How to Get Around Bulgaria

Getting Around

Sofia's metro, four lines and 50 stations since 1998, reaches the airport and costs 80 cents a ride from 1 January 2026; a Ticket 30 plus at the same price allows transfers to trams and buses within 30 minutes, a Ticket 60 plus at 1.10 euros within an hour, and a day card costs 2 euros, a 24-hour card with night transport 3 euros and a 72-hour card 7.60 euros. Bank cards are accepted at the validators and the metro barriers, and a ticket must be validated in every vehicle. Bicycles ride free in the last carriage outside weekday peaks and small pets free in a carrier. The state railway, BDZ, established in 1888, prices its fares dynamically by journey length, day and time, and sells online or at the ticket office; the narrow-gauge line from Septemvri to Dobrinishte serves Bansko.

Driving is where the advisories concentrate. A vignette is required to use motorways and main roads outside towns -- sold electronically at border points, ports, post offices and large petrol stations, with fines for driving without one. Headlights must be on at all times, winter tyres are mandatory in the winter months, seatbelts and a fire extinguisher are required, the blood-alcohol limit is 0.05 per cent with on-the-spot licence confiscation, and penalties for drink- or drug-driving can include the vehicle. Road quality varies greatly, drivers are aggressive, potholes and animals appear on rural roads. Taxis: licensed and metered only, tariff checked on the window, and at Sofia Airport the taxi booth in arrivals for a fair rate; avoid the ones parked outside hotels.

Verified against Metropolitan Sofia (Sofia Metro), September 2026.

Entry

Bulgaria follows Schengen rules and has been in the Schengen area since 1 January 2025: a passport issued within the last ten years and valid three months beyond departure from Schengen; 90 days in any 180 without a visa for eligible passports, counted from entry into Schengen, as the Foreign Ministry's own page puts it; and the EU's Entry/Exit System, which registers fingerprints and a photo at no cost, replaces the passport stamp and adds time at the border. Meat and milk products cannot be brought in from outside the EU.

Sofia public transport (from 1 January 2026)

Metro single 0.80 €; Ticket 30 plus 0.80 € (transfers within 30 minutes, metro and ground vehicles, validated in each); Ticket 60 plus 1.10 €; day card 2 €; 24-hour card including night transport 3 €; 72-hour card 7.60 €. Loaded on a Sofia City Card or Ultralight card, or paid by bank card at the validator or barrier. Two carry-on items free; bicycles free in the last carriage before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. on weekdays, all day at weekends; small pets free in a carrier.

Rail

BDZ fares are dynamic by journey length, day and time; buy online or at the ticket office.

Roads

Vignette required outside towns (electronic; border points, ports, post offices, large petrol stations). Headlights on at all times. Winter tyres mandatory in winter months. Seatbelts for all; fire extinguisher carried. Blood alcohol 0.05 per cent; licence confiscated on the spot on suspicion. Canadian licence valid 90 days, then an International Driving Permit. Licensed metered taxis only; airport taxi booth.

Rila Monastery

Museums open every day 8:30–16:30, and 8:30–19:30 from 1 June to 30 September; combined ticket 12 €, Church History Museum 5 €, Hrelyo Tower 3 €, students under 18 2 €; tickets sold only inside. No shorts, short skirts or vests; no photography in the church or museum; no smoking, noise or pets; backpacks and prams left outside the church; men bareheaded.

Emergencies

112 for all services. Canada's embassy is in Bucharest with an honorary consul in Sofia.

Verified against Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, September 2026.

← Back to Bulgaria overview

Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Metropolitan Sofia (Sofia Metro) — Sofia public transport from 1 January 2026: metro single ticket 0.80 €; Ticket 30 plus 0.80 € and Ticket 60 plus 1.10 € with transfers between metro and ground vehicles, validated in each vehicle; one-day card 2 €; 24-hour card including night transport 3 €; 72-hour card 7.60 €; bank cards accepted at validators and metro barriers, On the Sofia Metro a valid pass allows two carry-on items free, a bicycle free in the last carriage on weekdays before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. and all day at weekends, and small pets free in a carrier, Sofia public transport from 1 January 2026: metro single ticket 0.80 €; Ticket 30 plus 0.80 € and Ticket 60 plus 1.10 € with transfers between metro and ground vehicles, validated in each vehicle; one-day card 2 €; 24-hour card including night transport 3 €; 72-hour card 7.60 €; bank cards accepted at validators and metro barriers, On the Sofia Metro a valid pass allows two carry-on items free, a bicycle free in the last carriage on weekdays before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. and all day at weekends, and small pets free in a carrier (September 2026).
Checked against BDZ Passengers (Bulgarian State Railways) — BDZ rail fares are dynamic, depending on journey length and the day and time; tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office, BDZ rail fares are dynamic, depending on journey length and the day and time; tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office (September 2026).
Checked against Global Affairs Canada — A vignette is required on Bulgarian roads, sold at ports, border points, post offices and large petrol stations; headlights on at all times; winter tyres mandatory in the winter months; seatbelts for all; a fire extinguisher must be carried; a Canadian licence is valid 90 days, then an International Driving Permit; blood alcohol limit 0.05% with on-the-spot licence confiscation, Use only licensed metered taxis, check the tariff on the window, and at Sofia Airport use the taxi booth in arrivals for a fair rate; roads vary, with aggressive drivers, potholes and poor lighting, A vignette is required on Bulgarian roads, sold at ports, border points, post offices and large petrol stations; headlights on at all times; winter tyres mandatory in the winter months; seatbelts for all; a fire extinguisher must be carried; a Canadian licence is valid 90 days, then an International Driving Permit; blood alcohol limit 0.05% with on-the-spot licence confiscation, Use only licensed metered taxis, check the tariff on the window, and at Sofia Airport use the taxi booth in arrivals for a fair rate; roads vary, with aggressive drivers, potholes and poor lighting, Emergency services on 112; Canada has an honorary consul in Sofia and its embassy in Bucharest; Bulgaria is in an active seismic zone, prone to flooding after heavy rain and to wildfires in summer and early autumn (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Drive with dipped headlights even by day; on-the-spot fines; strict drink- and drug-driving penalties up to vehicle confiscation and prison; a digital vignette is needed for motorways and main roads outside towns; avoid taxis parked outside hotels, flag one with a green available light and check the licence; do not photograph military sites, Bulgaria follows Schengen rules: passport issued within ten years and valid three months beyond departure from Schengen; 90 days visa-free in any 180; the EU Entry/Exit System registers biometrics at no cost and replaces passport stamps; meat and milk products cannot be brought in, Drive with dipped headlights even by day; on-the-spot fines; strict drink- and drug-driving penalties up to vehicle confiscation and prison; a digital vignette is needed for motorways and main roads outside towns; avoid taxis parked outside hotels, flag one with a green available light and check the licence; do not photograph military sites (September 2026).
Checked against Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria — Bulgaria applies the Schengen short-stay rule of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, counted from entry into the Schengen area (September 2026).
Checked against Rila Monastery — Rila Monastery museums open every day 8:30–16:30, and 8:30–19:30 from 1 June to 30 September; a combined ticket for all exhibits costs 12 €, sold only inside the monastery, Rila Monastery forbids smoking, short skirts, shorts, vests and other skimpy dress, photography and video in the church and museum, going upstairs in the residential wings, noise and pets; inside the church silence, men bareheaded, no backpacks or prams (September 2026).