Getting Around Sofia (2026): Metro Map, Fares, Scams & Official Taxi Guide

1. Sofia Metro Network 2026: Lines, Transfer Hubs & System Map

Sofia operates one of Eastern Europe's cleanest, deepest, and most punctual underground rapid transit networks. Spearheaded by Metropoliten EAD (Метрополитен ЕАД), the network spans four operational lines (M1, M2, M3, and M4) with 47 stations connecting peripheral socialist housing quarters, business clusters, and the international airport directly to the historic Roman heart at Serdica.

Unlike legacy subway networks in Paris, London, or New York, Sofia's metro is modern, air-conditioned, spotlessly maintained, and virtually devoid of graffiti. Stations double as subterranean archaeological museums: when digging the central interchange at Serdica, municipal engineers uncovered thousands of square meters of 4th-century Roman Ulpia Serdica, preserved beneath high-grade glass ceilings (Ancient Serdica Roman Ruins Guide).

🔍 High-Res 2026 Diagram (Click to Zoom)

Line-by-Line Traveler Breakdown

• Line M1 (Red Line – Slivnitsa ↔ Business Park Sofia): Traverses northwest to southeast. Key stops include Serdica (downtown), Vasil Levski Stadium (Borisova Gradina), Musagenitsa, and Mladost 4 (Business Park). Ideal for reaching southern residential districts and tech headquarters.
• Line M2 (Blue Line – Obelya ↔ Vitosha): The premier north-south tourist artery. Connects Central Railway & Bus Station (Tsentralna Gara), Lâvov Most (Lions' Bridge), Serdica II, NDK (National Palace of Culture), European Union (Earth and Man Museum), and terminates at Vitosha (Paradise Center mall, departure point for Bus 66 up Mount Vitosha).
• Line M3 (Green Line – Hadzhi Dimitar ↔ Gorna Banya): Sofia's newest automated line, equipped with glass platform screen safety doors. Runs northeast to southwest through Teatralna (Zaimov Park), Orlov Most (Eagles' Bridge), Medical University, and Gorna Banya (direct transfer platform to national railway trains heading toward Pernik, Kyustendil, and Kulata).
• Line M4 (Yellow Line – Sofia Airport Terminal 2 ↔ Obelya): The essential airport link. Runs directly from the underground terminal at Sofia Airport (SOF) into Iskarsko Shose (railway connection to Plovdiv), Mladost 1, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, and Serdica in 28 minutes (Airport Transit Deep-Dive).

2. Public Transit Tariffs & Contactless Tap-to-Pay (2026 Euro Rates)

Bulgaria operates entirely in Euros (€), and the capital's municipal operator—the Sofia Urban Mobility Centre (TsGM / ЦГМ)—provides one of Europe's most seamless, friction-free ticketing infrastructures. You do not need to wait in line at ticket kiosks, figure out paper validation punches, or carry loose coins.

How Contactless Tap-to-Pay Works (Bank Card / Apple Pay / Google Wallet)

Every single metro turnstile and every entrance door of Sofia's yellow trams, blue trolleybuses, and municipal buses is fitted with a blue digital validator terminal bearing the contactless symbol. To ride:

1. Hold your physical contactless Visa/Mastercard, Apple Watch, or smartphone against the validator screen until the green light illuminates and a short chime sounds (0.5 seconds).
2. One Card per Passenger: You cannot tap the same credit card twice to pay for two people. Each traveler in your party must tap their own separate physical card or separate device.
3. The 23:59 Billing Sweep: Your card is charged a temporary €0.01 authorization hold. At 23:59 Sofia time, TsGM's central billing system audits your total taps for that calendar date. If you tapped once or twice, you are billed €0.80 or €1.60. If you tapped 3 or more times across buses, trams, and metro, the charge is capped at exactly €2.00.
4. Ticket Inspection Protocol: Plainclothes municipal ticket inspectors (Kontrola) randomly board vehicles and carry handheld terminal readers. When requested, hold the same card/phone against their terminal. It displays an encrypted authorization proof without revealing your banking details.

3. The Sofia Taxi Guide: Verified Fleets, Booking Apps & The Uber Ban

Recommended Official Taxi Companies

Sofia's regulated taxi market is reliable, affordable, and predominantly operated by clean yellow hybrid vehicles. Always book through verified apps or official dispatch telephone lines:

Official 2026 Regulated Taxi Tariffs

By Sofia municipal decree, all licensed taxicabs must operate under strict ceiling rates and display a standardized price breakdown sticker on the front windshield and rear right passenger window:

• Initial Drop / Pickup Fee (Първоначална такса): €1.20 – €1.50 (~£1.05 / ~$1.45)
• Daytime Kilometer Rate (06:00 – 22:00): €0.65 – €0.75 per km (~£0.58 / ~$0.78)
• Nighttime Kilometer Rate (22:00 – 06:00): €0.75 – €0.85 per km (~£0.67 / ~$0.90)
• Waiting Time Fee (Повикване / Престой): €0.20 – €0.25 per minute
• Typical Downtown Ride (Serdica to NDK / Oborishte): €4.00 – €6.00 (~£3.50 / ~$5.50)
• Airport to Downtown Ride: €10.00 – €18.00 (~£8.50 / ~$16.00), depending on rush-hour congestion.

How to Spot Fake / Pirate Taxis (The Imitator Scam)

Unlicensed predatory operators intentionally mimic the branding of trusted fleets. The most common scam is imitating OK Supertrans or Yellow Taxi by painting vehicles yellow, using almost identical logos, and printing phone numbers with one modified digit (e.g., 91118 or 91219 instead of 91119, or OK Superchans instead of OK Supertrans). These rogue cabs charge up to €5.00 to €10.00 per kilometer. Always inspect the window tariff decal before opening the door, or book exclusively via the Yellow! Taxi or TaxiMe smartphone applications.

4. Practical Traveler Guide: British (UK) & North American (US/CA) Visitors

Sofia is an increasingly popular city-break and ski hub for travelers from the United Kingdom and North America. However, key infrastructural, legal, and electrical differences must be accounted for before landing.

For British Travelers (UK)

• Direct Flight Connections: Bulgaria Air and British Airways operate scheduled flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Sofia (SOF) with an average flight time of 3 hours 15 minutes. Low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air offer high-frequency daily flights from London Stansted (STN) and London Luton (LTN), with regional direct routes from Manchester (MAN), Birmingham (BHX), and seasonal winter ski flights from Edinburgh (EDI) and Bristol (BRS).
• Plug Adapters: The UK uses 3-rectangular-pin Type G plugs. Bulgaria utilizes standard Continental European Type C and Type F (Schuko) sockets at 230V / 50Hz. You MUST bring a UK Type G to Euro Type C/F adapter.
• Driving License Rules: UK photocard driving licenses are legally valid for driving and hiring a rental vehicle in Bulgaria for tourism. You do not require an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your UK license is valid and in Latin script. Driving is on the right side of the road (opposite from the UK).
• Post-Brexit Healthcare (GHIC / EHIC): Your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or existing valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is recognized in Bulgaria for emergency medical treatment at state hospitals. For private medical clinics, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. Universal emergency dispatch is dialed via 112.
• British Embassy in Sofia: Located at 9 Moskovska Street (near St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral). Emergency consular assistance telephone: +359 2 933 9222.
• Mobile Roaming: Post-Brexit, standard UK "roam like at home" rules are determined by individual UK carriers (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three). Most UK networks charge a small daily roaming fee (£2.00 to £2.50/day). Alternatively, purchase a local Bulgarian travel eSIM (A1, Yettel, Vivacom) offering 15GB of 5G data for ~€8.00.

For American & Canadian Travelers (US/CA)

• Voltage & Electronics (110V vs 230V): North American appliances run on 110–120V, whereas Bulgaria's grid operates at 230V. Check the fine print on your device power brick: modern laptops, smartphones, and camera chargers are dual-voltage (100–240V) and only require a mechanical Type A/B to Type C Euro plug adapter. High-wattage heating devices (curling irons, hair dryers) will fry without an active step-down voltage converter.
• Passport & Schengen Regulations: Bulgaria officially entered the European Schengen Area. US and Canadian passport holders may enter visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling window across the entire Schengen Zone. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen territory.
• International Driving Permit (IDP): While some rental car agencies accept a US state driver's license, Bulgarian traffic law technically requires non-EU license holders to present an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by AAA or CAA alongside their home state license.
• US Embassy in Sofia: Located at 16 Kozyak Street, Lozenets district. Emergency consular desk: +359 2 937 5100.