BGN 15–25 gets you from SOF to central Sofia in 15–30 minutes
Taxis at Sofia Airport run 24/7 from the official ranks outside T1 and T2, and they’re the default for late arrivals, business trips, groups, or heavy bags. Rides to central Sofia usually land in the BGN 15–25 range by meter, depending on traffic and time of day. You get dropped right at your hotel or apartment door, with no ticket machines, no transfers, and no hauling luggage on stairs.
Both terminals have a clearly signed taxi rank and, at times, an official taxi desk by arrivals; use these rather than anyone approaching you inside. The concession company can change, but licensed airport taxis are metered and regulated, with the fare per km printed on the car. A typical city-centre run takes about 15 minutes late at night and closer to 30 minutes in rush hour.
Most drivers now accept card, and you’ll often see POS terminals in the front seat, but several travellers report the “machine is broken” line, so keep at least 20–30 leva in cash. A recent visitor reported paying about 15 leva to the centre from T2, calling it far easier than working out buses after a long-haul flight. Tipping is low-key: rounding up a BGN 18 fare to 20 is fine.
Watch out for anyone in the arrivals hall offering a ride or trying to sell you a fixed-price trip; locals on r/sofia call these out immediately. Some drivers try to avoid the meter or take the long way around the ring road, especially with tourists. Older cars and smoky interiors also show up in TripAdvisor complaints, and a few taxis still lack rear seatbelts, so check before you commit if that matters to you.
Regulars keep it simple: walk straight to the marked rank at T1 or T2, look for a car with company branding and the tariff sticker on the rear window, then confirm “na taksometr” (on the meter) before the driver pulls away. If the driver pushes a fixed price over BGN 30 to the centre, step out and take the next cab in line.
Step-by-step: taking a taxi from Sofia Airport
- 1. Land at T1 or T2 and clear immigration, baggage claim, and customs (usually 15–30 minutes, depending on queues).
- 2. Follow the yellow “Taxi” signs to the official taxi desk or directly to the signed taxi rank just outside arrivals.
- 3. Ignore any individuals in the hall offering rides; they’re not part of the official system.
- 4. At the rank, pick a car with a visible company name, phone number, and fare per km sticker on the doors or windows.
- 5. Tell the driver your address, confirm they will use the meter, and check the starting tariff on the display before the car moves.
- 6. Ask in advance if card is accepted; if in doubt, have at least BGN 25 in cash ready for a city-centre ride.
- 7. On arrival, pay the metered amount, round up a lev or two if you like, and only then step out and collect your bags.
One last tip: screenshot your hotel’s address in Bulgarian Cyrillic before landing; showing it on your phone cuts down on confusion at midnight outside T2.