On foot
Streets have adequate tiled pavements, especially in the city centre. However, they are frequently uneven and potholed, and walking is further made difficult by parked cars, street vendors and cafes. Except for areas in the very centre, pavements rarely have slopes for wheelchair access or designated lanes for bicycle riders. Pedestrian crossings are numerous and are relatively respected by drivers. Use pedestrian underpasses to cross large intersections, though avoid ones in the suburbs as these are usually derelict.
By taxi
Taxis in Sofia are yellow. Taxis can be caught on the streets or can be ordered by phone, they arrive fast and are reliable. A drive inside Sofia will rarely exceed 10lv and a trip from the airport to the city center between 8 lv and 15 lv. There are many companies offering taxi services, some of them are OK Supertrans taxi 973 2121, â¬1 Taxi, "962-22-26", Yellow Taxi 91119 and Radio CV Taxi 91263 with fares around 0,70 leva 0,35⬠per kilometer. Please check the phone number and the prices before you board, because there are some taxis trying to imitate the most popular ones, but having outrageous prices up to 5,90 leva (3,00⬠per kilometer) on them and usually hang around hotels and tourist spots picking on unsuspecting customers, its the top line for the per km fares and bottom line for time you need to look at. The general rule is that if a taxi driver comes to you and offers you a drive, never accept it because they will try to rip you off.
By Mini-Bus
Mini-buses marshrutki stop if you just wave a hand and usually are fast way to go somewhere without need to change the car. You pay to the driver when you get on the car. Prices are 1,50 leva about 0,75 euro. You need to tell the driver if and when you want to get off.
By public transport
Sofia has a well-developed and efficient public transport system (http://www.sumc.bg/en/) that consists of buses, trolleys, trams, subway. The public transport operates from 5AM to about 12AM. Taxis are the only transport option in the night.
The price of a single ticket is 1.00 lev ~ 0.50⬠only paid in the local currency. There are also 10 8.00lv tickets for one passenger, combined ticket for subway and ground transport 1.40 lv, daily cards 4lv, valid for all lines, and 5-day cards 15lv. Tickets, daily and 5-day cards can be bought at most newspaper stands especially ones adjacent to public transport stops. If you can't find any, you can also buy tickets from the driver if he has any available, though this is not guaranteed. Punch a ticket immediately after you enter the vehicle. The inspectors rarely understand English and you might have problems with the security if you travel without a ticket or even with an unpunched one. Inspectors ambush and board buses and trams in groups and their attitude is generally not friendly at all, sometimes accompanied by police, and make no exceptions. The fine is 20 lv ~â¬10.
If you are traveling by tram with a large suitcase or backpack, be sure to buy a separate ticket for your bag/case or you might be fined!
There are 15 tram lines, 9 trolley lines, 93 bus lines and two metro lines. Some of the buses cover the area outside the city center including neighboring villages. Useful routes are bus #84 from both terminals of the airport to the center; from the train/bus station to Orlov most - bus #213 or #214 or tram #1, #7 and #18 to Vitosha Street and Nedelya Square, #1, #6, #7 to the National Palace of Culture, #18 to Slaveykov square or #6 to Macedonia square.
The subway metro in Sofia has two lines - Red M1 and Blue M2. The Red line Lulin, Obelya goes through the city center to the southeast Tsarigradsko shose, where it will eventually connect to the airport. The Blue line goes through the city center as well connecting Nadezhda r.d. Lomsko shose, Central Train Station with city center ending at Lozentz r.d James Bourchier. Both lines meet at the Serdika station where one can transfer using a single ticket.