Alternative Ways to Get Around Sofia

We’ve already covered the more traditional ways of getting around Bulgaria’s capital with our Sofia Public Transport Guide and Guide to Sofia Metro. Today, we are looking at some of the more innovative, alternative, and eco-friendly ways to move around Sofia. This is especially important considering the city’s heavy traffic and air pollution issues.

Renting a scooter – Hobo

You might be familiar with this concept from other cities. Scooters have grown in popularity over the past decade. There are now a couple of companies offering rent-a-scooter services in Sofia. However, we are keen on the Bulgarian micro-mobility startup Hobo. With its user-friendly app and conveniently located scooters around the city, it’s the perfect way to get around the central part of the city and its neighboring areas. Needless to say, they are also quite fun and easy to use without requiring too much physical effort. You can also use them on the bike lanes. Parking zones for scooters are available in various locations in the city center.

A ride with Hobo will cost you 1.60 BGN / 0.80 EUR (unlock fee) + 0.20 BGN / 0.10 EUR per minute.

Renting an electric car – Spark

If you happen to prefer the comfort of driving a car, Sofia now has an alternative for you. Renting an electric car spares you a lot of the unpleasant situations and hustle you might end up experiencing if you have your own car in Sofia, such as the issue of always worrying about parking in the central areas (as that’s only allowed for a limited amount of time). All you need is a mobile phone and the Spark app. You can rent the Spark cars for a few minutes or for the whole day. The minimum rent time is 15 minutes. It is not only very convenient but also eco-friendly which is something extremely important.

It will cost you 4.35BGN (around 2.20 EUR). If you prefer to have a Spark car at your disposal for the whole day, that will cost you 50 BGN (around 25 EUR) or 55BGN on weekends. 

Photo by: https://spark.bg/

Rent a Bike

Of course, renting a bike has been around for much longer than the other to options. However, it’s a must in this “alternative” list. Even though the infrastructure for biking in Sofia is not the best, if you feel confident in your cycling skills, you can also consider this option. There are a couple of companies offering bikes for rent. If you happen to be situated in the center Sofia Bike is your best bet.

Uber in Sofia? 

We often get asked about Uber in Sofia. However, we have to disappoint you. Back in 2015 Uber and all Uber-like services were banned in Bulgaria. Until that’s the case you would have to resort to some of the other options.

Walking in Sofia

If you are visiting for just a few days to explore the city and are staying in the city center we would highly encourage you to walk. We believe Sofia is best experienced on foot and we would advise you to stick to it unless you have to go somewhere further away, of course. If you are wondering where to start, our daily free walking tours will help you get your bearings.

You might also want to check out:
Parking in Sofia
Getting Around Bulgaria
Taking a Taxi in Sofia – What should we know?