First Time in Sofia

Sofia Airport connects straight into the city's metro system: there's a station right next to Terminal 2, with direct pedestrian access from the terminal itself. Beyond the metro, official visitor sources also point to bus route 84 and officially arranged taxis as ways into the centre.

None of that makes one option automatically right for everyone. Someone travelling light and landing at a convenient hour might happily take the metro, while a late arrival with heavy luggage, young children, or a need for reduced-mobility assistance will likely weigh things differently. Sofia Airport does offer a dedicated channel for requesting assistance if you need it.

The real question isn't simply metro or taxi: it's which of simplicity, cost, luggage handling, accessibility, or peace of mind matters most for your specific arrival.

For the full breakdown of routes, prices, and timing, head to Sofia Airport to City Centre.

Bulgaria's currency is the euro, following the country's accession to the euro area on 1 January 2026, and Sofia's official tourism information confirms euro as the currency visitors will use. If you come across older guidance quoting the Bulgarian lev, treat it as historical: that's no longer the everyday currency here.

Knowing the currency is one thing; how you'll actually pay is another. Card acceptance, ATM habits, how much cash to carry, and tipping norms all vary enough that they're worth checking closer to your trip or in a dedicated guide, rather than assuming.

If you're travelling from another EU country, the bloc's roam-like-at-home rules generally let you use calls, texts, and data in Bulgaria without extra roaming charges, within your own plan's fair-use limits. That's a helpful baseline, not a guarantee for every plan, so it's worth checking your own provider's terms before you land.

Bulgarian is the official language, written in Cyrillic, which is worth knowing before you land, since street signs and menus will often follow that script. On safety, the sensible approach is the same as most European capitals: check official advice and stay generally aware, rather than treating Sofia as unusually risky. A few more basics worth filing away: 112 is the nationwide emergency number, electricity runs at 220 volts AC through European-style two-round-pin sockets, and Sofia keeps Eastern European Time (GMT+2) year-round, with no regional time differences across the country.

Some of what's useful to know about Sofia stays true for years. Other details change often enough that they're worth confirming right before you travel, and it's worth being upfront about which is which.

Boyana Church, for example, limits visitor numbers and visit duration, which can affect how you plan around it. Museums and attractions across Sofia can also change their opening hours temporarily, so the safest habit is to check official opening hours and admission rules for anywhere specific shortly before you go.

That's not a reason to book everything months ahead, though. The realistic advice is narrower: check ahead for attractions with real capacity limits or timed activities, and skip the blanket booking panic for everything else.

Accessibility deserves the same care, and it's worth planning for early. What's confirmed for now is limited to airport assistance; accessibility across the rest of the city needs a closer, dedicated look before you can rely on it.