Taxies & public means in Sofia

As in every other part of the world, in Sofia you can go from one place to another on foot or by using a vehicle. If you prefer the second way you can chose between several types of transport: bus, trolley, tram, underground (subway) or taxi. Buses, trolleys and trams are the most often used transport by the citizens because they are the cheapest. The price for one ordinary ticket /good for a single trip/ is 0,40 lv. If you use the public transport you may witness some paradoxes. Most of the buses have been overused. The rickety and ancient Hungarian Ikarus busses may astonish you; at the same time you will occasionally see a new Mercedes or Man. The same applies to the trams and trolleys. The insufficient financial resources for Sofia's public transport are the cause for its irregularity. The intervals of service are not marked on the stops. The only sure thing is that public transport runs daily from 5.00 a.m. till 11.30 p.m. As it was mentioned beforehand, the price for one ticket for bus, tram or trolley is 0,40 lv. Tickets are the same for all the types of ground transport. You have to perforate them inside the vehicle with the perforating machines /they are installed in the vehicles/. Besides the ordinary ticket there is another, which can be used for two lines within the limits of one hour. The passenger marks the beginning (hours and minutes) of his trip on the ticket. Its price is 0.70 lv. If in one day you will transfer more than four times it is better to buy a transit card for the day. The price of this card is 2.00 lv. It gives you the right to use limitlessly all the lines for this day. Tickets and cards are sold at kiosks and newsagents. Some of the drivers sell tickets too but it's better not to rely on this because there is no way to know which one of the drivers has tickets for sale at the moment. Very often salesmen don't know foreign languages so it's best for you to say "billett" /ticket/ or "karta" /card/. Tickets are inspected at random by officials and control is very thorough. Passengers without a ticket or a transit card pay a fine. Sofia's underground (subway) is in sharp contrast with the other types of public transport both because of its comfort and cleanness, as well as regularity. As it was recently opened only a short section functions with one line connecting the centre of the city with its western part /housing estate Lyulin/. The underground (subway) functions daily from 5.00 a.m. till midnight. The price for one ticket for a single trip is 0.40 lv too but the ticket itself differs from the ticket for the other types of public transport. There is a ticket for two trips within the limits of one hour if the passenger transfers the underground with ground transport or vice versa. Its price is 0.70 lv. There are transit cards especially for the underground. You can buy them at kiosks at the underground entrances.

Ordinary ticket used for bus, trolley and tram for one direction only without interruption.

Special ticket used for bus, trolley and tram for two directions /that is, for changing the vehicle once/ within the limits of sixty minutes. On the one side of the ticket are marked the minutes, on the other - the hour.

Ordinary ticket used for the underground (subway) for one direction only without interruption

Special ticket used for traveling with the underground (subway) and the bus /trolley or tram/ for two directions /that is, for changing the vehicle once/ within the limits of sixty minutes/. On the one side of the ticket are marked the minutes, on the other - the hour.

Transit card for one day for all lines.
The date is marked on it.

Not so long ago a special kind of taxi was launched in Sofia. Mini-buses covering one or other fixed itinerary differing from the itineraries of the ordinary public transport can be stopped at your convenience. Their itineraries are composed much more rationally than the ones of the public transport and this explains why people prefer to use them. These "itinerary taxis" can be discerned from a long distance, because on their roofs there are big billboards with the description of the itinerary and the itinerary's number. The number of the itineraries is about 40. The price of the trip with this type of taxis is fixed - 1 lv. It does not depend on the distance. Because of the specific financial stimulating of the drivers they welcome gladly everyone who wants to get in even if there is the smallest possibility to do so. These taxis are a very convenient way of moving in Sofia faster.

Taxicabs must be yellow. They are literally everywhere. Taxi service here is much cheaper than in many other places in the world. The starting charge is 0.40-0.50 lv and the rates per km vary from 0.40 to 0.60 lv. Every legal taxicab operates by meter with a fiscal memory. Taxi drivers are obliged to give every passenger a receipt with the covered kilometers and the exact cost of the service. On a prominent place in every cab there is a sign, which displays the rates for the service during the day and during the night. Taxi drivers often try to take advantage of foreigners as an easy source of illicit profits. That's why we advise you to follow some tested rules: Avoid taking taxis at places where many tourists usually gather, such as in front of the big hotels in the centre of the city. The drivers of the cabs parked there are usually specialized in "hunting" for foreigners and the rates they offer are much higher than the real ones. By law there are no special rates for foreigners. Make sure in advance that the cost of the service is the one written on the sign (for example 0.40 lv per km). If you think it's necessary ask the driver to confirm it. After getting in the cab pay attention whether the meter is turned on. If not, insist on it without delay. Demand to be given the receipt at the end of the trip. If you have doubts about the sum say so before paying. When possible order the taxi by phone.

Taxi receipts. Here are marked the covered distance /in kilometers/ and the price for 1 km