Bulgaria flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide

Public transit, airports, and getting around in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, with a population of 6.9 million, features a developing transportation landscape at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, driving on the right. Key strengths include 230 airports (9 major), an extensive 19,000+ km road network, and 4,000+ km railways along trans-European corridors. Challenges involve uneven regional coverage, ongoing motorway construction, and limited intermodality. Residents and visitors rely on buses and trains for mobility, with investments in Sofia metro and rail modernization enhancing connectivity.
Public Transport
Below Average
Road Infrastructure
Moderate
Public Transport
4.2/10

Basic public transport with good bus networks in cities like Sofia and Varna, but limited metro (only Sofia with new Line 3 by 2026). Regional trains operate at 80-100 km/h, lacking high-speed; rural coverage gaps and poor integration persist.

Road Infrastructure
5.1/10

19,276 km road network with 812+ km motorways (e.g., Sofia-Burgas 360 km), but incomplete connections to borders. Ongoing projects like Struma Motorway (80% complete by 2025); urban roads adequate, rural maintenance issues and uneven distribution noted.

Internet Speed
6.8/10

Average fixed broadband speeds around 150-200 Mbps in 2025, with fiber expanding in urban areas like Sofia. Mobile speeds competitive at 100+ Mbps; rural-urban gap exists but investments closing divide.

Avg: 175+ Mbps • Fiber covers major cities (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna ~70%), expanding to suburbs; rural limited to cable/DSL

Airport Connectivity
5.8/10

230 airports including 9 major; Sofia (SOF) primary international hub with growing passenger traffic (millions annually). Good European links, seasonal Black Sea routes; domestic coverage moderate, no global mega-hub status.

Hubs: Sofia (SOF), Varna (VAR), Burgas (BOJ), Plovdiv (PDV)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
€25/month (Sofia)
Bus Trip
€1 single ride (Sofia/Varna)
Taxi
€0.70 start + €0.50/km
High-speed Train
€10-25 Sofia-Plovdiv (no true high-speed)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: Major cities (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas) covered by Vivacom, A1, TeleGroup; nationwide expansion 2024-2026
4G Coverage: 98% population coverage, strong nationwide from all operators including rural areas

Reliable networks with good speeds (4G 50-100 Mbps, 5G 300+ Mbps urban); minimal outages, supports mobility apps effectively.

Driving License

EU licenses validConversion needed

EU/EEA licenses valid indefinitely. Non-EU valid 90 days (tourists) or 1 year (residents), then exchange required without test for many countries. IDP recommended for non-Latin alphabet licenses.