Getting Around Sofia by Bus, Tram and Trolleybus
The Sofia Metro may be the quickest way to travel longer distances across the city, but it doesn’t reach everywhere. Fortunately, Sofia also has an extensive network of buses, trams and trolleybuses that can take you almost anywhere you need to go.
At first, the number of routes and unfamiliar stop names can seem slightly overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t need to understand the entire transport network. With Google Maps or another navigation app and contactless payment, using Sofia’s public transport is actually surprisingly straightforward.
What’s the Difference?
Sofia has three main types of above-ground public transport:
- Buses look and operate exactly as you would expect. They cover almost every part of the city, including areas that aren’t close to a Metro station.
- Trams run on tracks and are one of the most recognisable features of central Sofia. Some are shiny and modern; others have considerably more character! They’re particularly useful for shorter journeys around the centre and nearby neighbourhoods.
- Trolleybuses look like buses but are powered by overhead electric wires. From a passenger’s perspective, they work exactly like an ordinary bus.
The same ticketing system applies across buses, trams, trolleybuses and the Metro, so you don’t need to buy a different type of ticket for each one.
The Easiest Way to Plan Your Journey
For most visitors, Google Maps is the easiest way to work out how to get somewhere in Sofia although other navigation apps work in much the same way.
Enter your destination, tap the public transport symbol and the app will show you:
- Which bus, tram, trolleybus or Metro line to take
- Where the nearest stop is
- Which direction you need to travel
- How many stops you’ll be on board
- Where to get off
- Where and how to change transport if necessary
- Approximately how long the journey should take
It may suggest one form of transport or a combination. For example, a tram followed by the Metro, or a bus followed by a short walk.
Pay attention to the route number and final destination, as these tell you which direction the vehicle is travelling. The same numbered route normally stops on opposite sides of the road depending on its direction, so make sure you’re waiting at the correct stop.
Google Maps also tracks your progress during the journey, which is particularly helpful when the stop announcements are difficult to understand, or when there aren’t any!
How Much Does Public Transport Cost?
A 30+ ticket costs €0.80 and allows you to change between buses, trams, trolleybuses and the Metro within 30 minutes of your first validation.
The important thing to understand is that your final change must be validated before the 30 minutes expires. You don’t need to complete your entire journey within 30 minutes. Once your last validation has been accepted, you can remain on that vehicle until you reach your destination.
There is also a 60+ ticket costing €1.10, which gives you 60 minutes in which to make your final change. This must be loaded onto a Sofia City Card or Ultralight card. It isn’t available through ordinary contactless bank-card payment.
The Easiest Way to Pay
You can pay directly with a contactless bank card, phone or smartwatch.
When you board a bus, tram or trolleybus, hold your card or device against one of the blue validators inside the vehicle. Wait for the green light and confirmation message before moving away.
You must validate again every time you change vehicles, even when your transfer is included within the 30-minute period.
If part of your journey involves the Metro, tap the same card or device at the Metro barrier. The system recognises that you’re continuing your journey and calculates the correct fare.
Keep Using the Same Payment Method
Your physical bank card and the same card stored in Apple Pay or Google Wallet are treated as different payment methods.
If you begin your journey using your phone, continue using your phone. If you begin with the physical card, keep using the physical card.
This matters for both transfers and the daily fare limit. It’s also important if a ticket inspector asks to check your payment.
Each passenger needs their own card, phone, watch or ticket. You can’t use the same bank card to validate several people travelling together.
Changing Between Different Types of Transport
Changing between Sofia’s different forms of public transport is fairly simple:
- Follow the journey shown in Google Maps or other navigation app
- Validate your card or ticket when you board the first vehicle.
- Get off at the stop shown in the directions.
- Walk to the next bus, tram, trolleybus or Metro stop.
- Validate the same card or device again.
As long as that second validation takes place within 30 minutes of the first, it counts as part of the same 30+ ticket.
For example, if the navigation app tells you to take a tram for ten minutes and then change to a bus, simply tap when boarding the tram and tap the same payment method again when boarding the bus.
Don’t skip the second validation because you’re changing within the permitted time. You must validate every time you board a new vehicle.
The €2 Daily Fare Limit
If you use the same contactless payment method throughout the day, Sofia’s system automatically calculates your journeys.
Once you’ve used more than two 30+ tickets, the system converts your payments into a daily pass costing €2. This gives you unlimited travel across the city’s buses, trams, trolleybuses and Metro for the remainder of that day.
You don’t need to buy the daily pass in advance or work out whether it will be worthwhile. The system does that automatically.
Just remember to keep validating every time you board, even after you’ve reached the €2 daily limit.
Prefer to Buy a Travel Card?
Short-term tickets and passes can also be loaded onto a reusable Sofia City Card or a paper-based Ultralight card. These are available from Sofia Urban Mobility Centre sales points and Metro ticket desks.
Current options include:
- 30+ ticket: €0.80
- 60+ ticket: €1.10
- Daily pass: €2
- 72-hour pass: €7.60
The 72-hour pass provides unlimited travel on all forms of Sofia public transport for 72 hours.
For most visitors making occasional journeys, however, we find that using a contactless bank card or phone is much easier.
How Do You Know When to Get Off?
Many newer vehicles have screens showing the next stop, and announcements are often made in both Bulgarian and English. However, this isn’t guaranteed on every vehicle.
Keeping the navigation app (Google Maps or another app) open on your phone is the simplest option. It allows you to follow your location as you travel and see when your stop is approaching.
Stop names will often appear in both Cyrillic and Latin letters in Google Maps. Even if you can’t pronounce the Bulgarian name, you can usually match it with the name displayed at the stop or inside the vehicle.
Buses, trams and trolleybuses generally stop at every scheduled stop, but if you’re unsure, press one of the stop buttons before you need to get off. It can’t hurt!
A Few Useful Tips
- Always validate immediately after boarding.
- Check for a green light and a message confirming that your card is valid.
- Use the same card or device throughout the day.
- Keep your payment method accessible in case a ticket inspector boards.
- Google Maps (or your other preferred navigation app) is generally the simplest option for planning routes and changes.
- Allow a little extra time during peak periods because buses, trams and trolleybuses can get caught in Sofia traffic.
- Take extra care when getting off a tram. At some stops, passengers step directly into the road, so check for passing traffic before crossing to the pavement.
Is Sofia’s Public Transport Easy to Use?
Once you’ve made your first journey, it becomes much less intimidating.
You don’t need to memorise route maps or decipher every number displayed at a stop. Enter your destination into your preferred navigation app, follow the suggested journey and validate the same card or device each time you board.
The Metro is usually the quickest choice for longer journeys, while buses, trams and trolleybuses fill in the gaps and take you much closer to many hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Together, they make getting around Sofia inexpensive, convenient and far easier than it might initially appear.
Useful official information:
