By T1 security at Sofia, Relay is your last grab-and-go stop
Right in Terminal T1 at Sofia Airport, Relay is the basic convenience/newsstand option for snacks, drinks, and reading material before low-cost flights. Expect a small footprint, tighter aisles, and prices a bit higher than city shops, which is standard for SOF. You’ll see the familiar red Relay branding near the departure gates, so you won’t miss it on the walk to security and passport control.
Relay in T1 leans on quick items: bottled water, soft drinks, chocolate bars, packaged pastries, and chips, plus magazines and a few English-language newspapers. A 500 ml drink usually runs more than in town, so buy heavy stuff like big water bottles in the city if you can and just top up here. Don’t expect hot food or fresh sandwiches in any depth; think impulse snacks to carry onto a Ryanair or Wizz Air flight.
Card payments are standard at T1’s Relay, and contactless typically works, which helps if you’re burning through a EUR or BGN card before departure. Opening hours generally track flight banks, with the shop open for the morning rush and staying active into the late evening when T1 has departures, but you might find shorter hours on very quiet midweek days. If you land late at night into T1, don’t count on Relay for a full restock of supplies.
Most people just grab water and a snack here to avoid paying onboard Ryanair or Wizz Air drink prices, which can run several euros for a small bottle. Selection is basic, but it beats scrambling for exact change on the plane. Tip: if you care about specific brands or healthier options, do a grocery stop in Sofia first and use Relay only for last-minute top-ups like magazines or an extra drink.