Budget · Sofia · Bulgaria
Sofia on a budget
What a trip to Sofia really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stolichanin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Sofia is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $40–$70 per person per day on a tight budget, $90–$160 mid-range and $220–$450 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $40–$70 a day
- Mid-range
- $90–$160 a day
- Luxury
- $220–$450 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 11
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $40–$70 | $120–$210 | $200–$350 | $280–$490 |
| Mid-range | $90–$160 | $270–$480 | $450–$800 | $630–$1,120 |
| Luxury | $220–$450 | $660–$1,350 | $1,100–$2,250 | $1,540–$3,150 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Sofia, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro or tram single fare | about €0.80–€1 |
| Espresso at a café | about €1–€2 |
| Banitsa with boza or ayran | about €1.50–€3 |
| Shopska salad | about €4–€7 |
| Half-litre of local beer | about €2–€3.50 |
| Dinner at a mehana | about €12–€25 per person |
Money-saving tips
- Most central churches, Roman Serdica and the parks are free.
- Weekday lunch menus are the best-value way to eat a full meal.
- Use the metro from the airport instead of a taxi; it is fast and very inexpensive.
- A combined ticket covers Boyana Church and the National Historical Museum.
- Bulgaria adopted the euro in 2026; check that prices and change are given in euros.
Free things to do
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral — Built between 1882 and 1912 in honour of Russian soldiers who died in the war that ended Ottoman rule in Bulgaria, this neo-Byzantine cathedral is topped with gold domes and filled with murals, onyx and marble.
- Rotunda of St George — Sofia's oldest standing building is a 4th-century Roman brick rotunda, hidden in a courtyard surrounded by the Presidency and a hotel.
- Ancient Serdica and the Largo — Excavations for the metro uncovered Roman Serdica's streets, baths and early churches, now displayed in an open-air complex around Serdika station.
- Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral springs — The 16th-century Banya Bashi Mosque, attributed to the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, takes its name from the hot springs beneath it.
- Central Market Hall — The Central Market Hall on Maria Luiza Boulevard opened in 1911 in a neo-Renaissance building with a clock tower.
- Russian Church of St Nicholas — A small church with five gold onion domes and green-tiled roofs, built in the early 20th century for Sofia's Russian community.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and families
Boyana and Dragalevtsi
Villa suburbs at the foot of Vitosha, with Boyana Church and trailheads
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Studentski Grad
The university campus district, with clubs, cheap eats and Muzeiko
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Central Station and Lions' Bridge
Budget base near the train and bus stations and Women's Market
Eating well for less
- Banitsa — Bakery windows and banitsa counters across the city, especially near metro stations in the morning.
- Lyutenitsa — Restaurants as a side; jars in every supermarket and at markets.
- Kyopolou — Mehanas and traditional restaurants.
- Bulgarian yogurt — Breakfast menus, supermarkets and market dairy stalls.
- Mekitsi — Breakfast cafés and small bakeries, often made to order.
Getting around for less
Day and multi-day travel cards
Cards valid on all metro, tram, bus and trolleybus lines for one or more days, sold at metro stations and ticket desks.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Sofia cost?
About $450–$800 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $200–$350 on a tight budget.
+Is Sofia expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Most central churches, Roman Serdica and the parks are free.
+How much money do I need per day in Sofia?
Roughly $40–$70 on a budget and $90–$160 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Sofia?
Usually in February.