TAXI IN BULGARIA – USEFUL INFORMATION FOR TAXI CAB
IN SOFIA
The city of Sofia has a good developed public transport system that includes two underground lines, trams, buses and trolleybuses, but if you prefer taxi transportation, this information will be useful to you.
There are many taxi companies in Sofia, and taxi cars are about 6000. They are easily recognizable – yellow or green, marked with “ТАКСИ” or “TAXI”, with a two-line band with chess-mounted white and black squares and often advertising stickers on the doors. The tariff of the taxi servises is whriting on the windows.
Taking a taxi car is relatively easy. You have several opportunities to do this from designated places, via telephones, websites and mobile applications of the taxi company, mobile applications of transport service providers (Taxi Network Company- TNC) or free from the street.
If your visit to Sofia starts at Sofia Airport, Sofia Central Bus Station or Central Railway Station, you have to pay attention to the people who will meet you directly in the salons and will present transport services. If you accept their suggestions, you may be deceived.
Sometimes you can get a suggestion from a driver, a company, a website or other one that offers transportation by car (not taxi) in terms of transfer or shared travel. In Bulgaria these modes of transport are not regulated and the duties of this type of people and your rights are not legally established.
Airport Sofia has signed a contract for the provision of taxi transport with licensed company. Contact an airport employee for information on the location of the company’s taxi cars.
THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO YOUR CHOICE !!! You can get a taxi by phone, website or mobile application. Keep in mind that vehicles hired in these ways have limited waiting time due to airport organization and security measures. Please specify the amount of luggage you want to transport with the car! This is important for the company to choose the right car for you.
Central Bus Station – Sofia has a contract for the provision of taxi transport with a licensed company. Contact with employee for information on the location of the company’s taxi cars.
THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO YOUR CHOICE !!! You can get a taxi by phone, website or mobile application. Keep in mind that vehicles hired in these ways have limited waiting time due to the organization and protection measures of the bus station. Please specify the amount of luggage you want to transport with the car! This is important for the company to choose the right car for you.
The Central Railway Station does not have a contract for the provision of a taxi transport with a licensed company. Renting a taxi car is done by the designated locations for the purpose or by request by phone, website or mobile application. Please specify the amount of luggage you want to transport with the car! This is important for the company to choose the right car for you.
Renting a taxi car via a mobile application of a transport service provider (TNC) also does not guarantee your safety during the trip due to the low control and the low of responsibilities on the part of the operator for the provided service. Please get acquainted with the General terms of the operators before you take a taxi.
If you prefer to travel by taxi in the city, we recommend that you use help from the reception of your hotel. Typically, hotels operate with licensed companies and taxi drivers.
IMPORTANT:
• In Bulgaria the price for taxi transport is regulated. For Sofia the tariff for a kilometer taxi transportation should not exceed BGN 1.30 at day and BGN 1.60 at night. It does not include call charges, initial tax and stay (which are also regulated).
• In Sofia the average speed of a taxi drive is 16-20 km/h.
• The official currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian lev. The exchange rate to the euro is approximately 2:1.
• Number 112 is the universal ambulance, police, and fire phone number.
• Do not trust people who represent to you a fixed price for transport between two destinations. That isn`t legal!
Although taxi control in Sofia has increased in recent years, there are companies, which imitate established company`s marks with aim to take a clients but they have a higher prices. Most of them are visibly similar to the cars of ordinary companies.
As we mentiont above, the tariff of the taxi servises is whriting on the windows. When you take a taxi you accepeted them!