Terminal 2

B7 and C1 are the British Airways gates regulars watch first.

Terminal 2 at Sofia Airport (SOF) is the newer main building, handling Bulgaria Air, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and most other legacy and alliance carriers. BA regulars report they almost always board and deplane via jet bridges here, usually at gates B7 and C1, instead of remote bus stands. The terminal handles most oneworld and Star Alliance flights, so if you’re flying to hubs like LHR, FRA or VIE, you’ll almost certainly be in T2.

Check-in for Bulgaria Air, Lufthansa and Austrian sits in the main departures hall of Terminal 2, with security just a short walk beyond the counters. Flyers on LHR–SOF runs mention a quick in-and-out flow: land at C1, be at passport control in under 5 minutes, and curbside in about 20 minutes if bags arrive on time. Passport control queues can stack up during morning waves around 06:00–08:00, so build a buffer on early departures.

Once you clear security in T2, gates split across B and C piers, with contact gates like B7 and C1 used frequently by British Airways and other European carriers. Walking time from security to the farthest gate is roughly 7–10 minutes at a normal pace. Screens near security usually flag BA and Lufthansa departures early, so you can pick a side of the pier to sit without bouncing back and forth.

Vitosha Lounge access runs through the contract lounges upstairs.

Terminal 2 has multiple lounges: Pliska Lounge, Preslav Lounge, a generic Contract Lounge, and a separate VIP Lounge. Star Alliance and some Priority Pass users often end up in one of the contract spaces, accessed via elevators or stairs one level above the main departures floor near the central atrium. A Lufthansa trip report notes a quick security run straight up to a lounge before a mid-day flight, with boarding calls clearly audible about 30–40 minutes before departure.

If you’re hungry airside in T2, you’ll see a cluster of fast food and coffee near the center: McDonald’s, Subway, Sbarro, Costa Coffee, and Onda Coffee Break sit after security with lines that spike around the 05:30–07:30 bank. Skaptoburger adds a local burger option with prices around the €7–10 range, while Porto Café, a Wine Bar, and generic Bar and Diner spots cover beer and wine before short-haul flights. Figure on 15–20 minutes from queuing to getting food at peak morning times.

For last-minute supplies inside T2, the big player is the airside Billa supermarket, where you can grab water for under 2 BGN, snacks, and basic groceries before heading to the gate. Standard airport Duty Free sits near the main junction of the pier with local wines and spirits. A Souvenir Shop, Bookshop, and Relay outlets cover magazines, snacks, and gifts; prices run higher than city shops but lower than some Western European airports.

Non-food shopping in Terminal 2 leans basic but covers the essentials: a Pharmacy for painkillers and travel meds, a Travel Essentials Shop for chargers and neck pillows, and an Electronics Shop with headphones and adapters. There’s also a small Fashion Boutique, Accessories Shop, Jewellery Shop, and Toy Shop, mostly used by passengers killing 30–40 minutes before boarding. If you forgot a cable or plug, this is the place to fix it before heading to a gate like B7.

On arrival into T2, watch the taxi situation. Sofia locals and Hyatt Regency Sofia regulars stress using only the officially contracted “OK” taxis at the Terminal 2 rank; they exit the terminal, follow the signs to the marked queue, and refuse any drivers who approach inside the building. A normal ride from T2 to the city center runs around 15–25 BGN and takes 20–30 minutes, traffic dependent.

One practical tip: if you’re meeting someone off a British Airways or Lufthansa flight that usually parks at C1 or B7, stand near the corresponding sector of arrivals about 15 minutes after scheduled landing; with contact gates and short walking distances, many passengers clear customs and appear that quickly.