How to take the metro from Sofia Airport to the centre

Metro line M4 runs directly from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 to central Sofia. Terminal 1 has no metro station, so arrivals there must first use the airport’s free inter-terminal shuttle.

A single ride costs €0.80. For the historic centre, stay on the direct train to Serdika; no change is needed.

The route in five steps

1. From Terminal 2: follow the metro signs to Sofia Airport station, at the eastern end of the terminal building.
2. From Terminal 1: take the free shuttle outside the terminal to Terminal 2, then walk to the metro.
3. At the entrance gate, tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch, or use a ticket bought at the station.
4. Board M4. Sofia Airport is the end of the line, so there is no direction choice when leaving the airport.
5. For the historic centre, get off at Serdika.

The airport operator gives an approximate journey time of 20 minutes to the city centre. Add time for the train wait and the walk from your arrival station. The operator’s airport transport guide confirms the route, fare and terminal arrangements; Metropolitan Sofia publishes the official network map.

Terminal 1 versus Terminal 2

The metro station serves Terminal 2 only. It is immediately beside the terminal rather than a separate bus ride away.

From Terminal 1, use the airport’s free shuttle. It operates around the clock and runs directly between the terminals, with signposted stops outside both buildings. The published frequency varies by period:

• every 20 minutes during the busiest periods;
• every 30 minutes during some daytime periods;
• every 40 minutes overnight and later in the evening.

Consult the exact departure list in the airport’s inter-terminal shuttle timetable, especially early or late in the day. The wait can take longer than the shuttle ride itself.

For a departing flight, confirm your terminal with the airline. If the flight leaves from Terminal 1, take M4 to Sofia Airport at Terminal 2 and leave enough time for the shuttle connection.

Tickets and contactless payment

For an occasional journey, the simplest option is to tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch at the metro entrance gate. Wait for payment confirmation before walking through. Registration and advance purchase are not required.

These are the main visitor-relevant products listed by Sofia’s official Urban Mobility Centre ticket portal:

Product	Price	Useful for
30+ ticket	€0.80	One airport ride or transfers started within 30 minutes
60+ ticket	€1.10	A journey needing a longer transfer window
Daily pass	€2.00	Several daytime journeys that day
24-hour pass	€3.00	A rolling 24 hours, including night transport
72-hour pass	€7.60	Repeated travel over 72 hours, including night transport

With pay-as-you-go contactless payment, the system calculates the best daytime fare at the end of the day without exceeding the daily-pass price. Tap on every journey, even after reaching the cap.

Use exactly the same payment method each time. A physical bank card and that card’s tokenised version in a phone wallet are recognised as separate cards, so their journeys are calculated independently. The Urban Mobility Centre explains this in its pay-as-you-go instructions.

Alternatively, buy a ticket or pass at the airport metro station ticket office. The airport also lists metro ticket machines, including one that accepts credit cards. Check the payment methods displayed on the machine before purchasing.

The airport states that a passenger with a valid transport document may carry up to two pieces of hand luggage free. Additional pieces require a separate transport document; see the airport’s ticket and baggage guidance.

Which central station should you use?

“City centre” is not a single stop. Choose according to where you are staying.

Serdika: historic centre and northern Vitosha Boulevard

Serdika is the useful default for the Largo, the Roman Serdica remains, St Nedelya Church and the northern end of pedestrian Vitosha Boulevard. Stay on M4 from the airport with no change.

Serdika is also the interchange between M4 and M2.

SU St Kliment Ohridski: eastern centre

Use SU St Kliment Ohridski for Sofia University, the National Assembly area, Borisova Gradina and the eastern side of the centre. If your accommodation is east of the historic core, this can avoid travelling on to Serdika and walking back.

Central railway and bus stations

Change from M4 to M2 at Serdika, then get off at Central Railway Station. The Central Bus Station is in the same transport area. This connection is set out in the airport’s public-transport directions and the metro guide’s station connections.

NDK and southern Vitosha Boulevard

Change from M4 to M2 at Serdika and continue to NDK for the National Palace of Culture and the southern end of the main pedestrian section of Vitosha Boulevard.

Returning to the airport

M1 and M4 share tracks through central Sofia. Do not board an M1 train for Business Park simply because it arrives at the expected platform. Check the display and take M4 marked Sofia Airport.

Service on the airport branch is less frequent than on the shared central section. The summer 2026 schedule lists airport-branch intervals of roughly 7–14 minutes on weekdays and 12–15 minutes on the holiday timetable, depending on the time of day. Schedules are seasonal, so consult Metropolitan Sofia’s current operating timetable before an early or late journey.

As checked on 30 October 2026, the published airport-bound departures from Serdika are:

Timetable	First train	Last train
Weekday	05:08	23:23
Holiday	05:10	23:32

These are departure times from Serdika, not arrival times at the airport, and they belong to the current seasonal timetable rather than permanent operating hours.

If the metro has finished, night bus N4 serves both airport terminals. The airport describes an hourly service between midnight and 04:00. A €1 night pass covers all night-bus routes for the relevant date, while valid 24- and 72-hour passes already include night transport. Check the airport transport page and the linked live timetable before relying on a late connection.