Sofia Airport: Location, Destinations and Services

Vasil Levski Sofia Airport (IATA code SOF) is Bulgaria’s main international airport and a hub for the flag carrier Bulgaria Air . The airport is located 10 km east of the capital, which makes it a suitable starting point for travels in Western Bulgaria. Sofia Airport also offers quick and easy access to the city centre: bus lines 84 and 184 and the metro line 1 can take you downtown in about 20 minutes. 

Sofia Airport operates flights of major airlines such as Air France , British Airways , Lufthansa , Turkish Airways and low-cost Wizz air , Easyjet , Ryanair and others.

In case your flight has been delayed or cancelled at Sofia Airport in the last 3 years, according to European Regulation 261/04, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600. The experienced legal team at SkyRefund will gladly help you claim your reimbursement.  

Location

Sofia Airport is located about 10 kilometers east of the capital, which makes it a suitable starting point for travels in Western Bulgaria. Many tourists аrriving at the airport head directly to the popular ski and snowboard resorts Bansko and Borovets or go to Vitosha mountain which is less than an hour away.

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Terminals

Terminal 1

This terminal serves exclusively the low-cost carriers Wizz Air and easyJet. It was recently renovated and has a capacity of 1.8 million passengers per year. In the west wing of Terminal 1, there is also a VIP terminal with a separate entrance. It is mainly used for government and diplomatic flights.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is a hub for the national carrier Bulgaria Air. This new and modern terminal is also used by other major carriers and by one low-cost carrier—Ryanair.  The annual capacity of Terminal 2 is 2.6 million passengers, and during rush hour it can serve 2,500 people.

From September 2026, Sofia Airport will have a new checked baggage handling system with 52 counters. In addition to standard check-in, self-nag drop check-in is now possible. This increases the processing capacity to 3,200 bags per hour instead of the previous 400. The system also has an advanced explosives detection scanner.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is the newest addition to Sofia Airport. It's currently under construction, with the airport intending to have Terminal 3 running by April 2031. With this addition, Sofia Airport intends to become the first 5-star regional airport in Europe.  The terminal will have 4 levels and increase the number of gates to 34 to meet the growing demand at the airport.  

Transport

Sofia Airport offers quick and easy access not only to the capital but also to various parts of the country.

Between Terminals

To travel between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, you can use bus 84 or the free shuttles provided by the airport. Both stops are located in front of “Arrivals” in both terminals.

To Sofia

There are several options for getting from Sofia Airport to the capital:

• Buses — Lines 84 and 184 of the public transport connect Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 with the city. It takes around 40-50 minutes to reach the city centre, and the ticket price is €0.80. You can find the bus stops at the entrance to each of the terminals.
• Metro — The metro station at Sofia Airport is located at Terminal 2 (next to “Departures”). With the metro (line M4 — yellow line) you can reach Business Park, the city center (which is about 20-25 minutes away) and to more distant neighborhoods such as “Lyulin”. You can connect with the M2 (blue) line at Serdika, which runs through the city center and connects the northern, western, and southern neighborhoods. With the same line, you can also reach the Central Railway Station and the Central Bus Station. At the Sofia University of St. Kliment Ohridski, there is a connection to the M3 (green) line, which connects the airport with the eastern and southern neighborhoods.

You can buy tickets for public transport from the buses or the ticket stands located at the entrance to the metro at Terminal 2. The check-in devices in the vehicles also have the option of contactless payment. The ticket costs €0.80 one way and is valid for 30 minutes.

• Taxi — Taxi stands are located at “Arrivals” in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. A taxi from the airport to the city center of Sofia costs between €10 and €20, and takes between 20 and 40 minutes depending on traffic. You can book a taxi via the apps of Yellow, TaxiMe and Volt.
• Rent a car — Sofia Airport has agreements with several companies that offer car rental. In the Arrivals lounge of both terminals, passengers can get additional information from the offices of Avis, Sixt, Europcar and Choice rent a car.
• By car — Both terminals have parking lots that allow for both hourly and longer-term use. The parking lot at Terminal 2 is a multi-story car park with 800 spaces. The price for parking is between €20 and €60 per day depending on the stay. For a short stay of a few hours, the price is between €3 and €15.

Intercity transport

The metro and bus public transport provide a connection to the Central Bus Station and the Central Railway Station Sofia, which are located close to each other. From here, passengers can take a train or bus to different points of the country.

Sofia Airport also offers domestic flights to the airports in Varna and Burgas, which are especially popular among tourists.

Airlines and destinations

Sofia Airport operates flights of major airlines such as Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airways and low-cost Wizz Air, Easyjet , Ryanair and others.

Among the busiest routes are those to London, Munich, Frankfurt, Varna, Istanbul, Paris, etc.

In case your flight has been delayed or cancelled at Sofia Airport in the past 3 years, according to European Regulation 261/04, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600. The experienced legal team at SkyRefund will gladly help you claim your compensation. 

Services

Shops

Newspapers and magazines, Bulgarian souvenirs, high-quality perfumery, alcohol, medicines, cigarettes, etc. are sold at the terminals of Sofia Airport.

Food and drink

In both terminals, passengers can find vending machines, as well as coffee and bars offering soft drinks, sandwiches, and desserts. 

At Terminal 1, you can find Amo, Sofia Eats, Costa, and Boulangerie Banitsa. Terminal 2 has a larger selection of cafes and bars, including Upper Crust, Starbucks, Negroni, Bar 09-27, and Eddy's Pizza.

VIP lounge

Terminal 1 has a VIP lounge offering free internet access, cable TV, drinks, sandwiches, and more. The lounge is available for an additional fee (between €120 and €170 depending on the length of stay) or for guests with Priority Pass, Diners Club, Club Card, etc. 

The VIP lounge also has its parking lot with parking prices between €40 and €100 per day depending on the number of days of stay.

Interesting

At Terminal 2, photography enthusiasts can find a special area that allows year-round filming of planes taking off and landing at Sofia Airport.