Arriving at Sofia Airport: Terminals, Meeting Your Driver, City Centre, Plovdiv & Bansko

Landing at Sofia Airport for the first time? This guide walks you through the arrival itself: which of the two terminals you land at, what happens between the plane and the exit, where your driver meets you, and how a private transfer compares with the taxi rank and the metro. At the end you will find our fixed prices from the airport to the city centre, Plovdiv, Bansko, Borovets and other popular destinations.

How to book: orders in English by phone, or in the chat in your language on WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram. We answer the chat almost instantly, day and night.

Sofia Airport at a glance

• 2 terminals: Terminal 1 (the older, smaller building) and Terminal 2 (the larger, newer one). They are separate buildings, connected by a shuttle bus.
• About 15 km to the city centre, around 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
• Metro only at Terminal 2. From Terminal 1 you take the shuttle bus or a city bus first.
• Euro: Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026, so there is no need to change money for the trip into town.
• Our transfer: fixed price per vehicle, no prepayment, free waiting at the airport if your flight is late.

Terminal 1 or Terminal 2: how to know

Which terminal you use depends on the airline, not on where you fly from. The terminal is usually shown in your booking or on the airline’s app, and the airport’s own website lists departures and arrivals by terminal. If you are not sure, simply send us your flight number when you book: we check the terminal ourselves and the driver waits at the right one.

This matters more than it sounds. The terminals are not side by side, so a driver, a friend or a taxi waiting at the wrong building means a detour of several minutes. With the flight number, that does not happen.

From the plane to the exit: what to expect

If you fly in from another Schengen country, such as Germany, Italy or Austria, there is no passport control: Bulgaria has been a full Schengen member since 2025. Keep your ID card or passport with you anyway, because airlines ask for it. If you fly in from outside the Schengen area, for example from the UK, Israel or Turkey, you pass passport control first. Since the EU’s Entry/Exit System started, non-EU travellers register fingerprints and a photo on their first entry, so allow some extra time.

After baggage reclaim you walk through customs into the arrivals hall. That is where the different options start: our driver, the taxi rank outside, the metro at Terminal 2 and the city buses.

How our driver meets you

1. Before the trip you receive your driver’s name and phone number by message, so you know who is coming.
2. We track your flight. If you land early, we know. If the flight is delayed, the driver waits at the airport for free and with no time limit.
3. When you have your bags, send a short message or call. Baggage reclaim can take a while, and this is the easiest way to meet without searching.
4. The driver meets you in the arrivals hall of your terminal and helps you with your luggage to the car.
5. You pay the driver at the end of the ride. Nothing is paid in advance.

Travelling with children? An infant carrier, a child seat or a booster is free of charge. Just tell us how many children are travelling when you book.

Private transfer, taxi rank or metro: an honest comparison

All three options work, and the right one depends on your group, your luggage, the time you land and where you are going.

Metro and city buses

The metro station is right next to Terminal 2, and the line takes you to the centre (Serdika station) in around 20 minutes. For a solo traveller with a small suitcase it is the cheapest way into town. Tickets are sold at the station. The metro does not run all night, so check the current timetable and fares on the website of Sofia’s public transport before you fly, especially for a late arrival. City buses also stop at both terminals and go towards the centre.

Taxi from the rank

Taxis wait outside arrivals. Use the official taxi desk or rank at the exit and ignore anyone who approaches you inside the hall with an offer. Taxis in Sofia run on the meter, so the final price depends on traffic, the route and the time of day. For a short ride into the centre with light luggage this can be perfectly fine.

Private transfer

The price is fixed before you fly and it is for the whole vehicle, not per person. The driver is already waiting when you land, the vehicle is the right size for your group and luggage, and you are taken straight to the hotel, the apartment or the ski resort. This is the most comfortable choice for families, groups of three or four, ski luggage, night arrivals and any destination outside Sofia, where there is no direct public transport from the airport.

Our prices from Sofia Airport

These prices come from our Sofia Airport price list. Each price is for one vehicle with driver, fuel and road tolls included.

A practical example: four friends from the airport to Plovdiv pay 100 € for the car, so 25 € each, door to door. For more than 8 people we send a bus or several vehicles, and VIP cars (Mercedes E-Class or S-Class) are also available; both are priced on request.

Where people go from Sofia Airport

Sofia city centre

About 15 km and half an hour in normal traffic. Many hotels in the centre are on narrow or pedestrian streets; give us the exact address and the driver drops you as close as the street allows.

Plovdiv

About 150 km on the Trakia motorway, around 1 hour 45 minutes. There is no direct bus from the airport to Plovdiv: by public transport you first go into Sofia and then take a coach or a train, so the trip usually takes much longer with the transfers.

Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo

Borovets is the closest ski resort to the airport (75 km), Bansko is about 155 km and Pamporovo about 230 km. Buses to the mountains leave from the city, not from the airport, which is hard work with skis, boots and children. For the full winter picture – roads, ski bags, resort tips – see our ski transfers guide for winter 2026/27. Book your winter transfer now – fixed price, no prepayment.

Night arrivals and the busy holidays

We work 24/7, so a flight that lands at 2 a.m. is planned like any other. Over Christmas and New Year the airport and the mountain roads are at their busiest, and it pays to book early; our Christmas and New Year transfers guide has the holiday tips and prices from all four Bulgarian airports.

The way back to the airport

Add the return trip when you book and both ways are sorted. The driver arrives at your address on time and waits up to 15 minutes. Send us your flight time and we suggest when to leave, with a buffer for traffic and, in winter, for snow. You can also use the online booking form.

True Drivers was founded in 2015 and is part of a group with around 200 cars, 50 minivans, 100 buses and 20 E-Class and S-Class cars, so we can take anyone from a solo traveller to a whole ski club on one flight.

FAQ

Which terminal will I arrive at in Sofia?

It depends on your airline. Check your booking or the airport’s website, or just send us your flight number: we check the terminal and the driver waits at the right one.

Where exactly does the driver meet me?

In the arrivals hall of your terminal, after baggage reclaim and customs. You receive the driver’s name and phone number before the trip, so you can call or write as soon as you have your bags.

What happens if my flight is delayed?

We track your flight. If it is late, the driver waits at the airport for free and with no time limit, so you pay nothing extra for the airline’s delay.

How much is a transfer from Sofia Airport to the city centre?

With us it is 30 € by car for up to 4 people, 45 € by minivan for up to 6 and 50 € by minibus for up to 8. The price is for the whole vehicle and is fixed when you book.

Is the metro a good option from Sofia Airport?

Yes, for a solo traveller with light luggage who lands at Terminal 2 during the day and is going to the centre. For groups, children, skis, night arrivals or destinations outside Sofia, a private transfer is usually the simpler choice.

Do I have to pay in advance?

No. There is no prepayment: you book now and pay the driver at the end of the transfer.