A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sofia vs. Toledo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sofia or Toledo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sofia and Toledo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Sofia or Toledo?

Sofia

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also its largest city. Some people have tried to compare it to Budapest, but the cities are actually quite different. In Sofia you will find wonderful European style architecture intertwined with Communist style buildings. It's fascinating to see the two dramatically different building styles immediately next to each other. There are also many Orthodox Churches around town, with their beautiful domes and intricate details.

Toledo

Set upon a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain lies the ancient city of Toledo. Its intricate architecture is only enriched by its profound historical background, spurring tourists from all over the world to gaze at and study the story of Toledo. It has been given many names throughout its history, including the "Imperial City" for being the main venue for Charles V, Holy Roman Empire, as well as the "City of the Three Cultures" for its historical co-existence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews. In 1986, UNESCO named Toledo a World Heritage Site due to the plethora of extensive cultural and monumental heritages. You will find that though an old city, it is just buzzing to life with things to do and places to see!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Toledo or Sofia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Toledo is $132. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Sofia and Toledo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sofia $40
    Toledo $70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sofia $80
    Toledo $140
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Toledo

Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Toledo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Sofia


Hotels in Toledo


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Sofia Hotel Prices and Toledo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sofia $8.38
    Toledo $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $186
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sofia HTL-APT (SOF): $48
  • Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $66
  • Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $194
  • Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $191
  • Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $83
  • Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
  • Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $195
  • Transfer from Sofia Airport T1 to Bansko: $102
  • Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
  • Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $687
  • Sofia Airport SOF Private Transfer to Sofia City in Business Car: $54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Toledo

Also for Toledo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Balloon Ride with Transfer Option from Madrid: $262
  • Hot Air Balloon over Toledo with optional transfers from Madrid : $234
  • Madrid: Private Airport Transfer to Toledo: $180
  • Private Transfer from Toledo or Avila to MAD Airport by MiniVan: $176
  • Madrid: Puy du Fou Round-Trip Transfer & Optional Ticket: $36
  • From Puy du Fou Round-Trip Transfer: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Toledo?

Prices for flights to both Toledo and Sofia change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sofia $18
    Toledo $42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Market Food Tour: $47
  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $48
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $97
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $106
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $108
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $118
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $118
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $131

Typical Food Prices in Toledo

For Toledo, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $12

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sofia $5.92
    Toledo $32

Tours and Activities in Sofia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.

  • Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa cave/Small group bigger experience: $98
  • Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
  • Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $109
  • 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $86
  • 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $82
  • 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $93
  • 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $98
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
  • Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $108
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
  • Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $75
  • Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59

Tours and Activities in Toledo

For Toledo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Toledo Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $263
  • Auidio Tour - Toledo - Monuments of the 3 cultures: $6.41
  • Boat cruise with guide on board + Historical City Adventure Gift: $11
  • City Sightseeing Toledo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
  • English Tour - Toledo Complete + Visit Casa Palacio: $8.56
  • Essence of Private Tour with a Local Archaeologist: $191
  • Essential Toledo with monuments and optional Legends tour: $27
  • From Madrid: Avila, Segovia & Toledo Private Tour: $812
  • From Madrid: Toledo Cathedral & Jewish Quarter Half-Day Tour: $56
  • Full-Day Private Toledo Tour from Madrid With Driver & Guide: $727
  • Guided tour of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez: $13
  • Guided tour of the Toledo Cathedral (Input included): $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sofia $8.39
    Toledo $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia Pub Crawl - Party Tour of Sofia's Best Bars & Clubs: $16
  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $75
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $98
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
  • Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
  • Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $139

Sample the Local Flavors in Toledo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toledo:

  • From Madrid: Toledo Tour with Wine Tasting and 7 Monuments: $58


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Toledo, we can see that Toledo is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sofia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sofia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Toledo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Toledo than you might in Sofia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sofia Expensive? and Is Toledo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sofia or Toledo?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Toledo. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Toledo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.