Getting around · Sofia, Bulgaria
Getting Around Sofia: Airport, Metro, Trains & Onward Travel
Everything you need to get around Sofia, and onward to Belgrade, Athens and Bucharest: Sofia sits at the crossroads of the region.
Updated October 2026
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Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Sofia.
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About 20 minutes to the centre
Metro from the airport
Metro line M4 runs from Terminal 2 to Serdika in the city centre in about 20 minutes. Pay by contactless card at the gates.
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Four lines
Sofia Metro
Sofia’s modern metro, with lines linking the centre, the airport, the railway station and the business districts.
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Trains across Bulgaria
Central Railway Station
Sofia’s main railway station, rebuilt and modern, with trains to Plovdiv and across Bulgaria, and the metro outside.
The full list: Getting around, A–Z
From the airport 2
Into town from Sofia Airport.
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About 20 minutes to the centre
Metro from the airport
Metro line M4 runs from Terminal 2 to Serdika in the city centre in about 20 minutes. Pay by contactless card at the gates.
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SOF
Sofia Airport
Sofia’s international airport, about 10 kilometres east of the centre, with the metro at Terminal 2.
In the city 2
Metro, trams, buses and taxis.
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Four lines
Sofia Metro
Sofia’s modern metro, with lines linking the centre, the airport, the railway station and the business districts.
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Getting around
Trams, buses and taxis
Trams, buses and trolleybuses cover the whole city; for taxis, use licensed cars or a taxi app. Uber does not operate in Bulgaria.
Trains & coaches 2
The stations for Plovdiv, Rila and beyond.
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Coaches across the region
Central Bus Station
Sofia’s main coach station beside the railway station, with coaches across Bulgaria and to neighbouring countries.
бул. Княгиня Мария Луиза 100Explore View on map
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Trains across Bulgaria
Central Railway Station
Sofia’s main railway station, rebuilt and modern, with trains to Plovdiv and across Bulgaria, and the metro outside.
Onward travel 5
Sofia sits at the crossroads of the region: north-west to Belgrade, south to Athens, north-east to Bucharest.
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Heading south
To Athens and Thessaloniki
Coaches and the motorway run south down the Struma valley into Greece; Athens is about nine to ten hours by road, or a short flight.
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Heading north-west
To Belgrade
Belgrade is about 390 kilometres away, around four and a half to five hours by road, with coaches running between the two capitals.
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Across the Danube
To Bucharest
Bucharest is around five to six hours by road, across the Danube at Ruse and Giurgiu; in summer a direct train also runs.
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Heading south-east
To Istanbul
The nightly Sofia–Istanbul Express sleeper takes about ten hours to Istanbul Halkalı; there are also coaches and short flights.
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Heading south-west
To Skopje
Skopje is around five hours by bus over the mountains, with daily coaches between the two capitals.
Fares and timetables change; check with each operator before you travel.
Explore more of Sofia
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23 of the best Cafés & bakeries
20 of the best Bars & craft beer
10 of the best Nightlife
26 of the best Hotels30 of the best Sights39 of the best Museums & music7 of the best Cinema
10 of the best Parks7 of the best Walks
6 of the best Thermal pools & beach clubs6 of the best Fitness + Spa4 of the best Medical3 of the best Property
19 of the best Shopping3 of the best Work & co-working8 of the best Cars