The very heart of the city centre is now 'Blue Zone', which means you have to pay 2 leva per hour for parking between 08.00 and 19.00 on working days and 08:00 and 14:00 on Saturdays. A maximum stay of 2 hours is allowed, after which you need to move your car to another zone or drive around for 20 minutes before coming back to the Blue Zone. The relatively high price means that parking spaces can usually be found for those who just need a couple of hours.
The 'Green Zone' expands a little away from the very central part of the city (you can tell whether you are in Blue or Green Zone by the street signs) and costs 1 lev per hour for a maximum of 4 hours, making it a more attractive option often just across the road.
You can also pay by SMS if you have an account with a local GSM operator: send your registration number to the number 1302 for Blue Zone or 1303 for Green Zone. The good news is that if your vehicle is 100% electric you do not pay for parking in either of the zones.
Vouchers (talon za parking in Bulgarian) are available from nearby shops and also machines (around Alexander Nevsky Cathedral). You may need to ask someone to help you fill out the talon as instructions are only in Bulgarian.
Тhere are also guarded car parks dotted around the city centre, charging between 2 and 3 leva per hour or approximately 10 - 15 leva for the day
Check carefully if you are in a paid parking area as you will be clamped if you fail to pay. Should you get clamped you will find a note in Bulgarian on your windscreen giving you a telephone number to call. There is also a reference number for which you will be asked and the operator may also want to know what street you are on and the make of car.
In some areas ‘spider’ trucks are very active with deliberate parking traps set up in some cases (For example: several spaces aparently reserved for taxis on bul.Hristo Botev - but not actually used by taxis). They will be quick to remove your car to a nearby compound - to be sure that by the time they have done the round a new 'sucker' has moved into the space. To retrieve your car you will have to go to the compound and pay 65 leva to get your car back plus an additional fine. If you suspect your car may have been towed away, call t. 983 6747 for information or you can use an app.