Sofia Hit by Snowstorm: Travel Disrupted, Fewer Snow Removal Crews Deployed

Sofia, Bulgaria, experienced significant travel disruptions on Saturday, February 21, 2026, due to heavy snowfall. Roads were closed, public transportation was suspended or delayed and a tram derailed, impacting commuters throughout the city and surrounding areas.

Travel Chaos on Vitosha Mountain

Access to Vitosha Mountain was severely restricted as roads leading to the popular ski slopes were closed to cars and buses by 10:00 AM. Public transport lines 61, 63, and 66 were temporarily suspended. Reports surfaced on social media of traffic congestion along the route from the Dragalevtsi district to Aleko, the main ski area. While lines 61 and 63 were partially restored through the Boyana district to the Golden Bridges area, line 66 remained out of service. A pre-existing ban on vehicle access to the mountain between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM on weekends was also in effect.

City Transportation Struggles

The snowfall also caused problems within Sofia itself. Passengers were filmed pushing bus 120 near the Cherkovna Street bridge, and stalled trolleybuses were reported on Vasil Levski Boulevard. A tram derailed on Hristo Botev Boulevard, further adding to the transportation challenges. Traffic congestion was also reported at the exit of Sofia through Vladaya.

Road Closures and Limited Snow Removal Efforts

The road connecting Sofia to Samokov, a key route to the Borovets ski resort, remained closed for the second consecutive day. Concerns were raised regarding the number of snow removal crews deployed. The Metropolitan Municipality reported 45 machines operating at 8:00 AM, increasing to 75 by 10:00 AM, and 100 by noon. However, this was significantly fewer than the 170 snow plows reported during a previous, less severe snowfall earlier in the week.

Municipal Response and Areas of Focus

The municipality attributed the lower number of snow plows to an initial forecast that did not predict precipitation in certain areas of the city. By 10:30 AM, snow removal operations were underway in eleven of Sofia’s 24 districts, including Ovcha Kupel, Vitosha, Lyulin, Serdika, Kremikovtsi, Ilinden, Mladost, Bankya, Sredets, Novi Iskar, and Nadezhda, as well as on the municipal road network. In the Vitosha Nature Park, sanding and snow removal continued on the roads connecting Dragalevtsi to Aleko and Boyana to Zlatni Mostove.

Safety Recommendations

The municipality urged drivers to use vehicles equipped for winter conditions and to drive at appropriate speeds. Property owners were reminded of their responsibility to clear snow and ice from sidewalks and surrounding areas.