Cheap Car Rental in Sofia $15+/day - FREE Cancellation

Travel Information

Language

Bulgarian,
Macedonian,
Turkish,
Albanian

Currency

BGN

Drive on

Right-hand side

Country code

+359

Average car rental price

$25.70 / per day

Average car rental length

9 days

Speed limit within town

20 - 50 km/h

12 - 31 mph

Speed limit out of town

90 - 130 km/h

56 - 81 mph

Acceptable limit of BAC

0.05%

Rating

7.5

Average gasoline price

$1.53 per liter

Highest gasoline price

$1.81 per liter

Lowest gasoline price

$1.37 per liter

Why rent a car in Sofia?

Sofia is a great place to explore. Home to a fascinating religious and political history, it has a unique atmosphere and no shortage of notable landmarks. The city is also a short ride away from a number of Bulgaria’s most interesting destinations, such as the Vitosha mountain, and can serve as a base for exploring the northwestern part of the country.

One-Way Car Rentals in Sofia

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Sofia and drop off in another city include:

From Sofia to Burgas - 747 offers from $13.04 per day
From Sofia to Varna - 386 offers from $14.62 per day
From Sofia to Bucharest - 15 offers from $35.76 per day
From Sofia to Belgrade - 70 offers from $39.30 per day
From Sofia to Skopje - 15 offers from $35.76 per day

Top ways to enter Sofia

Sofia Airport: The busiest in the country, Sofia Airport handled 6.9 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a large hub for the national carrier Bulgaria Air and is also popular with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet. Located 13 km (8.1 mi) east of the city center, the airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.
Plovdiv Airport: A tiny international airport serving Bulgaria’s second city, Plovdiv-Krumovo offers year-round flights to and from London, as well as seasonal connections with Tel Aviv and Moscow. Located 167 km (104 mi) southeast of the capital, the airport can be reached in about two hours.
Burgas Airport: Serving the city of the same name on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Burgas Airport handled 3.2 million travelers in 2018. The airport is especially active during the summer months when it has flights by more than 30 different airlines. Located 390 km (242 mi) from Sofia, Burgas Airport takes about four hours to reach by car.
Varna Airport: Also located on the Black Sea coast, Varna Airport has flights by around 20 airlines. In addition to many seasonal flights, there are year-round connections to Italy, Germany, Austria, Russia, and many other European countries. Located 430 km (267 mi) east of Sofia, the airport can be reached in five hours.
Istanbul Airport: Opened in October 2018, Istanbul Airport is expected to serve over 50 million travelers in its first full year of operation. The main hub of Turkish Airlines and offering flights by tens of other airlines, the airport provides connections with destinations in all the inhabited continents of the planet. Located 540 km (335 mi) southeast of Sofia, Istanbul Airport can be reached in 5 hours and 40 minutes. You’ll have to cross an international border, so ask your rental provider in advance if they permit it (if not, you can go by public transportation and pick up a rental car after arriving in Sofia). Also, make sure you don’t need a visa to enter either Bulgaria or Turkey (each country has its own visa policy).
By rail: If you're arriving in Sofia by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Sofia Central Railway Station.

City facts

Sofia is located at the foothills of Vitosha mountain massif. Its peak reaches nearly 3000 meters (9842 ft) above sea level.

Sofia has a humid continental climate. The average temperature in January is -0.6 °C (31 °F), although colder temperatures are not uncommon and the city sees snow almost every year. Summers, on the other hand, are warm and can even be scorching hot during July and August.

Some local specalties include:

Banitsa - Bulgarians' favorite breakfast. A traditional flaky pastry filled with eggs, cheese, and butter. It goes well with Airyan (a salty yogurt drink) or Boza (a fermented wheat beverage
Meshana Skara - Bulgarian BBQ, including kufte (meatballs with onion), kebapche (long meatballs with spices), and various meat stakes.
Tarator - cold soup made of yogurt, cucumbers, dill, garlic, and walnuts.
Shopska Salata - salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onion, olives, and white cheese.
Shkembe Chorba - tripe soup heavily spiced with garlic, red paprika and milk.
Moussaka - a potato-based dish with minced meat with a yogurt-egg-based layer on the top.

Top destinations and activities

Sofia Central Mineral Baths. First built during the Ottoman days, rebuilt numerous times, and in active use until as recently as 1980s, this beautiful complex of mineral baths and saunas is a unique landmark of Sofia.
National Museum of History. This museum lets you experience Bulgaria's long and varied history, from its recent 20th Century past to ancient history when the land was settled by such different peoples as Thracians, Celts, Hellenes, and Romans.
St. Aleksander Nevski Cathedral. The largest Christian Orthodox church in Southeast Europe and one of the most prominent ones in the world, this cathedral is a place where you can appreciate beautiful architecture and learn more about Bulgaria's leading religious denomination.
The Ethnographic Museum. Also dedicated to Bulgarian history, but more focused on the aspects of everyday life, this is another interesting museum in Sofia. Run by the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies, it features Bulgarian national costumes, objects relating to traditional occupations, and exhibitions on the traditional beliefs and culture of Bulgarians. The museum is located in the building of the former Royal Palace.

Traffic and parking

Sofia experiences high traffic congestion. As a visitor, it’s a good idea to plan your travel around the city outside the main rush hours in the morning and in the evening.
Outside main population areas and nature areas of national importance the road signs are often only written in Cyrillic. If you cannot read this alphabet, it’s a good idea to get a dictionary, perhaps in mobile format, to be able to read them. Here you can find the most popular traffic signs translated.
Speed cameras are in use.
Drivers are only allowed to use mobile phones with a hands-free system.
The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines. Driving with blood alcohol content of over 1.2% will lead to imprisonment.
The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.
There are two parking zones in Sofia. The city center is a Blue zone, while everything around it is a green zone. You can pay for parking there via SMS to number 1302 (for the Blue Zone) and 1303 (for the green zone). Find more in fo about parking in sofia here.

Toll roads

For many motorways in Bulgaria you need to obtain a stamp or a highway vignette. The price of the stamp depends on the category (1 day, weekend, weekly, monthly, etc.) and on the type of car. You can purchase stamps online as well as in public selling points. Find out more on the official Bulgarian toll road website.

You also have to pay a fee for crossing certain bridges and for taking your car on a ferry to cross certain bodies of water. Find out more about the crossing points and the fees on the official European toll road website.

Ideas for day trips

Vitosha. Sofia is located at the foothills of the Vitosha mountain massif. Its peak reaches nearly 3000 meters (9842 ft), providing magnificent views of the city below. The mountain is part of a wider nature park that offers great hiking trails, and, if you're visiting in winter, you can also go skiing and snowboarding.
Rila Monastery. Just 90 minutes drive from Sofia, Rila Monastery is one of the most important religious centers of Bulgaria, and, indeed, the region. The nature areas around the monastery are also very much worth exploring.
Plovdiv. Bulgaria's second, Plovdiv is also considered by many to be one of the oldest cities in Europe. Full of history and atmosphere, it offers everything from ruins of Roman buildings to regional museums and great cuisine.
Central Balkan National Park. Located near the geographical center of the country, this national park is primarily known for its mountainous landscape and is the location of Botev Peak which is, at 2,376 m (7,795 feet), the highest point of the Balkan mountains. The park is also home to thick woodlands inhabited by a variety of fauna and generally feels like one of the wildest places in the country. The drive from the capital takes about an hour and 45 minutes.
The Seven Rila Lakes. Located in Rila National Park, the Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes that offer some of the most stunning views on the continent.
The Belogradchik Fortress. An ancient Roman stronghold surrounded by picturesque rock formations that served as natural protection.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car types in Bulgarie are standard, economy, and compact. The most popular rental car is the VW Polo, although travelers also love the Renault Clio and the Ford Fiesta.

Further destinations

Black Sea Coast. Perhaps Bulgaria's number one attraction, its Black Sea Coast is famous for resort towns like Burgas, Varna, and Sunny Beach. Visiting them is definitely recommended, but having your own ride will also let you find more private beaches up and down the coast.
Romania. From its eclectic capital, Bucharest, to the mountains of Transylvania and cozy medieval cities like Brasov and Sibiu, Bulgaria’s northern neighbor is one of the up-and-coming destinations of Europe. The Danube, which forms a natural border between the two countries, is only about a three-hour drive from Sofia. Not every car rental supplier permits crossing the national border, so you should ask in advance. Also, despite being members of the European Union, neither country is a part of the Schengen Area and you may need a separate visa to enter them.
Northern Greece. Located to the south, Greece is another fascinating neighbor of Romania. The northern part of this fascinating country includes destinations like the city of Thessaloniki (less than a four-hour drive from Sofia), Olympos National Park, and the Chalkidiki peninsula. As with Romania, ask your rental car supplier in advance if they permit you to travel to the neighboring country.
Turkey. Bulgarians' favorite destination, Turkey, is a land of delicious and inexpensive food, beautiful nature, and historical cities. Istanbul is just 250km from the Bulgarian border, and if you want to continue your adventure, you can continue to the center of the country and discover magical Cappadocia and its hot-air balloons.

Car Rental Prices in Sofia

Convertibles - from $139 per day
Station wagons - from $23 per day
Large cars - from $22 per day
Medium cars - from $19 per day
Vans - from $30 per day
Premium cars - from $44 per day
Small cars - from $15 per day
SUVs - from $23 per day

Money-saving tips

These are some of the things you can do to get a good rental car deal in Sofia:

Compare rates of different rental car providers
Book your rental car well in advance
Plan your route before you go
Know your fuel and mileage requirements
Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Sofia is the cheapest in December when renting a car is about 47% cheaper than the yearly average and about 64% cheaper than renting a car in August.

What travel writers say

Nestled in the west of Bulgaria, Sofia is probably one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe. With eating out being much cheaper than western European cities, and the cost of transport and accommodation being much less, it’s a great place to explore. Now, Sofia itself has a heap of international influences that have shaped its long history. With Ottoman, Roman, Greek and Soviet buildings and culture, Sofia is a melting pot of historic sites that you’ll just love. Make sure to also visit the Rila Monastery and gorge on some hearty Bulgarian food.

YO&LG

Yaya Onalaja-Aliu & Lloyd Griffiths

Hand Luggage Only was born back in April 2014 on a surprisingly warm afternoon in Yaya’s college room at University of Cambridge. In what seemed like an oasis of calm between assignments, Yaya and Lloyd (that’s us!) were talking about sharing our travel stories and photos with others like-minded travellers on the internet.

Another great capital to visit is often referred to as the “Paris of the East”; Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Sofia is said to be one of Europe’s most laid-back capital cities, offering a charming east-meets-west feel with old and new coexisting throughout the city. Though many travellers overlook Sofia en route to Bulgaria’s resort coastal towns, one look at the architecture on offer might persuade you otherwise! (Image Source).

BS

Brooke Saward

Hello! My name is Brooke. I’m originally from Australia but have long had an ongoing desire to travel the world and share my stories with others.

Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe and boasts some spectacular ancient Roman brickwork within its city walls. Learn more about the city and its history by checking out the National Historical Museum.

JSF

Jeremy Scott Foster

My name is Jeremy Scott Foster, and I started this website as a way to connect and reach other people who also don’t resonate with the status quo. I don’t believe that there’s just one way to live your life.

Top 20 Cities near Sofia

Botevgrad Car Rentals

39.1 km / 24.3 miles away
Blagoevgrad Car Rentals

79.2 km / 49.2 miles away
Razlog Car Rentals

90.0 km / 55.9 miles away
Pazardzhik Car Rentals

94.3 km / 58.6 miles away
Bansko Car Rentals from $94.77 per day

95.6 km / 59.4 miles away
Sandanski Car Rentals

126.1 km / 78.4 miles away
Pleven Car Rentals

126.4 km / 78.5 miles away
Plovdiv Car Rentals from $22.16 per day

137.6 km / 85.5 miles away
Smolyan Car Rentals

163.2 km / 101.4 miles away
Stara Zagora Car Rentals from $74.23 per day

184.6 km / 114.7 miles away
Sliven Car Rentals

237.9 km / 147.8 miles away
Ruse Car Rentals from $133.60 per day

242.7 km / 150.8 miles away
Razgrad Car Rentals

269.8 km / 167.6 miles away
Shumen Car Rentals

293.5 km / 182.4 miles away
Burgas Car Rentals from $22.76 per day

336.4 km / 209.0 miles away
Nessebar Car Rentals from $35.40 per day

353.8 km / 219.8 miles away
Varna Car Rentals from $17.40 per day

364.4 km / 226.4 miles away
Obzor Car Rentals from $26.80 per day

365.6 km / 227.2 miles away
Tsarevo Car Rentals from $53.67 per day

369.0 km / 229.3 miles away
Golden Sands Car Rentals from $24.87 per day

382.5 km / 237.7 miles away

Top 6 Locations near Sofia

Sofia Airport Car Rentals from $14.74 per day
Sofia Hotel Balkan Car Rentals

6.9 km / 4.3 miles away
Downtown Car Rentals from $19.01 per day

7.3 km / 4.5 miles away
Plovdiv Airport Car Rentals from $24.38 per day

137.6 km / 85.5 miles away
Burgas Airport Car Rentals from $22.76 per day

336.4 km / 209.0 miles away
Varna Airport Car Rentals from $20.79 per day

364.4 km / 226.4 miles away

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Sofia?

Car rental prices in Sofia vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.

Average rental costs per day in Sofia

$15.22

January

$16.83

February

$15.22

March

$20.53

April

$21.79

May

$27.92

June

$44.12

July

$46.86

August

$22.51

September

$20.00

October

$17.36

November

$21.70

December

The cheapest month to rent a car in Sofia is January (when prices average $15.22 per day). This is 37% cheaper than the yearly average and 68% cheaper than renting in August (when prices average $46.86).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Sofia?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in June, the average renter keeps their car for 11 days, and in January, they keep their car for 7 days.

Average rental length in Sofia

7

January

7

February

9

March

9

April

9

May

11

June

11

July

10

August

9

September

8

October

8

November

9

December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Sofia?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Sofia is August, and the least popular is November.

Monthly searches in Sofia by pick-up date relative to the average

70%

January

75%

February

76%

March

109%

April

93%

May

123%

June

166%

July

168%

August

107%

September

82%

October

51%

November

78%

December

Car Rental Information

Car rental locations	5
Airport locations	1
Popular suppliers	Top Rent A Car, CarRent, Autounion, Surprice, GreenMotion
Popular car categories	Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, Vans
Lowest price	$15 per day
Cheapest supplier	Surprice

Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers

Rental Supplier	Model	Doors	Luggage	Type
Top Rent A Car	Hyundai i20	5	1	Small cars
Top Rent A Car	Citroen C3	5	1	Small cars
Surprice	Volkswagen Polo	5	1	Small cars
Autounion	Volkswagen Up	5	2	Small cars
Top Rent A Car	Renault Clio	5	1	Small cars
Yes Rent A Car	Peugeot 208	5	1	Small cars
Top Rent A Car	Ford Custom Tourneo	5	2	Vans
Low Cost Cars	Dacia Sandero	5	1	Small cars
Yes Rent A Car	Renault Clio	5	2	Small cars
GreenMotion	Citroen C3	4	2	Small cars

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

NK

Bulgaria

Ford Focus

February 28, 2023

It was a business trip, everything was ok

YK

Israel

Suzuki Swift

February 26, 2023

great ski vacation

LA

Israel

Volkswagen Up

October 7, 2022

I covered 1600 km and the whole trip driving thought about the low fuel efficiency of the rented car and extremely low capabilities while it was getting slower on the sloping road and demanding a lower gear during slight elevation. The total mileage of the rented car was about 60k km (India production) and bad condition front wheels bearings. Overall: UNPLEASANT driving.

ML

United States of America (USA)

Renault Clio

October 7, 2022

Having a car made our trip to Bulgaria amazing. We drove from Sofia to Sozopol, then to Balchik, Ruse, Veliko Tărnovo, Plovdiv, Bansko, Banya, and Rila Monestary. In the cities we mostly left the car parked safely and walked, but it enabled us to go to places we would never have gotten on public transit, like Kovachevitsa and Buzludzha. A rental car is a good way to explore Bulgaria

VS

Croatia

Hyundai i20

September 29, 2022

Sofia, Vitosha mountain, nice roads into Macedonia and Greece.

MJ

Israel

Ford Fiesta

September 12, 2022

Bulgaria is fantastic we went to sofia burgas and varna, we advice spending more time in burgas an varna for younger people

IT

United States of America (USA)

Volkswagen Up

August 2, 2022

Family business, with a great car in hands.

AW

Canada

Opel Astra Sedan

June 6, 2022

Did loads of miles and car was great on fuel. We only has a small car, but was just what we needed.

PR

United States of America (USA)

Citroen C3

February 14, 2021

I traveled during the time of Covid-19 lockdown. It was not for tourism. I would rent a car if I need to travel again during these difficult times because I do not want to use the metro or buses or taxis.

MW

United Kingdom

Seat Ibiza

November 8, 2020

Sofia is a great place to travel into, get your car and then go exploring, people at smart rent a car make the start of your holiday just perfect, thank you!

AD

Israel

Peugeot 208

October 14, 2020

Traffic/Parking is hard in Sofia..

ND

United Kingdom

VW Polo

October 2, 2020

Beautiful country

JK

United Kingdom

Fiat Panda

September 27, 2020

Rent in Sofia, no problem, just beware of some unscrupulous renters.

LW

United Kingdom

VW Golf STW

February 26, 2020

Sofia is a great city with lots of things to do and see - the food is also very good Plovdiv is the second biggest city in Bulgaria and is also a great city to explore with loads of culture.

RK

United Kingdom

Renault Clio Grandtour

February 23, 2020

I highly recommend the ski and snowboard depot The Riding Spot at Malina Pamporovo and the Bulgarian Pub on the green run between Yazovira and Studenetz.

MH

Bulgaria

Fiat Panda

February 15, 2020

Check which terminal you are landing at, and which terminal your car pick up is from. Note there is a free terminal between terminal 1 and 2

NB

United Kingdom

Renault Clio Grandtour

September 25, 2019

I wouldn’t hire a car if I was only going to Sofia but definitely would if I was going else where.

PM

United Kingdom

VW Polo

September 18, 2019

Roads are very wide and well kept in Sofia

MW

United Kingdom

Peugeot 308 STW

September 3, 2019

I found driving in Bulgaria okay, and this allowed us to visit places you would get to with tours. Sofia is easier without a car but we drove from Sofia to Plovdiv and Bergus and saw other towns and manastries like Nessebar old town, Pomorie, Sozopol, Rila monastery and Melnek. Enjoyed seeing all of them.

RH

United Arab Emirates

Peugeot 208

August 25, 2019

I live in a small village outside of Gabravo, so the car was used to get to and from our home.

Car Rental Statistics

Highest rated company

Top Rent A Car

9.5 / 10

Lowest rated company

NUCarrentals

6.6 / 10

Total number of reviews

61

Total rental companies

27

Average daily price

$25.70

Lowest daily price

$14.74

Total cars available

692

Top 27 Suppliers in Sofia in 2023

Top Rent A Car

Exceptional 9.5 / 232 reviews

4 locations

$25 - $120

Lion Rent A Car

Exceptional 9.3 / 120 reviews

2 locations

$19 - $88

Green Rent A Car

Exceptional 9.3 / 33 reviews

2 locations

$51 - $68

Autounion

Exceptional 9 / 117 reviews

2 locations

$19 - $278

Lucky Rent A Car

Exceptional 9 / 10 reviews

2 locations

$24 - $126

Hertz

Excellent 8.9 / 8 reviews

2 locations

Fly Rent A Car

Excellent 8.9 / 10 reviews

2 locations

$17 - $103

Budget

Excellent 8.7 / 6 reviews

1 location

CarRent

Excellent 8.7 / 215 reviews

1 location

$25 - $171

Thrifty

Excellent 8.7 / 5 reviews

2 locations

$26 - $34

SIXT

Excellent 8.7 / 16 reviews

3 locations

$35 - $212

Alamo

Excellent 8.7 / 31 reviews

1 location

$20 - $58

Enterprise

Excellent 8.6 / 4 reviews

1 location

$23 - $63

Avis

Excellent 8.5 / 1 reviews

1 location

$58 - $134

Europcar

Excellent 8.5 / 1 reviews

2 locations

$46 - $151

National

Excellent 8.5

1 location

$26 - $76

EXER

Excellent 8.5

1 location

$25 - $98

Dives Rent a car

Excellent 8.4 / 104 reviews

2 locations

$31 - $113

GreenMotion

Excellent 8.2 / 122 reviews

2 locations

$16 - $157

ABBYCAR

Excellent 8.2 / 3 reviews

2 locations

$36 - $125

Interrent

Excellent 8.1

1 location

BT Rent A Car

Excellent 8.1 / 35 reviews

3 locations

$30 - $76

Low Cost Cars

Excellent 8.1 / 23 reviews

4 locations

$23 - $54

ACARENT

Very good 7.5 / 10 reviews

2 locations

$33 - $123

AddCar

Very good 7.4 / 78 reviews

1 location

Surprice

Very good 7.2 / 216 reviews

1 location

$15 - $82

NUCarrentals

Good 6.6 / 39 reviews

1 location

Car Rental in Sofia

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Travel Information

Why rent a car in Sofia?

One-Way Car Rentals in Sofia

Top ways to enter Sofia

City facts

Top destinations and activities

Traffic and parking

Toll roads

Ideas for day trips

Most popular cars

Further destinations

Car Rental Prices in Sofia

Money-saving tips

What travel writers say

Top 20 Cities near Sofia

Top 6 Locations near Sofia

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Sofia?

What’s the usual rental length in Sofia?

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Sofia?

Car Rental Information

Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers

Our Customers' Reviews

Car Rental Statistics

Top 27 Suppliers in Sofia in 2023

Highly recommended by our customers