Sofia's airport is located ten kilometers (six miles) east of the city center. Aiport facilities include several 24 hour change offices (but change rates at the airport are really bad); an ATM located in the customs building some distance from the main entrance, as well as left-luggage facilities, bars, fast-food outlets and car hire from Avis and Hertz. No arrival or departure tax.
Exit: Visitors not staying in a hotel must register at the local police station within 48 hours, together with the id card of their host. Be advised not to stay more than what the permit allows you, otherwise you might face some unpleasant charges. Extensions and further info can be obtained at the passport directorate on 48, Maria Luisa Boulevard, Phone 982 33 16.
Entry: Foreign nationals may enter the country with a valid international passport and a visa where required. You need a passport. ID cards are not accepted.
You can spend with valid international passport... ...up to 90 days without a visa if you are a citizen from a European Union country or a citizens of Iceland, South Korea, Estonia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Hungary and Switzerland. ...up to 60 days without a visa if you are a citizen of Tunisia. ...up to 30 days without a visa if you are a citizen of Australia, Andorra, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Israel, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, USA, Serbia and Monte Negro, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Vatican.
For information about visa requirement for all other countries please contact the Bulgarian embassies and consulates in the respective country.
Currency that exceeds 10000 BGN must be declared when entering (or leaving) the country.
If you are staying or working long-term in Bulgaria, you may be entitled to a blue passport. Foreign nationals who have made an investment of over 250.000 US Dollar in accordance with the Bulgarian law are also entitled for permanent stay permission.
Identification should be carried on you at all times.
Airport Transfer
When arriving at the airport you have several options:
The public bus 84 runs between the airport and the Sofia university (Orlov Bridge), with several stops on the route. The bus operates from 5 am until midnight every 10 to 15 minutes, to the city centre (journey time - 20 minutes). Tickets cost 0.70 BGN and can be bought from the kiosk near the bus stop or directly from the driver. See `Travel in Sofia` for detailed info about public transport.
We suggest OK Supertrans Taxi. When you take the right exit from the arrival hall you will find the taxis. For a ride to Sofia`s first district you will pay below 10 BGN with OK Supertrans. If you cannot find a OK Supertrans taxi you will find their office in the right corner of the arrivals hall at the airport and you can order one there. Change just a small amount of money for the taxi at the airport since the rates there are about 15-20% below the change rates that you can get downtown. Do not take another taxi company. Some of the drivers at the airport overcharge. See `Travel in Sofia` for more info about taxis.
There are no mini busses, trains, subways etc at the airport.
Trains
If you want to check the train schedules, we recommend the extensive online database at http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en. You will find all schedules there. Just type in the cities and press 'Search Connections'. Trains to abroad and destinations inside Bulgaria depart from the Central Railway Station (called Tzentralna Gara at 112 Maria Louiza Boulevard; 20 minutes walk from the city centre). Facilities include left luggage, money exchange offices, ATM, bars and fast-food. Tickets for lines covering the northern half of Bulgaria are sold on the ground floor of the station and all others are sold in the basement. Students should be able to get a discount of 40% on tickets. Train schedule information: Phone 931 11 11.
Trams 1 and 7 run from the station forecourt to Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya in the city centre. Taxis are also available.
There is also a railway office in the National Palace of Culture (NDK) underpass. Info about international trains call 65 71 85, inside the country call 65 84 02.
From Sofia there are six main routes: to Varna or Burgas on the Black Sea coast, to Plovdiv and beyond on the Turkish border, to Kalotina on the Yugoslavian border, to Kulata on the Greek border and to Ruse on the Romanian border. There are also daily services to Belgrade (8 hours), Bucharest (11 hours), Budapest (16 hours), Istanbul (15 hours), Kiev (38 hours), Moscow (45 hours), St Petersburg (65 hours) and Thessaloniki (10 hours).
Busses
International: There is no central coach station in Sofia. International coach services terminate at one of three places. Most go to the bus station, in front of the Tsentralna Gara train station, 112 Maria Louiza Boulevard, on Ploshtad Predgarov, just behind the Hotel Princess, 131 Maria Louiza Boulevard. Some companies use the bus station at 38 Damian Gruev Ulica (a ten-minute walk west of the city centre), or the one at 84 Knyaginya Maria Louiza Boulevard (a ten-minute walk north of the city centre). Eurolines (www.eurolines.com) runs international coaches, connecting Sofia to cities throughout Europe. These terminate in front of the train station. Find a timetable of international bus-lines at https://secure.maverick2000.net.
Domestic: Sofia has several bus stations for routes inside the country. Long distance and local bus services reach all Bulgaria's main cities, such as Bougas, Varna, Plovdiv, Haskovo, Blagoevgrad, Pernek, Montana and Pleven, as well as 90% of its towns and villages. Most domestic coach services, run by private companies, terminate at the brand new Central Bus Station close to the train station (phone 090021000) or at one of three other bus stations, some way out of the city centre. These are the Avtogara Poduyane terminal, Todorini Kukli Ulica (for buses to the north and northeast, phone 8474262), Ovcha Kupel terminal, Tsar Boris III Boulevard (buses southwest, phone 722345), and the Yug terminal, Dragan Tsankov Boulevard (buses southeast, phone 9555362). The bus company Etappe (phonr 981 4213) has a ticket office in the National Palace of Culture (NDK), 1 Ploshtad Bulgaria, Yuzhen Park.
Ships
No ships to Sofia. The Black Sea ports of Bourgas and Varna offer routes to Ukraine, Russia and the countries of the Mediterranean basin, and through the Danube a direct link with Central and Western Europe is provided. Varna ferry: 052 683224; 052 683301. Rousse is the largest Bulgarian port on the River Danube.
Cars
Speed Limits for....
Cars inside the city 50 outside 90 highways 120
Trucks, buses inside the city 50 outside 80 highways 100
Motorcycles inside the city 50 outside 80 highways 100
Keep right.
You can use your national license. It is useful to have an international license. A motor insurance certificate is obligatory.
Road signs follow international standards.
Fastened seat belts are obligatory.
Mobile phones can only be used with hands-free sets.
Fines for speeding is between 50 and 100 leva.
Alcohol legal limit is 0.5 pro mil.
In the event of an accident the traffic police KAT should be called at 165 and a report filed
In the event of a breakdown there is a 24-hour Road Assistance service, call 146 or 048 146
No highway fees now, but there are plans to introduce them.
Signs for locations are in both Cyrillic and Latin script - on minor roads they may be in Cyrillic only. But road signs are international.
The main car parking areas in the centre are
Makedonia Square.
TsUM, (Maria Luiza Boulevard).
Corner of Evlogi Georgiev Boulevard and Gurko Street, (opposite Levski Stadium).
Corner of Evlogii Georgiev Boulevard and Yanko Sakazov Boulevard.
Corner of Fritjof Nansen and Bulgaria Boulevard (Palace of Culture NDK, underground car park. Entrance Post Bank on Vitosha Boulevard.
You can also park for up to 2 hours in the city centre, in the designated blue zones: opposite the Parliament, by the National Art Gallery, off Rakovski Street near the Cathedral. The fee for up to one hour parking is 0.80 leva. Vouchers are usually sold by attendants in these locations and they will help you fill them out. Some car parks are privately run and prices vary.
If you park in restricted zones the Sofia City Council uses yellow wheel clamps or they tow your car away, usually to the car park near the Hilton Hotel or the one next to the Central Railway Station.
Left Luggage in the basement. Opening hours(daily 5.30 am-midnight. Phone 02/ 989 05 38.
Most railway stations have a left-luggage office (called garderob). In the large ones you may need to fill a form.
Country Facts
Travel to Bulgaria
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