How to get to Vitosha mountain

Vitosha is a mountain massif and a ski resort (though a bit underdeveloped). It offers plenty of hiking options and panoramic views of Sofia. Sofia is one of the very few European capitals with such a big mountain so close to the city center. The city also happens to be one of the highest capitals in Europe. Andorra la Vella is at the top, followed by Vaduz in Liechtenstein and arguably Madrid. So the question inevitably arises – ‘How do we get to Vitosha mountain?’ Here are some options:

Walking and Hiking in Vitosha

This is actually how organized tourism in Sofia started. In 1895, the famous Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov managed to convince around 300 people to leave the city’s ‘dusty streets’ and ‘stuffy cafes’ and take a refreshing walk from the city center to the top of the mountain — Cherni Vrah (Black Peak), at 2290 m above sea level. In front of the National Theatre, a stone marks the starting point of this interesting journey.

How to get to Vitosha?

If you prefer to start in the foothills of the mountain or go straight to the top, here are some ideas:

BY BUS + HIKING

This activity is incredibly popular and an excellent choice for a one-day outing. Most locals prefer to do it on a sunny weekend. However, if you want to avoid the crowds and have a more pleasant and relaxing experience, we advise you to go there on a weekday. You can catch one of several buses and go for a hike.

• Bus 61 is the fastest and easiest way to Vitosha from Sofia’s city center. It leaves every 10 minutes under Lover’s Bridge (behind the National Palace of Culture) and takes you straight to the Golden Bridges.

There are currently several other buses that can take you to the Vitosha Mountain. You can catch most of them from the notorious ‘Hladilnika‘/Vitosha Metro Station stop/just opposite Paradise Mall/ and ride until the last stop. To get to the Hladilnika bus station from the center of the city, catch the second line of the Sofia metro and go to the last stop, Vitosha. Trams number 10 or number 15 can also take you to the same spot, directly from the city center. Once you get out of the metro station, you can catch one of the following:

• • Bus 66 takes you to the ‘Aleko’ area, just below the mountain’s highest peak. This is as high as you can get with public transport. 
    
  • Bus 64 takes you to the Boyana Church, and you can choose the hiking paths to the Boyana Lake or the Boyana Waterfall, for example.
  • Bus 98 to Jeleznica village on the other side of the mountain. Less popular hiking paths.
  • Bus 68 to Dragalevtsi (where you can visit the Dragalevtsi Monastery) and Simeonovo

All buses to Vitosha are part of Sofia’s public transport network and are, therefore, priced at 1,60 BGN per ride (0.80 EUR). When you get in, tap your bank card once, and enjoy the ride!

TO VITOSHA BY TRAM

For the most eco-oriented adventurers, there is also an option: taking a tram, which does not harm the environment, and then hiking. You can take Tram 5 just behind the Palace of Justice and ride until the last stop, the Knyazhevo district. From there, you can do a pretty nice hike until the Golden Bridges. The hike is around two hours.

Whatever public transport you choose, you can use this website for reference on the routes.

Check out our Ultimate Sofia Public Transport Guide for a trouble-free journey.

TAXI + LIFT / HIKING

This idea is often overlooked as it is more expensive. If you don’t feel like dealing with public transport, a taxi ride to some of the most famous spots at Vitosha should not be more than 15km and more than 15-20 EUR. Just make sure you get a proper taxi because scams still exist. You can also take a taxi to any of the functioning lifts. In fact, a taxi can also take you all the way to the Aleko hut. However, remember that that will cost you much more, and not all taxi drivers will be up for the task.

TO VITOSHA BY CAR

There’s a road that goes through the Dragalevtsi neighborhood to the Aleko area with the homonymous chalet. During the summer season, there are no restrictions on access; however, during winter, there usually are.

If you are interested in hiking in Sofia and Bulgaria, we will show you some of the best mountain routes in one of our next articles!

To Vitosha with a tour guide

Should you wish to explore the Vitosha mountain with your own driver/tour guide, then our friends from Traventuria have a wonderful option for you. Their hiking trek takes you on a loop trail, starting from Aleko Hut and going as high as Cherni Vrah summit (2290m), then descending along a different path back to Aleko Hut. Starting from appr. 1750m above sea level, you will first traverse the foot of Golyam Rezen Peak and Malak Rezen Peak. Enjoy the wonderful views of the capital, Sofia, and the Balkan Mountains. You will pass through the Torfeno Branishte (The Peat) Reserve when descending. This trip is only available between May and November.

What About The Lifts?

Unfortunately, none of the Vitosha lifts are currently working. The only exception for the summer season of 2024 are the Vitoshko Lale 1 and Vitoshko Lale 2. The two lifts will operate every summer weekend if the weather conditions allow for it. For a one-way journey, prices are between 10 and 15 BGN (5-8 EUR). A return ticket is currently priced at 20lv (10 EUR). A wise idea is to check on the Vitosha.ski website. There are live updates about the conditions and weather and information about which lifts operate.

With the start of the winter season all lifts, including the Simeonovo Cabin Lift, Laleto 1 and Laleto 2 will likely remain closed.

Where to Eat and/or spend the night at Vitosha?

Whether you want to spend the night up there or have lunch, Vitosha boasts plenty of huts and chalets. Here are just some of our favorites:

• Septemvri Hut 
• Balkanity Hut
• Chalet “Red Riding Hood”

Places to visit around Vitosha

The area around Vitosha can keep you busy. There are several major attractions you shouldn’t miss:

• Boyana Church – Sofia’s only UNESCO world heritage sight
• Dragalevtsi Monastery – a 14th-century Bulgarian Orthodox monastery
• National History Museum – Surprisingly, Bulgaria’s national museum is not in Sofia’s city center but in the outskirts of the city, right next to the Vitosha mountain.
• Botanical Garden

While in Sofia, don’t forget to explore the city’s main landmarks during our free daily walking tour.

Also, check out:

Top 7 Day Trips from Sofia
How to go skiing at Vitosha?
How to get to the Seven Rila Lakes and Sapareva Banya?

Last Updated: August 2024

Here’s our guide, Alissa talking about Aleko Konstantinov and his love for the Vitosha Mountain: