Driving in Sofia is an extremely difficult thing. Well at least until you get used to the logic of the traffic. Basically there are no rules until whatever you do is safe.
Although driving around with a foreign registration plate will for sure attract the attention of the police. So I strongly recomend you not to do stupid things when driving in Sofia. Nevertheless you will be pretty much sure involved in series of rule brakings because of the same above mentioned traffic logic.
As drivers we are used to make signals with hands or switching on and off the headlights. That helps much when you’re in the middle of the traffic jam and you won’t need specific language knowledge. Attention: the headshakings for Yes and No in Bulgaria are exactly the opposite of those in the rest of Europe. The only exception that I’m aware of is Albania. So be careful about that.
Pay special attention to extremely expensive cars like limousines and SUVs. They are driven by wealthy people that in most cases are somehow related to the mob. You can consider them as special vehicles like ambulances or fire brigade autos and let them take advantage in situations requiring so. Ok, I’m kidding but be careful not to hit susch cars.
Last thing are the Pernik drivers. It’s a nearby city that is famous for the “driving abilities and ambitions” of its inhabitants. You can easily recognise them by the starting letters on their registration plates – PK like here:
Parking
That’s my favourite part. In the outscirts of the city you can park wherever you like to. In the center of the city, though, you have to know some rules. The center is considered as the Blue zone (Sinia zona – in Bulgarian). It is marked with the following signs:
Yo can park in such area but should pay a fee to an officer of the Sofia Parking Company. You can recognise them by the specific yellowish clothes that they wear:
They will give you a ticket that you must put on your dashboard so when inspection comes, they can see that you have paid your stay. One hour stay costs 1 leva. Basically you don’t pay for a special parking but for the privilege to stop in the center. Places to stop are drawn on the street itself so you can’t miss them.
The best areas to stop with a good chance to find a place are near the Bulgarian national bank, The Vassil Levski Stadium and the so called Doctor’s garden which is just behind the National library. A place with lots of parking spots is also the area around the famous “St. Aleksander Nevsky” cathedral.
And don’t leave anything visible insisde the car, because you will end with a broken window and robbed.
