Burgas Transportation: A Complete 2026 Guide
How to get around Burgas in 2026: bus routes and fares (1.50 BGN/ride), taxi apps, airport transfer on Bus #15, car rental from 72 BGN/day, bike rentals, and boat trips.
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Transportation in Burgas: Your 2026 Practical Guide
Getting around Burgas in 2026 is straightforward once you know your options. The city's compact old town is largely walkable, yet an efficient bus network, app-based taxis, and well-priced car rentals make it easy to reach the Black Sea beaches, the Burgas attractions outside the centre, and the popular day trips from Burgas to Nesebar, Sozopol, and Pomorie. For official tourism information, consult Visit Bulgaria, the country's official travel portal. This guide covers every transport mode with up-to-date 2026 fares, apps, and timetable essentials.
Burgas Airport (BOJ) Transfer Options 2026
Burgas Airport (IATA: BOJ) sits roughly 10 km north-east of the city centre. In 2026 you have four realistic ways to reach your accommodation after landing.
- Bus #15 (Airport ↔ City Centre — cheapest option): Burgasbus Line 15 runs a dedicated airport shuttle every 30 minutes between 06:00 and 23:00. The ride to the central bus station or the Sea Garden area takes 20–30 minutes. A single ticket costs 1.50 BGN (≈ €0.77) paid in cash to the driver, or 1.30 BGN with an e-card. The stop is directly outside the arrivals hall — look for the Burgasbus shelter on your left as you exit.
- Pre-booked private transfer: Fixed-rate door-to-door transfers from airport to Burgas city centre typically cost 30–40 BGN for a saloon car. For groups or heavy luggage this is often the most practical choice. Book via taxi-bg.com or your hotel.
- Licensed taxi from the rank: The official taxi rank is directly outside arrivals. Expect 18–25 BGN on the meter for a city-centre drop-off (base 1.20 BGN + approx. 1.00 BGN/km). Insist on the meter running — avoid unmarked cars.
- Rental car: All major agencies (Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Avis) have counters inside the arrivals hall. See the car rental section below for 2026 rates.
Late-night arrival? Bus #15 does not operate after 23:00. A metered taxi or pre-booked transfer is your only option for late-night flights — budget 20–30 BGN to the city centre.
City Bus Network: Routes, Ticket Prices, and Apps
Burgasbus operates the urban network with a colour-coded route system. Blue lines serve intra-city routes; red lines extend to surrounding resorts and villages such as Sunny Beach and Nesebar. The network covers most tourist-relevant points including the Sea Garden, the central market, and the best areas to stay in Burgas.
2026 Ticket Prices
| Ticket type | Price (BGN) | Price (EUR approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride — cash (paid to driver) | 1.50 | €0.77 |
| Single ride — e-card / contactless | 1.30 | €0.67 |
| E-card with transfer (valid 45 min) | 1.30 | €0.67 |
| 10-ride bundle (e-card) | ~12.00 | €6.14 |
| Monthly pass (residents) | ~40.00 | €20.45 |
A growing number of Burgas buses now accept contactless bank cards directly on the validator — useful if you haven't picked up an e-card. Validators are located beside the driver and at the rear doors on newer vehicles.
Key Routes for Tourists
- Line 15: Airport ↔ City Centre (via Sea Garden)
- Line 1: Central station ↔ Sarafovo (northern beach area)
- Line 4: Centre ↔ Bratya Miladinovi residential area
- Line 7: Centre ↔ Izgrev district
- Red interurban lines: Sunny Beach (45 min, ~3 BGN), Nesebar (50 min, ~3.50 BGN)
Real-time departure data is available at burgasbus.info. The official site lists every line's timetable and has an English-language version. For live tracking, Google Maps covers most Burgasbus routes accurately in 2026.
Taxi Apps in Burgas — 2026 Fares and How to Book
Standard metered taxis remain the backbone of on-demand transport in Burgas. Unlike Sofia, Uber and Bolt do not operate here in 2026, but two local platforms fill the gap.
Recommended Apps
- TaxiMe: The most widely used app in Bulgarian cities. In Burgas, TaxiMe connects to licensed local companies including Orion Taxi. Download on iOS or Android, set a pickup point, and get a fixed price before confirming. Rates shown in-app align with the metered tariff below.
- Yellow Taxi (Жълто такси): A local Burgas company with its own app and phone line (+359 56 813 813). Reliable for airport runs and late-night pickups.
- Phone dispatch: Most taxi companies accept calls. Ask your hotel reception for their preferred local number — they often have a fixed-rate arrangement.
2026 Metered Taxi Fares in Burgas
| Fare element | Rate (BGN) |
|---|---|
| Flag fall (base fare) | 1.20 |
| Per km (daytime) | ~1.00 |
| Per km (night rate) | ~1.20 |
| Waiting time (per hour) | 12.00 |
Typical city-centre journeys cost 5–10 BGN. A run from the centre to Sunny Beach is around 60 BGN. Always confirm the meter is running when you get in. Legitimate taxis display their licence sticker on the windscreen and company name on the door.
Bike and E-Scooter Rental in Burgas
The flat terrain and the 9-km coastal promenade make Burgas excellent cycling territory. In 2026 several options exist for two-wheeled exploration:
- City bike stations: The municipality operates a small docked bike-share network along the Sea Garden and Primorski Park. Bikes can be unlocked with an app or card at the docking stations; expect 2–3 BGN per hour.
- Private rental shops: Several outlets near the Sea Garden rent standard city bikes from around 10 BGN per half-day and electric bikes from 20–25 BGN per half-day. Helmets are usually available free of charge on request.
- E-scooters: Kick e-scooters from third-party operators appear seasonally (May–September) along the seafront. Unlock typically costs 1 BGN and ride is charged at 0.15–0.20 BGN/minute. Check the operator's app for current station locations.
Cycling is an excellent way to reach the nearby things to do near Burgas such as the Poda Lagoon and Atanasovsko Lake, both within easy cycling distance of the centre.
Renting a Car in Burgas: Agencies and 2026 Daily Rates
A rental car is invaluable if you're planning multiple day trips from Burgas to Thracian archaeological sites or the Strandzha Nature Park. All major agencies are represented at the airport arrivals hall.
Agencies at Burgas Airport (BOJ)
- Hertz — counter inside arrivals; wide fleet, reliable 24/7 support
- Europcar — airport and city-centre location on Aleksandrovska St
- Sixt — competitive rates, accepts debit cards with a deposit
- Avis / Budget — shared counter, good availability in peak summer
- Local agencies (e.g. car-rental-burgas.com): Often 20–30% cheaper than multinationals; confirm full insurance and 24/7 breakdown cover
2026 Average Daily Rental Rates
| Car class | Low season (BGN/day) | Peak summer (BGN/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Economy (Fiat 500, VW Polo) | from 72 | 90–130 |
| Compact (VW Golf, Ford Focus) | 90–110 | 130–160 |
| SUV / Crossover | 130–180 | 180–250 |
Parking in central Burgas: The old town and the pedestrian zone around Aleksandrovska Street have limited parking. Use the paid surface lots near the central market (1.50–2 BGN/hour) or the covered car park on Slavyanska Street. Late-night parking in the Sea Garden area is often free outside peak season.
Driving rules: Drive on the right. Speed limits are 50 km/h in town, 90 km/h on regional roads, and 130 km/h on motorways. A vignette sticker is required for motorway driving (day vignette: 10 BGN, weekly: 15 BGN) — rental agencies usually include this but confirm before departure.
Bus #15 — Getting to Aquae Calidae and the Roman Baths
If you're visiting the Aquae Calidae Burgas Roman mineral baths, Bus #15 is your most convenient connection. The route from the city centre passes close to the thermal complex before continuing to the airport. The journey from the central bus station takes approximately 15 minutes and costs 1.50 BGN. Check burgasbus.info for the latest schedule as departure times shift slightly between summer and winter timetables.
Scenic Boat Trips from Burgas Port
Between May and September, seasonal boat services depart from Burgas Port on two popular routes:
- St. Anastasia Island: A 20-minute crossing to the rocky island with its restored monastery, seafood restaurant, and mini museum. Ferries run several times daily in summer; tickets at the port kiosk cost around 20 BGN return.
- Coastal cruise toward Sozopol: Longer scenic trips (2–3 hours) follow the Black Sea coastline south toward Sozopol and back. Prices range from 30–50 BGN depending on operator and duration.
Boat trips are weather-dependent — check conditions the morning of your excursion and book at the quayside rather than days in advance, as cancellations due to swell are common in early June.
Walking: The Most Practical Option in Central Burgas
The historic core of Burgas — from the central railway station to the Sea Garden and the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius — is compact enough to cover entirely on foot. Most hotels in the city centre are within a 10–15 minute walk of the main pedestrian street, the beach, and the top restaurants. For visitors staying in the best areas to stay in Burgas such as the Primorski or Centre districts, taxis and buses are rarely needed for daytime sightseeing.
Frequently Asked Questions — Burgas Transport 2026
Does Burgas have Uber or Bolt?
No — as of 2026, neither Uber nor Bolt operates in Burgas. Use the TaxiMe app or call Yellow Taxi (+359 56 813 813) for app-based or phone-dispatch rides at standard metered rates.
Can I walk from Burgas train and bus station to the old town?
Yes. The central railway station and the adjacent inter-city bus terminal are on the western edge of the city centre. The pedestrian zone (Aleksandrovska Street) and the Sea Garden are approximately a 10–15 minute walk east from the station — flat, well-lit, and straightforward.
Are there late-night airport buses after 23:00?
No. Bus #15 operates its last departure around 23:00. For late-night arrivals — common during charter season — a pre-booked private transfer (30–40 BGN) or a licensed taxi from the airport rank (18–25 BGN to the centre) are your only public options. Arrange your transfer before boarding if your flight lands after midnight.
Is parking in Burgas old town expensive?
Paid parking zones cover most of the centre and operate 08:00–20:00 Monday–Saturday. Rates are 1.50–2 BGN/hour. The covered car park on Slavyanska Street offers a cheaper daily rate. Many streets outside the immediate centre offer free parking after 20:00 and on Sundays.
How do I get from Burgas to Sunny Beach by public transport?
Red-line interurban Burgasbus services run from the central bus station to Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag) throughout the day. Journey time is approximately 45 minutes and the one-way fare is around 3 BGN. In peak summer, departures run every 20–30 minutes. Alternatively, a taxi costs approximately 60 BGN one-way.
Is the Burgas bus system tourist-friendly for non-Bulgarian speakers?
Reasonably so. Line numbers are displayed on the front of buses, major stops have route maps in both Cyrillic and Latin script, and Google Maps provides accurate real-time directions using Burgasbus timetables. The burgasbus.info website has an English-language interface with downloadable PDFs of all timetables.
Burgas rewards independent travellers. The bus network is affordable and covers all key tourist corridors, app-based taxis fill the gaps, and a rental car unlocks the wider Burgas region for day trips. Plan your transport before you arrive — and budget for that scenic boat trip to St. Anastasia Island. For more on what to do once you're moving, see our full guide to Burgas attractions.