The safest way to order a taxi in Bulgaria is through a known company app, a hotel/reception desk, or a phone dispatcher. Street hailing is normal, but only get into a clearly branded taxi with a TAXI/ТАКСИ sign, company details, a visible tariff sticker, a driver ID, and a working meter. In Sofia, a green windshield light usually means the taxi is free; a red light means it is occupied. Day tariffs are generally 06:00–22:00, and night tariffs are 22:00–06:00.
How to order
By app or online: Best for tourists because you can enter the destination, see the car/driver, track arrival, and sometimes pay by card. In Sofia, use apps such as Yellow!, OK Supertrans, TaxiMe, or Green Taxi; in Plovdiv, Taxistars and One are useful; in Burgas, Orion supports online ordering.
By phone: Call a known company and give your pickup address. Keep the company name and car number if the dispatcher provides it.
On the street or at a taxi rank: Check the price sticker first. Do not accept “special price” offers from drivers who approach you inside airports, bus stations, or hotel lobbies.
At Sofia Airport: Use the official Yellow! taxi counters in the arrivals areas of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, or order through the Yellow! app/phone.
City quick reference
| City | Standard taxi examples | Current fare examples | Premium / fixed-price options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia | OK Supertrans: 02 973 21 21; Yellow! Taxi: 02 91119; Green Taxi: 02 810 810; TaxiMe app | OK, Supertrans example: €0.75/km day, €0.85/km night, starting from €1.50/day / €1.70/night. Sofia municipal limits from 2026: min €0.73/km day, €0.84/km night; max €1.24/km day, €1.52/km night. | Volt Premium Taxi: BMW 5-Series and Mercedes V-Class, app/phone booking, €1.05/km day, €1.29/km night; Sofia–Plovdiv transfer from €190, Sofia–Burgas from €430. |
| Varna | Triumf: 052 644 444; Omega: 052 388 888; Hippo: 052 344 444; JoyTaxi: 052 30 30 30 / 052 66 66 66; Yellow! Taxi. | Varna’s minimum taxi price is €0.79/km during the day and €0.89/km at night. Use the car sticker/app as the final because company pages may lag during tariff updates. | Premium is usually a pre-booked transfer/chauffeur rather than a metered taxi. Example: Varna Airport–Balchik private transfer from €50.43 for up to 3 passengers. |
| Burgas | Eko Taxi: 056 51551; Indi Taxi: 0898 500 585; Orion Taxi: 0899 800 800; Yellow! Taxi. | Eko/Indi/Orion list similar urban tariffs: about €0.77/km during the day, €0.87/km at night, with a starting fee of around €1.53–€1.54. | Fixed airport-transfer examples from Eko: Burgas Airport–Pomorie €25, Sunny Beach €50, Nessebar €50, Sozopol €70. |
| Plovdiv | One Taxi / Taxi 1: 032 22 22 and One app; Taxistars: 0877 144 144 national taxi-order line | One Taxi fare-card example: €0.70/km during the day, €0.80/km at night, starting at €1.40/day / €1.60/night. Taxistars also lists Plovdiv in its app network. | One transfer examples: Plovdiv–Plovdiv Airport from €20, Plovdiv–Sofia Airport/City from €100, Plovdiv–Pamporovo from €70. |
Fast fare examples
Before waiting time or route detours, a 5 km daytime city ride can look like this:
Sofia, OK Supertrans: €1.50 start + 5 × €0.75/km = about €5.25; phone-order fee may add €0.60.
Burgas, Eko Taxi: €1.53 start + 5 × €0.77/km = about €5.38.
Plovdiv, One Taxi: €1.40 start + 5 × €0.70/km = about €4.90.
Varna: after the May 2026 update, 5 km at the minimum day kilometer rate is at least €3.95 before start/waiting fees.
When to choose a premium
Use a premium taxi, chauffeur, or fixed transfer when you need an English-speaking dispatcher, airport meet-and-greet, larger luggage space, a minivan, business transport, child-seat planning, or a fixed price for an intercity trip. In Sofia, Volt is the clearest example of a metered premium taxi; in Varna, Burgas, and Plovdiv, “premium” usually means a pre-booked chauffeur or an airport-transfer company rather than a street taxi.
Safety checklist
Check the tariff sticker before entering. Confirm whether the payment is cash or card. Make sure the meter is on. Keep the receipt. At airports, use official desks, official taxi ranks, or a pre-booked driver; never accept an off-meter ride from a tout.
Note: Taxi fares change by city and company. Always check the tariff sticker on the passenger window, the app quote, and the meter before the ride starts.
Related Reads:
- How do I get from Sofia airport to my hotel? — deeper Sofia Airport taxi/metro/bus guide.
- How can I navigate the public transportation system in Bulgaria? — public transport, airport links, taxi apps, and common pitfalls.
- Visiting by Plane — airports, transfers, luggage, currency, and tips.
- Bulgaria Trip Cost Calculator — compare taxi, transfer, rental-car, bus, and train budget assumptions.
