Parking around and in Sofia
Parking in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, could be really a hard task as it is in all major European capitals. On first place the cars and trucks on the road in Sofia are more than 500 000 according to the official statistic. Second, the streets in the center and in the neighborhoods haven’t been built in the way to have the capacity to accommodate so many vehicles. As a consequence, there isn’t enough space for everybody. For this reason the city council of Sofia has decided to implement 2 different paid zones in the center and around it. The one is called “The blue zone” and it is the hearth of the city center. The other is called “the green zone” and it is around the hearth of the city center in Sofia.
– Blue zone parking is payable Monday till Friday from 08:00 till 19:00, except on national holidays;
On Saturdays parking is payable from 08:00 till 14:00, except on national holidays, then it is free the whole Saturday; on Sundays parking is always for free; maximum stay is 2 hours
– Green zone parking is payable Monday till Friday from 08:00 till 19:00, except on national holidays;
Green zone parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays; maximum stay is 4 hours
There are two ways to pay for the parking in the blue and the green zones.
1) To send an SMS to number 1302 (for the Blue Zone) and to number 1303 (for the green zone) but you have to have a mobile number from a Bulgarian mobile operator. You have to send the SMS before you have got off your vehicle. After your payment has been processed you will receive an SMS confirmation and than you can exit your vehicle.
Examples:
– If your vehicle’s plate shows the following number SI2905DH and you have parked in the green zone, than you have to send an SMS to number 1303 with the following text: SI2905DH.
– If your vehicle’s plate shows the following number CB7000TT and you have parked in the blue zone, than you have to send an SMS to number 1302 with the following text: CB7000TT and use only Latin/English alphabet
The price for green zone parking is 1 Lev per hour (50 Cents)
The price for blue zone parking is 2 Leva per hour (1 Euro)
2) Another option is to buy a parking ticket and use it. There are 3 types of parking tickets:
– 0,50 leva ticket which gives you the right to park for 30mins in the green zone
– 1 lev ticket which gives you the right to park for 60 mins in the green zone or for 30 mins in the blue zone
– 2 leva ticket which gives you the right to park for 120 mins in the green zone or for 60 mins in the blue zone
You can buy parking ticket at each bus station ticket shop or metro station ticket office. All addresses of stations offices and metro station offices where you can buy a parking ticket you can find here:
https://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/punktove-za-prodazhba-na-prevozni/p/1
3) If you don’t like all this hectic you can simply pick up a paid parking in the center or around it and enjoy your foot walk;
On the following link you can find all paid parkings in Sofia. Pithily it is only in Bulgarian.
http://www.kartasofia.com/%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B8-cat85.html
– IF you are a tourist probably the best will be to park your car in “Mall of Sofia” on this address:
101 Al.Stamboliiski Blvd., Mall of Sofia
And continue by foot.
– Something else you can do is to park your car here:
27, Ivanitsa Danchev str
And explore the sightseeings of Sofia
– If you come from the airport probably your best bet is to park your car in the big parking of “The Mall” (42.6604001, 23.3813880) and take any of the busses 204, 604, 72, 213 from the bus stop which is right in front of
“The Mall” in direction City Center (The Busstop is called “Orlov Most” and is located right here (42.690550, 23.337369) From here you can start exploring the city on food, visiting the following most popular sightseeings:
1) Sofia University Kliment Ohridski
2) National Library Saint Kiril and Methody
3) Catedral Saint Alexander Nevski
4) Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria
5) Russian Church Saint Nikolay
6) National Theater Ivan Vazov, Sofia
7) Bulgarian National Bank
8) The House of The President
9) Cathedral Saint Nedelya
10) National Pallace of Culture
Here you can find a googlemaps map of your walking tour.
You can look at the tour map here as well:
You can learn more about the public transport in Sofia and in Bulgaria on this link. There I will explain everything you have to know about our trains, buses, shared community drives, facebook car pooling and the underground (tube) in Sofia.
If there is anything you would like to know about Sofia and you can not find it on this website, please let me know on in WhatsApp (+359 888 981 781) or per email georgi.nikolov@cars-help.com
I will be very glad to help and include every question asked in this website, so that everyone can learn.
02/03/2024 @ 7:07 pm
Hi, we are staying in center Sofia (Vitosha street) for one week. We need to take a van in airport to get into the center and to move around the country in one-day trips, is it possible to park around Vitosha street withouth paying? I can’t see properly the map but I think blue or green zone are almost over in the nearby. Thank you for your answer.
05/03/2024 @ 12:53 pm
Hi! No, it is possible to park in the center without paying expect on sundays.
02/12/2023 @ 7:20 pm
So…I found a post on the web which said you can move your car when the zone time has elapsed and park in the zone after 20 minutes. This is similar to other countries – park, then move and park again. The Sofia parking app resets after 20 minutes when the full zone time has expired.
If you dont want to move the car then you need to park in the paid parking lots, which are not easy to find except for google maps. They are not expensive.
02/11/2023 @ 11:08 pm
Για 24ωρες πάρκινγκ στο κέντρο τι κόστος έχει; Όχι στον Δρόμο. Σε αλάνα.
03/11/2023 @ 3:56 pm
Γειά σας, δυστυχώς αυτο το διάστημα δεν εχουμε διαθεσιμότητα στον χωρο μας. Ευχαριστούμε.
30/09/2023 @ 10:18 pm
Hello, we will be staying in Sofia from Friday to Monday.
I didn’t really understand what you said- can’t we pay for a daily parking? Do we need to renew the payment every 2 hours?
and when it is free- would we need to move our car every 2 hours?
Thank you!
02/10/2023 @ 8:27 pm
Hello! You have to find a paid parking or use parking of a mall. It is not possible that you leave your car whole day on the street. The parking time is limited to 2 hours in blue zone and 4 hours in green zone. There are millions of people who have money to pay for 1 year upfront, that’s is why parking time is limited.
14/02/2024 @ 12:59 am
Hello,
I will travel with my band (3 cars) for a concert we are playing in Sofia. We’ll be arriving on Friday around 16:00 and leaving on Sunday noon. Our accommodation is near Vitosha Blvd. but it is a pedestrian area so no parking very close. However, I found a paid parking lot called Parking Garage Gladstone Street. But on Google Maps it says it closes at 22:00. So we are playing late night at finish with all the show after midnight. That would mean we are stuck and there is no option to park so late after we finish our business. Very strange. Any advise? Regards, Alin (Romania).
18/02/2024 @ 11:03 am
Hello! I personally don’t know this parking garage. You’d better call there and ask them on the phone.
19/07/2023 @ 9:08 am
Where can I park a car in the center from about 18:00 until 09:00?
20/07/2023 @ 8:56 pm
Everywhere on the sides of the streets, where you find a free spot next to the other cars. You have to send an sms, because the paid zone is up to 19:30. And I think it starts at 8:30.
25/04/2023 @ 8:16 am
Hello there! What is the safest way to park near Arena Sofia? Is there a parking owned by the stadium facility itself? Thank you in advance. George
25/04/2023 @ 10:47 pm
Hello! As far as I know, the parking there works only when they have events -concerts, games, etc. It is not 24/7 hours open. You’d better go there personally and ask.
09/12/2022 @ 5:11 pm
Hello I can’t see any help for parking when your are disabled with Blue card on window.
Where can I park is it free or reduced cost if so where near sofia mall
Thanks
10/12/2022 @ 11:27 am
Hello! There are certain parking spots and parking signs, which allow parking only for disabled people. However, Parking on those spots is not free of charge.
15/12/2022 @ 9:31 am
Hi again, so I have a disabled blue badge from the UK.
I see blue parking signs with a wheelchair logo and been told I can park there for free for 4 hours correct
26/12/2022 @ 11:50 am
Hi! Parking is not for free. The disability sign give you the right to park there but it is not for free. You still have to send a sms or buy a ticket.
24/09/2022 @ 9:13 am
καλημερα! ερχομαστε για λιγε μερες στη Σοφια ! θα μεινουμε κοντα στη KONSTANTIN IRECKEK! Υπαρχει καποιο παρκινγκ ?
26/09/2022 @ 4:56 pm
Γεια σας δεν γνωρίζουμε κάποιον χωρο στάθμευσης θα βρείτε πολλές χρήσιμες πληροφορίες στο διαδίκτυο για την περιοχή που θα μείνετε.
01/06/2024 @ 8:12 pm
Hi! We are traveling to sofia by car and we’ll spend one entire month there. Is there any possibility for long-term parking? We’re staying close to the center, near the opalchenka street. Thanks a lot!
09/06/2024 @ 11:46 am
Hi! YOu have to google for a parking at the suburban area and catch a metro from there.
15/08/2021 @ 8:06 pm
Hi there we are moving to sofia to the hipodruma neighbourhood is it safe to park on the street or I should look for a paid parking space?
16/08/2021 @ 12:59 pm
Hi, Daniel! I don’t know this neighbourhood by hearth. Just go and look around. If you do not feel safety and your car is expensive, look for a paid private parking.