allows you to make 10 journeys on the metro. On the first purchase you will have to pay a deposit of 1BGN.
The integrated day ticket for all means of transport costs 4BGN (about €2). It allows you to travel on all means of public transport throughout the calendar day when it is canceled; therefore, it is valid only for the day it is stamped and not for 24h. The 3-day Pass, available in the electronic version, costs 10BGN (€5.11).
Tickets can be purchased at the vending machines installed at the entrances of the underground stations and at the authorized dealers of Sofia Urban Transport Center. Always remember to validate the tickets before embarking on the journey. Tickets DO NOT PURCHASE on board.