Burgas to Sozopol: Bus Times, Taxi Costs & Transport Guide (2026)

Fast Facts: Getting from Burgas to Sozopol

Sozopol sits about 35km south of Burgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, and pairs naturally with a look at Burgas attractions if you're planning a longer coastal trip. Most travelers reach Sozopol in under an hour by any of the options below. Times shown are typical outside major holidays; summer weekends can add delays for buses and drivers on Route 9 alike.

Taking the Bus from Burgas to Sozopol

Every bus to Sozopol leaves from Bus Station South (Avtogara Yug) in Sector 5, close to Burgas's central train station and a short walk from the Sea Garden. If you need to get across the city first, this guide to Burgas Transportation: A Complete 2026 Guide covers local buses and taxis. Two operators run the Sozopol route, Burgasbus and Sozopolbus, and their combined departures give you a bus roughly every 30 minutes across most of the day. Buy your ticket from the driver as you board, or at the station kiosk if it is staffed when you arrive. Carry small Bulgarian lev notes, since change for large bills is not always available on board. Winter frequency can thin compared with the summer table below, so check current timetables if you are traveling outside the June to September peak.

The Ravadinovo Route: A Detour Worth Knowing

Burgasbus marks certain departures from Burgas with an asterisk on its published timetable, and those services detour through Ravadinovo before continuing to Sozopol. As of the current schedule, the 06:00, 13:00, and 18:00 departures make this detour. That matters if your stop is Ravadinovo's Castle "In Love with the Wind," since it sits directly on this route. Always check current opening hours and ticket details for the castle before you go, since these can shift seasonally. Confirm which specific departures carry the asterisk before you leave, since exact times can be adjusted between seasons. If Sozopol is your only destination, any other Burgasbus departure, or a Sozopolbus service, gets you there without the extra stop.

Burgas Airport (BOJ) to Sozopol: The Two-Step Route

There is no direct public bus from Burgas Airport (BOJ) to Sozopol. Reaching Sozopol by public transport means two legs instead of one. First, take Bus No. 15 from the airport into central Burgas. Second, transfer to a Burgasbus or Sozopolbus service at Bus Station South. This Burgas Airport guide covers the first leg, including where to catch Bus No. 15 outside the terminal. Budget extra time for this connection, since it depends on catching two separate services rather than one continuous journey. If your flight lands late in the day, check the last Sozopol departure from Bus Station South before committing to the bus routing. For groups or anyone landing with heavy luggage, a pre-booked private transfer or a rental car skips the transfer entirely and can be worth the extra cost.

Taxis and Private Transfers to Sozopol

Neither Burgasbus nor Sozopolbus publishes taxi fares, so treat any quoted price with caution and confirm the cost before you get in. Expect a metered taxi to cost noticeably more than the bus fare for the same 35km trip. Pre-booked private transfers are priced higher again, in exchange for a fixed rate and a guaranteed pickup time. Compare a quoted taxi fare with the bus and rental options above before agreeing to a price, so you know if it's reasonable for the distance. Tourist pricing is most common at the airport rank and around Sozopol's harbor. Ask for the fare upfront, or book through a metered taxi app rather than hailing a car at the pier. Confirm the pickup point and driver contact details in advance, especially if you are arranging a transfer for a late flight arrival.

Driving and Car Hire: Route 9 and Parking in Sozopol

Driving from Burgas to Sozopol follows Route 9, part of the E87, a direct coastal road that takes roughly 35 to 45 minutes outside peak traffic. Route 9 hugs the coast for most of the drive, with Chernomoretz roughly midway between the two towns. Expect the route to slow considerably in July and August, when summer traffic backs up on the approach to Sozopol's Old Town. For shoulder-season timing that avoids the worst congestion, see the best time to visit Burgas. This Car Hire in Burgas, Bulgaria: The Complete 2026 Rental Guide is a useful starting point if you are picking up a rental on arrival. If you plan to continue further down the coast after Sozopol, a rental car keeps that option open in ways the bus schedule does not. Parking inside the Old Town is limited and largely metered under the town's Blue Zone rules. Plan to park on the outskirts and walk in, rather than circling the peninsula for a space near the center.

Planning Your Sozopol Visit: Day Trip or Overnight

Sozopol works well as a half-day or full-day trip, and it is one of the more popular Best Day Trips from Burgas (2026 Guide). A few hours cover the Old Town's wooden houses and the Apollonia Amphitheater, both within walking distance of the bus stop near the peninsula. Central Beach sits just below the Old Town if you want swimming time before the bus back. An overnight stay lets you see the Old Town in the early morning or evening, once the day-trip buses have emptied out. Travelers who want more than a day should look at Sozopol Hotels: Where to Stay by Neighborhood (2026 Guide) for options close to the Old Town. If you are deciding between the coast's two best-known day trips, compare this route with Burgas to Nessebar: Bus, Taxi, and Ferry Transport Guide (2026). For a side-by-side look at sights, see 12 Best Things to Do in Nessebar (2026). If you would rather stay on the sand, Burgas's beaches are a shorter trip from the city center.

Which Option Is Best for You?

The right choice depends on who's traveling, how much luggage you have, and where you're starting from. Use the breakdown below to match your trip to the right mode.

• Solo or budget travelers starting in central Burgas: take the bus from Bus Station South; it's the cheapest option and runs roughly every 30 minutes.
• Families landing at the airport with luggage: book a private transfer directly to Sozopol rather than routing through Bus No. 15 and a second bus.
• Sightseers who want flexibility: rent a car so you can add stops along Route 9 and set your own return time.
• Anyone visiting Ravadinovo's castle en route: pick an asterisked Burgasbus departure that detours through Ravadinovo.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

A few small mistakes account for most of the frustration travelers report on this route, and all of them are easy to avoid with a little planning.

• Missing the last bus back: Sozopolbus's final departure from Sozopol runs around 20:30 and Burgasbus's around 21:00, so confirm the current last service before you head out for the evening.
• Confusing the two bus stations: buses to Sozopol leave from Bus Station South (Avtogara Yug), not Bus Station West (Zapad); double-check before you set off.
• Not carrying small cash: fares are typically paid in Bulgarian lev on board, and drivers may not be able to break large notes.
• Assuming a direct airport bus exists: there isn't one, so budget time for the Bus No. 15 transfer or book a private transfer in advance.
• Assuming schedules never change: confirm current departure times and sector assignments on Burgasbus's official site before you travel, especially outside peak summer season.