Airports in Bulgaria – Which Airport Should You Fly To?
Bulgaria has four main airports with scheduled passenger flights: Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna. But they are very different in terms of the number of flights available and the parts of Bulgaria they are most useful for.
Sofia is Bulgaria’s main year-round airport, with by far the widest choice of routes. Burgas and Varna become much more important during the summer months, particularly for holidays on the Black Sea coast, while Plovdiv has a much smaller selection of flights.
Choosing the right airport can make quite a difference to your journey once you arrive, so here’s a simple guide to which one makes the most sense for your trip.
Sofia Airport (SOF)
For most visitors to Bulgaria, Sofia Airport is the first one to check. As the country’s main international airport, Sofia has the widest choice of year-round flights and connections. It is the obvious choice if you are visiting Sofia itself, but it is also a useful gateway for much of western and central Bulgaria.
If you are heading to Bansko or Borovets for a ski holiday, Sofia will likely be the most practical airport. Plovdiv may look closer on the map for some destinations, but the much greater choice of flights into Sofia often makes it the easier option. The airport is also very well connected to Sofia itself, with the Metro running directly from Terminal 2 into the city.
We have a separate Sofia Airport Guide with more information about the terminals, security, transport into Sofia, lounges and what to expect when you arrive.
Plovdiv Airport (PDV)
Plovdiv does have an international airport, but it is considerably smaller than Sofia and has a very limited selection of scheduled flights.
There are currently direct services to a handful of European destinations, including London and Milan, although routes and frequencies change throughout the year. If you happen to find a convenient direct flight, Plovdiv Airport can be a great option for visiting Plovdiv and parts of southern Bulgaria. The airport is around 12 km from the city, so arriving here puts you much closer to Plovdiv than flying into Sofia.
Burgas Airport (BOJ)
If you are heading to Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast, Burgas Airport is the one to look at first. It is particularly convenient for Burgas, Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach and the many smaller seaside towns and resorts along this part of the coast.
Burgas has a large number of international connections during the summer holiday season. In fact, the airport had direct flights to more than 70 international destinations during 2026.
The important thing to remember is that the choice of flights changes considerably with the seasons. If you are travelling outside the main summer period, you will find far fewer options and Sofia can sometimes be the more practical airport, even if it means a longer journey once you arrive in Bulgaria.
Varna Airport (VAR)
Varna Airport serves Varna and Bulgaria’s northern Black Sea coast. It is the airport to check first if you are visiting Varna, Golden Sands, Albena, Balchik or other destinations in the northern coastal region.
Like Burgas, Varna becomes particularly busy during the summer season, when there is a much wider range of international holiday flights. It does, however, have some useful connections outside the peak summer months too, so it is always worth checking what is operating for your particular dates.
Which Bulgarian Airport Is Best for Your Trip?
| If you’re visiting… | Airport to check first |
|---|---|
| Sofia | Sofia (SOF) |
| Bansko | Sofia (SOF) |
| Borovets | Sofia (SOF) |
| Plovdiv | Plovdiv (PDV) or Sofia (SOF) |
| Burgas | Burgas (BOJ) |
| Sozopol | Burgas (BOJ) |
| Nessebar | Burgas (BOJ) |
| Sunny Beach | Burgas (BOJ) |
| Varna | Varna (VAR) |
| Golden Sands | Varna (VAR) |
| Albena | Varna (VAR) |
| Balchik | Varna (VAR) |
Our Advice
If you’re travelling to Bulgaria outside the main summer season, start by looking at Sofia. It has the most extensive year-round flight network and is often the easiest way into the country even when Sofia isn’t your final destination.
For a summer holiday on the Black Sea coast, it makes much more sense to look at Burgas or Varna first. Bulgaria isn’t a small country when you’re driving from one side to the other, and flying directly to the coast can save you several hours of travelling after you land.
Plovdiv is slightly different. We wouldn’t plan a trip around flying there unless there happens to be a convenient route from your departure airport, but if there is, it can be a very easy way to start a trip around Plovdiv and southern Bulgaria.
Flight schedules change frequently, particularly at the coastal airports, so always check the current schedule before making plans.
Travelling to Burgas for Eurovision 2027?
There will be one particularly big reason to fly to Burgas next year. Burgas is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2027, with the two semi-finals taking place on 11 and 13 May and the Grand Final on 15 May. Eurovision Song Contest
Additional flights are expected around the event. Several European airlines have already indicated that they plan to add extra flights to Burgas during May, while Bulgaria Air has announced plans to increase flights between Sofia and Burgas in the run-up to Eurovision.
The full summer 2027 schedule has not yet been finalised, so if you’re planning a Eurovision trip, keep an eye on new routes and additional flights as they are announced.
Photo by Sevcan Alkan on Unsplash
