Sofia Airport

Sofia Airport (SOF) serves Sofia, Bulgaria's capital and largest city, nestled at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. Located 10 km east of the city center, it's Bulgaria's main international gateway and growing as a hub for budget European travel.

The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 (older, some low-cost carriers) and Terminal 2 (newer, main terminal). Terminal 2 handles most traffic.

Key airlines: Bulgaria Air (national carrier), Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and various European carriers.

SOF is east of Sofia:

• To Sofia city center: 10 km, 20-35 minutes
• To Vitosha Boulevard: 12 km, 25-40 minutes
• To NDK (Palace of Culture): 11 km, 25-35 minutes
• To Vitosha Mountain ski area: 30 km, 45-60 minutes

Uber does not operate in Bulgaria. Use Yellow Taxi or OK Supertrans.

Taxis from the official stands:

• To city center: BGN 20-30 (~$11-16 USD)
• Use official airport taxis (OK Supertrans) to avoid scams
• Agree on price beforehand or ensure meter is running

Tip: Only use official taxis from designated stands.

Metro

Metro Line 1 connects to Sofia:

• Route: Terminal 2 → Serdika (city center)
• Journey time: 20 minutes
• Frequency: Every 5-10 minutes
• Cost: BGN 1.60 (~$0.90)

The metro is excellent and the best option. Station is at Terminal 2.

Bus

Bus 84 from Terminal 1 connects to the metro.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Terminal 2 P1	BGN 30/day	Adjacent
Long-term	BGN 15/day	Shuttle

SOF has decent dining:

Terminal 2:

• Bulgarian restaurant
• International options
• Cafés and fast food

Terminal 1:

• Limited options

Network: SOF Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Good
• Easy connection

SIM cards from:

• Shops in arrivals
• Carriers: A1, Vivacom, Telenor
• Prices: BGN 15-30 for prepaid with data

ATMs in both terminals.

Currency: Bulgarian Lev (BGN). Approximately 1.8 BGN = 1 USD. (Fixed to Euro)

Cards increasingly accepted, but cash still useful.

• Duty-free
• Bulgarian products (rose oil, wine)
• Travel essentials

Bulport Lounge (Terminal 2)

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or BGN 50 walk-in
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi

Terminal 1 Lounge

• Access: Business class, walk-in available

Hotels in Sofia city center or near Vitosha Boulevard. The city center is 20-35 minutes from the airport.

Sofia is the Balkans' underrated gem—ancient history, Vitosha mountain backdrop, and incredible value:

Sofia attractions (with travel time from airport):

• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: 30 min—stunning gold-domed Orthodox cathedral
• St. George Rotunda: 30 min—4th-century Roman church, Sofia's oldest
• Vitosha Boulevard (Vitoshka): 35 min—main pedestrian shopping street
• National Palace of Culture (NDK): 35 min—communist-era monument, gardens
• Serdika ruins: 30 min—Roman city beneath central Sofia

History layers:

• Roman Serdika: Ruins visible in metro stations and city center
• Ottoman heritage: Banya Bashi Mosque, Central Market Hall
• Communist architecture: NDK, Hotel Balkan
• Byzantine/Orthodox churches: Multiple stunning examples

Day trips from Sofia:

• Vitosha Mountain: 45 min—skiing in winter, hiking year-round
• Rila Monastery: 2 hours—UNESCO site, Bulgaria's holiest
• Plovdiv: 2 hours—European Capital of Culture, ancient amphitheater
• Boyana Church: 30 min—UNESCO frescoes from 1259

Food & drink:

• Shopska salad: Tomato, cucumber, cheese—Bulgarian classic
• Banitsa: Filo pastry with cheese, eaten for breakfast
• Kavarma: Meat and vegetable stew
• Kebapche: Grilled minced meat
• Rakia: Fruit brandy, essential for toasts
• Bulgarian wine: Underrated, excellent value

Local tips:

• Head shaking: Bulgarians shake head for "yes" and nod for "no"—confusing!
• Incredible value: One of Europe's cheapest capitals
• Mountain proximity: Vitosha offers skiing 30 min from downtown
• Cyrillic script: Bulgaria invented Cyrillic—signs are in Cyrillic
• Metro first: Excellent metro system; use it
• Taxi scams: Only use official taxis; agree on price first
• Thermal waters: Sofia has natural hot springs; mineral water flows freely
• Orthodox culture: Many beautiful churches; dress appropriately
• Rose oil: Bulgaria produces 70% of world's rose oil—good souvenir
• The city has Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Communist layers