Sofia Airport Transfer Guide: Real Prices & How to Avoid Getting Overcharged

What happens when you land at Sofia Airport

You've landed. It's late. The bags finally showed up. And the moment you walk through the exit, drivers approach you offering rides into the city.

This is where many visitors make their first, and most avoidable, mistake of the trip. Not because they are naive, but because they are tired and don't know what the ride should cost. So here is every option, what it costs and who it suits.

Your options from Sofia Airport to the city

Drivers offering rides outside the terminal: avoid

Drivers who approach you outside the terminal, or taxis that pull up without being booked, can ask any price they like. Travelers have told us they paid €50 to €70 for a 20-minute ride that costs about €10 to €15 in a licensed taxi. The airport itself advises against taking taxis offered outside the official taxi office.

Licensed Yellow taxi: the simplest option if you haven't booked

Yellow is the taxi company contracted by the airport, with offices in the arrivals hall of both terminals. Go to the office, take a taxi from the official rank, and the meter runs. A ride to central Sofia costs about €10 to €15, depending on the time of day and traffic.

Metro: the cheapest, from Terminal 2

Metro line M4 leaves from the eastern end of Terminal 2 and reaches the city center in about 20 minutes. A ride costs €0.80, and you can pay with a contactless bank card right at the entry gate, no ticket needed. It works well in the daytime, with one suitcase each and a hotel near a station.

Bus 84: stops at both terminals

Landed at Terminal 1, where there is no metro? Bus 84 stops at both terminals, runs roughly every 12 minutes and reaches the center in about 45 minutes on weekdays. A ride also costs €0.80, payable by contactless card at the validator on the bus. With kids and big suitcases, it is less comfortable.

Apps: not Bolt

Note that Bolt does not offer rides in Sofia. Its Sofia app has food delivery, scooters and bikes, but no taxis. To book a taxi from your phone, use TaxiMe, a Bulgarian app that dispatches licensed taxis.

Pre-booked private transfer: the no-stress option

This is what we at MakeYourTravel recommend for families, groups, late arrivals, or anyone who doesn't want surprises after a flight. On MakeYourTravel, a private transfer from Sofia Airport to the city center with a local driver we know personally starts at €30 per car (up to 4 passengers) or €60 per van (up to 8), not per person. The price is confirmed before you pay: 20% online and the rest in cash to the driver at the end of the ride. The driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign; give your flight number and terminal when you book. And if anything goes wrong, you have a WhatsApp line that answers.

Sofia Airport transfer prices: what you should actually pay

Prices as of September 2026 (Bulgaria switched to the euro on 1 January 2026):

Three things most visitors don't know about Sofia Airport

1. There are two terminals, and it matters

Most scheduled flights land at Terminal 2, and Wizz Air uses both terminals. The metro only leaves from Terminal 2. If you booked a transfer, make sure the driver knows which terminal you arrive at.

2. Renting a car at the airport? Check the deposit

Some rental companies block a large deposit on your credit card, sometimes thousands of euros. Travelers have told us about it more than once. If you are staying in Sofia and don't need a car, a private transfer is simpler. If you do rent, read our car rental guide for Bulgaria first.

3. Money: euros, and cards almost everywhere

Since January 2026 Bulgaria's currency is the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere in the city. If you need cash, use a bank ATM, and when a machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose euros.

What about transfers from Sofia to other cities?

Sofia Airport is also the starting point for Bansko, Borovets, Plovdiv and the Rila Monastery. On MakeYourTravel you'll find private transfers to all the popular destinations, run by local drivers we know personally, at a fixed price per vehicle confirmed in advance.

Frequently asked questions