Getting Around by Public Transport

Билет до центъра, моля.

Bilet do tsentara, molya.

A ticket to the center, please.

The everyday single-ticket request at a kiosk or on the bus — swap the destination as needed.

Два билета, моля.

Dva bileta, molya.

Two tickets, please.

When you're travelling with someone — hold up two fingers as you say it.

Карта за градския транспорт, моля.

Karta za gradskiya transport, molya.

A public transport card, please.

For your first reloadable travel card once you know you'll be commuting daily.

Къде мога да купя билет?

Kade moga da kupya bilet?

Where can I buy a ticket?

When there's no kiosk in sight and you need to find one before boarding.

Кой автобус е за центъра?

Koy avtobus e za tsentara?

Which bus goes to the center?

Ask a fellow passenger or the kiosk seller when several buses share a stop.

Този автобус до Централна гара ли е?

Tozi avtobus do Tsentralna gara li e?

Does this bus go to Central Station?

Confirm before you step on — the '...ли е?' ending turns any destination into a yes/no check.

На коя спирка да сляза?

Na koya spirka da slyaza?

Which stop should I get off at?

Tell the driver or a passenger where you're headed and let them cue your stop.

Как да валидирам билета?

Kak da validiram bileta?

How do I validate the ticket?

New validators can be confusing — asking beats risking a fine from an inspector.

Може ли пак да кажете спирката?

Mozhe li pak da kazhete spirkata?

Can you say the stop again?

When you catch the sentence but miss the stop name — the one detail you actually need.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

Over engine noise, people speed up — this slows them back down.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

The honest reset when directions have completely escaped you.

Благодаря ви!

Blagodarya vi!

Thank you!

A quick, polite thanks to the passenger or driver who pointed you the right way.

Един билет, моля.

Edin bilet, molya.

One ticket, please.

At the kiosk by the stop. Sofia's single ticket is a flat fare for one ride on one vehicle, so you name a number of tickets, not a destination.

Дневна карта, моля.

Dnevna karta, molya.

A day pass, please.

When you know you will make four or more rides today — the day pass pays for itself fast and covers the metro too.

Къде е автоматът за билети?

Kade e avtomatat za bileti?

Where is the ticket machine?

At a stop with no kiosk. The yellow machines take cards and coins; note the definite article on 'автоматът'.

Билети се купуват от автомата ей там.

Bileti se kupuvat ot avtomata ey tam.

Tickets are bought from the machine over there.

Something you hear from a kiosk seller who only sells newspapers and cards. 'Ей там' plus a nod is the whole direction you get.

Къде се валидира билетът?

Kade se validira biletat?

Where do you validate the ticket?

First ride, paper ticket in hand. The impersonal 'се валидира' is how locals phrase it — nobody says 'where do I validate'.

Забравих да валидирам.

Zabravih da validiram.

I forgot to validate.

The honest admission two stops in, before an inspector finds it. 'Забравих' is past tense with no gender ending, so it works for any learner.

Валидаторът не работи.

Validatorat ne raboti.

The validator isn't working.

Said to the driver or a fellow passenger when the box swallows nothing — tell someone rather than sit down quietly.

Валидирайте веднага при качване.

Validirayte vednaga pri kachvane.

Validate immediately when you board.

Something you hear from a driver or a recorded announcement. The rule is strict: an unvalidated ticket in your pocket counts as no ticket.

Билетът ви не е валидиран.

Biletat vi ne e validiran.

Your ticket is not validated.

Something you hear from the inspector, and the sentence that precedes a fine. 'Ви' is the polite form — strangers always use вие here.

Месечна карта, моля.

Mesechna karta, molya.

A monthly card, please.

At a transport office window once you know you are commuting daily — the everyday name for the season pass is simply 'месечна карта'.

Тази карта важи ли и за метрото?

Tazi karta vazhi li i za metroto?

Is this card valid for the metro too?

The thing every newcomer gets wrong. 'Важи ли' is the verb for a ticket or document being valid, and the little 'и' means 'as well'.

Искам да презаредя картата.

Iskam da prezaredya kartata.

I want to reload my card.

Handed over at the kiosk window at the end of the month. 'Презаредя' covers topping up rides or extending a season.

Картата ви е изтекла.

Kartata vi e iztekla.

Your card has expired.

Something you hear from the inspector or the kiosk clerk. Learn it cold — it sounds close to 'картата ви е изтрита' and the two mean very different things.

Имате ли намаление за студенти?

Imate li namalenie za studenti?

Do you have a student discount?

At the pass window. Student and pupil fares are a big saving here, but only against a Bulgarian-issued document.

Децата пътуват ли безплатно?

Detsata patuvat li bezplatno?

Do children travel free?

Before you buy a second ticket for a small child. Ask at the kiosk rather than guessing at the age limit.

Трябва да покажете студентска книжка.

Tryabva da pokazhete studentska knizhka.

You need to show a student book.

Something you hear at the window. The 'студентска книжка' is the paper student record book — a foreign university card usually will not do.

Може ли да платя с банкова карта на валидатора?

Mozhe li da platya s bankova karta na validatora?

Can I pay with a bank card on the validator?

The question that saves you the kiosk queue — tapping a bank card straight on the validator is now normal on buses, trams and at metro turnstiles.

Допрете картата тук.

Doprete kartata tuk.

Tap your card here.

Something you hear from a driver or the person behind you in the queue, usually with a finger pointed at the reader.

Може ли да купя билет през приложението?

Mozhe li da kupya bilet prez prilozhenieto?

Can I buy a ticket in the app?

Asked at the counter when you would rather have the ticket on your phone. Say 'приложение' — the English word 'app' is not used in spoken Bulgarian.

Всеки пътник докосва отделно.

Vseki patnik dokosva otdelno.

Each passenger taps separately.

Something you hear in reply to the question above. Two taps on the same card, one per person, and keep the card for the inspector.

Тази карта не се приема.

Tazi karta ne se priema.

This card is not accepted.

Something you hear when the reader beeps red — foreign cards without contactless sometimes fail, so keep a coin fallback.

Билетчето, моля.

Biletcheto, molya.

Your ticket, please.

Something you hear, and the single most important sentence in this file. Inspectors use the diminutive 'билетче' almost without exception — it is friendlier than it sounds.

Контрольор, проверка на билетите.

Kontrolyor, proverka na biletite.

Inspector, ticket check.

Something you hear announced to the whole carriage as plain-clothes inspectors block the doors at a stop. It is not a scam — this is how it works here.

Заповядайте, ето билета.

Zapovyadayte, eto bileta.

Here you are, here's the ticket.

What you say as you hand it over. 'Заповядайте' is the all-purpose 'here you go' and it sets a polite tone straight away.

Имам месечна карта, ето я.

Imam mesechna karta, eto ya.

I have a monthly card, here it is.

When you hold a season pass rather than a paper ticket — say it while you dig, so the inspector waits instead of moving on.

Току-що се качих, ето билета.

Toku-shto se kachih, eto bileta.

I just got on, here's the ticket.

Useful when you are still validating as the check starts. 'Качих' has no gender ending, so the same line works for everyone.

Колко е глобата?

Kolko e globata?

How much is the fine?

The first thing to ask once it is clear you are being fined — the sum is fixed, and asking it politely often keeps the exchange civil.

Ще трябва да платите глоба.

Shte tryabva da platite globa.

You will have to pay a fine.

Something you hear once the inspector has decided. Arguing at this point rarely helps; getting the paperwork right does.

Може ли да ми дадете квитанция?

Mozhe li da mi dadete kvitantsiya?

Can you give me a receipt?

Never hand over money without this. A genuine inspector always issues a numbered slip; no slip means you are being shaken down.

Напишете си имената тук.

Napishete si imenata tuk.

Write your name here.

Something you hear as the slip is filled in. 'Имена' in the plural means your full name — first and family together.

Извинявайте, не знаех, че трябва да се валидира.

Izvinyavayte, ne znaeh, che tryabva da se validira.

Sorry, I didn't know it had to be validated.

The genuine newcomer's line, and it sometimes works. 'Не знаех' carries no gender ending, so any learner can say it as recorded.

Кой трамвай минава оттук?

Koy tramvay minava ottuk?

Which tram passes through here?

Standing at an unfamiliar tram stop with no readable board — 'минава оттук' is the natural way to ask what runs past this point.

Тролей номер две минава ли оттук?

Troley nomer dve minava li ottuk?

Does trolleybus number two pass here?

Sofia's electric trolleybuses look like buses with poles. Everyone says the short 'тролей'; the written form 'тролейбус' only appears on signs.

Къде спира двайсет и четвърти?

Kade spira dvayset i chetvarti?

Where does the twenty-four stop?

Bus numbers are said as masculine ordinals — the 24 is 'двайсет и четвърти', not 'двайсет и четири'. Copying this one habit makes you sound local.

В коя посока да се кача?

V koya posoka da se kacha?

Which direction should I board in?

The stop is right but the side of the street is a coin flip — this is the question that stops you riding half an hour the wrong way.

Този автобус не спира там.

Tozi avtobus ne spira tam.

This bus doesn't stop there.

Something you hear from the driver as you name your destination — the bus passes the place but has no stop, so ask which number does.

Трябва ви спирката отсреща.

Tryabva vi spirkata otsreshta.

You need the stop across the road.

Something you hear when you are waiting on the wrong side. 'Трябва ви' — literally 'you need' — is the standard helpful correction.

Колко спирки остават?

Kolko spirki ostavat?

How many stops are left?

Asked of the passenger next to you once you are moving and have lost count.

Следваща спирка: Сердика.

Sledvashta spirka: Serdika.

Next stop: Serdika.

Something you hear on every vehicle in the city. Train your ear on the two-word frame — only the name after it changes.

Ще ми подскажете ли, когато стигнем?

Shte mi podskazhete li, kogato stignem?

Will you give me a nudge when we get there?

Said to a nearby passenger after you name your stop. 'Подскажете' is warmer than asking them to tell you, and people almost always agree.

Слизам на следващата.

Slizam na sledvashtata.

I'm getting off at the next one.

Say it to whoever is blocking your way, and they will shift or step down ahead of you.

Извинете, слизам.

Izvinete, slizam.

Excuse me, I'm getting off.

The two words that move a packed aisle. Start saying them a stop early — the crowd parts slowly.

Придвижете се навътре, моля.

Pridvizhete se navatre, molya.

Move further inside, please.

Something you hear from the driver over the speaker when everyone is bunched at the doors. It is directed at the whole vehicle, not at you personally.

Коя линия отива до летището?

Koya liniya otiva do letishteto?

Which line goes to the airport?

Asked at the ticket window or of a station attendant. The metro reaches the airport, so this is the cheap way in on your first weeks.

Къде да сменя линията?

Kade da smenya liniyata?

Where do I change lines?

The core metro question. 'Сменя линията' is the phrase — 'прекачвам се' exists but sounds bookish in the metro.

Сменете на Сердика.

Smenete na Serdika.

Change at Serdika.

Something you hear in reply. Сердика is the central interchange under the city centre and the answer to most 'where do I change' questions.

Влакът заминава в посока Бизнес парк.

Vlakat zaminava v posoka Biznes park.

The train is departing towards Business Park.

Something you hear on the platform. The station is written 'Бизнес парк' on the map — listen for 'в посока' and then the terminus name.

Турникетът не се отваря.

Turniketat ne se otvarya.

The turnstile won't open.

Said to the attendant in the booth by the gates, who can let you through or check your card.

Картата ви няма достатъчно пътувания.

Kartata vi nyama dostatachno patuvaniya.

Your card doesn't have enough rides left.

Something you hear at the gate when the light stays red — a stored-rides card has run down and needs reloading before you pass.

Кога е последният автобус?

Koga e posledniyat avtobus?

When is the last bus?

The question to ask before the evening starts, not after it ends. Note the full definite article on 'последният'.

Има ли нощни автобуси до Люлин?

Ima li noshtni avtobusi do Lyulin?

Are there night buses to Lyulin?

Sofia runs a small night network on the big radial routes — swap in your own district name.

Къде мога да видя разписанието?

Kade moga da vidya razpisanieto?

Where can I see the timetable?

At a stop where the printed board has been torn off — asked of the kiosk seller or another waiting passenger.

Последният вече мина.

Posledniyat veche mina.

The last one has already gone.

Something you hear at a dark stop just before you give in and take a taxi.

Влакът закъснява с двайсет минути.

Vlakat zakasnyava s dvayset minuti.

The train is twenty minutes late.

Something you hear over the station speakers. The frame 'закъснява с ... минути' is fixed — only the number changes, so drill the numbers.

Кога ще дойде следващият?

Koga shte doyde sledvashtiyat?

When will the next one come?

The universal stop-side question — it works for a bus, a tram or a train without naming the vehicle.

Има ли заместващ автобус?

Ima li zamestvasht avtobus?

Is there a replacement bus?

For a closed tram line or a suspended metro section — replacement buses are standard here and usually stop right beside the closed one.

Линията е отклонена заради ремонт.

Liniyata e otklonena zaradi remont.

The line is diverted because of roadworks.

Something you hear from a driver or from a taped notice read aloud. 'Ремонт' covers everything from resurfacing to a burst pipe.

Трябва ли билет за багажа?

Tryabva li bilet za bagazha?

Do I need a ticket for the luggage?

Boarding with a big suitcase on the way from the airport — oversized luggage can need its own ticket, and inspectors do check.

За големия багаж се плаща отделен билет.

Za golemiya bagazh se plashta otdelen bilet.

A separate ticket is paid for large luggage.

Something you hear in reply. The impersonal 'се плаща' is how rules are stated here — no one says 'you must pay'.

Къде да сложа количката?

Kade da slozha kolichkata?

Where should I put the pram?

Boarding with a child. 'Количка' means both a pram and a trolley — context does the work, and the middle doors have the space.

Може ли с колело в метрото?

Mozhe li s kolelo v metroto?

Can I take a bicycle on the metro?

Asked at the metro gate. Everyday Bulgarian says 'колело'; 'велосипед' is the written, official word you will see on the signs.

Да ви помогна ли с количката?

Da vi pomogna li s kolichkata?

Shall I help you with the pram?

Something you hear at the steps, offered by a stranger. Say 'да, благодаря' — refusing help here reads as cold, not independent.

Един билет за Пловдив, моля.

Edin bilet za Plovdiv, molya.

One ticket to Plovdiv, please.

At the window of the автогара — the intercity coach station, a different building from the train station. Here you do name the destination.

Кога е следващият автобус за Варна?

Koga e sledvashtiyat avtobus za Varna?

When is the next coach to Varna?

Several private companies run the same route from the same hall, so ask this before you pick a window.

Билет за отиване и връщане, моля.

Bilet za otivane i vrashtane, molya.

A return ticket, please.

'Отиване и връщане' is the fixed phrase for a return — there is no single word for it in ordinary speech.

Тръгва от трети перон в осем и половина.

Tragva ot treti peron v osem i polovina.

It departs from bay three at half past eight.

Something you hear at the ticket window, and it comes fast. Two facts in one breath: the bay number, then the time.

От кое гише се купуват билети за Бургас?

Ot koe gishe se kupuvat bileti za Burgas?

Which window sells tickets to Burgas?

The main hall of Централна гара has a row of windows split by destination and by service — asking beats queueing at the wrong one.

Може ли да купя билет онлайн?

Mozhe li da kupya bilet onlayn?

Can I buy a ticket online?

Bulgarian rail sells online now, but not for every service. 'Онлайн' is a normal borrowed word and is written in Cyrillic here.

Искам запазено място, моля.

Iskam zapazeno myasto, molya.

I'd like a reserved seat, please.

On fast intercity trains the seat reservation is separate from the ticket — without it you may stand for three hours.

От кой коловоз тръгва влакът за Пловдив?

Ot koy kolovoz tragva vlakat za Plovdiv?

Which track does the Plovdiv train leave from?

At the station, 'коловоз' is the track and 'перон' is the platform between two tracks — the boards and the announcements both use 'коловоз'.

Влакът пристига на трети коловоз.

Vlakat pristiga na treti kolovoz.

The train arrives at track three.

Something you hear over the station speakers, echoing badly. The number is the only part that matters — listen for the ordinal at the end.

Влакът е отменен.

Vlakat e otmenen.

The train is cancelled.

Something you hear on the platform or from the window clerk — follow it with the next question about exchanging your ticket.

Какво обявиха току-що?

Kakvo obyaviha toku-shto?

What did they just announce?

The single most useful line on a platform. Everyone around you heard it too, and asking makes you a fellow traveller rather than a lost tourist.

Мисля, че си изпуснах спирката.

Mislya, che si izpusnah spirkata.

I think I've missed my stop.

Said to a neighbouring passenger, who will normally tell you where to get off and cross back. 'Изпуснах' has no gender ending.

Аз в правилния автобус ли съм?

Az v pravilniya avtobus li sam?

Am I on the right bus?

The doubt that hits two minutes after boarding. Fronting 'аз' makes it a genuine appeal for help rather than a flat question.

Може ли да сменя билета за по-късен влак?

Mozhe li da smenya bileta za po-kasen vlak?

Can I change the ticket for a later train?

The follow-up. Exchanges are often possible for a small fee, but only if you ask at the window on the same day.

Благодаря, че ми казахте.

Blagodarya, che mi kazahte.

Thank you for telling me.

To the passenger who nudged you at your stop. The polite вие form 'казахте' is right for a stranger you will never see again.

Приятно пътуване!

Priyatno patuvane!

Have a pleasant journey!

Something you hear from the clerk as they slide your ticket back under the glass — the standard sign-off at any ticket window.