Sofia International — Metro Line 4 (M4)
Sofia International (SOF) to Sofia — Updated 2026
Sofia International (SOF) has one of Europe's cheapest airport metro connections — Line M4 opened in 2015 with a station directly under Terminal 2. Fare is BGN 1.60 (~USD 0.90) per journey via contactless card at the platform gate. Metro runs every 5-7 minutes from 05:30 to 24:00 and takes 18 minutes to Serdika (central Sofia + interchange with M1 + M2), 22 minutes to Vasil Levski Stadium (M1), and 30 minutes to Business Park Sofia (M4 terminus). Terminal 1 (older, smaller) is not directly on the metro — take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 (10 min) then metro. For travellers on tight budgets, Bus 84 (BGN 1.60) runs to Orlov Most in central Sofia every 10-15 minutes but takes 30-40 minutes. The airport taxi rank has a bad reputation — INTERPRET their "meter" carefully; use OK Taxi (yellow, trusted) at BGN 12-18 flat to city; avoid unmarked drivers. Bolt (app-based, dominant in Bulgaria) is BGN 10-14 and safer than street taxis.
Metro Line 4 (M4) stops
| Station / Stop | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SOF Terminal 2 | 0 min | Metro station directly under T2 |
| Iskarsko Shose | ~3 min | Business district |
| Aleksandar Malinov | ~6 min | Mladost neighborhood |
| Musagenitsa | ~9 min | Residential + shopping |
| G. M. Dimitrov | ~13 min | M1 interchange |
| Serdika | 18 min | City centre + M1/M2 interchange |
| Vasil Levski Stadium | ~22 min | Sofia University area |
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Metro Line 4 (M4) vs alternatives
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line M4 | BGN 1.60 | 18 min | Best value + fastest to centre. |
| Bus 84 | BGN 1.60 | 30-40 min | Alternative if metro is disrupted. |
| Bus 384 | BGN 1.60 | 35-45 min | Slower route via M-station transfers. |
| Bolt (app) | BGN 10-14 | 15-25 min | App-based, safest street ride option. |
| OK Taxi (yellow) | BGN 12-18 | 15-25 min | Trusted metered taxi. |
| Unmarked "taxi" | BGN 25-50 | 15-25 min | AVOID — overcharged. |
FAQ
How much is Sofia metro from the airport?+
BGN 1.60 (~USD 0.90) per journey — one of Europe's cheapest airport metros. Pay with contactless bank card at the gate (no need for a local card). Journey to Serdika (city centre) is 18 minutes; onward transfers to M1 or M2 are included in the same fare within 60 minutes.
Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 for the metro?+
Only Terminal 2 has direct metro access — the station is under T2. Terminal 1 requires a 10-minute free shuttle bus to T2 first. All Wizz Air, Ryanair, and Bulgaria Air flights use T2 as of 2026. T1 mostly handles older, smaller carriers.
Is Bolt safer than airport taxi in Sofia?+
Yes — significantly. Sofia airport has a well-documented "taxi mafia" problem where unmarked drivers offer "cheap ride" at 3-5× the metered fare. Bolt (dominant ride-hail in Bulgaria) charges BGN 10-14 airport-to-centre with GPS-tracked fares, driver photos, and card payment in-app. OK Taxi (yellow) at the official rank is also safe. Avoid unmarked drivers entirely.
Late-night Sofia airport transport?+
Metro M4 stops running at midnight. Bus 84 runs 24/7 with reduced night frequency (every 30-40 min after 23:00). Bolt operates 24/7. For late-night arrivals: Bolt (most reliable) or the official OK Taxi rank (always staffed). Avoid the metro shuttle bus 384 late at night — routing changes.
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