--- title: "Bulgaria Airport Smoking Areas" canonical: "https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/" language: "en-us" description: "Smoking at Bulgarian airports: Sofia (SOF) has a free area by Gates B1–B4 and a Primeclass terrace after security; Burgas and Varna have open-air terraces." lastmod: "2026-10-24T00:00:00Z" --- # Bulgaria Airport Smoking Areas Yes, you can smoke at Bulgarian airports after security: Sofia has a free smoking area by Gates B1–B4 and a smoking terrace in the paid Primeclass Lounge, both in Terminal 2; Burgas has open-air spaces and terraces in its departure lounge; and Varna has an open-air terrace. Bulgarian law bans smoking in enclosed public places and lets airports set up separate smoking rooms. ## Bulgaria Airports Compared: Before and After Security Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details. | Airport | Before security | After security | | --- | --- | --- | | [Burgas (BOJ)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/boj-smoking-at-burgas-airport/) | Yes | Yes | | [Sofia (SOF)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/sof-smoking-at-sofia-airport/) | Yes | Yes | | [Varna (VAR)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/var-smoking-at-varna-airport/) | Yes | Yes | ## How Bulgarian Airport Smoking Works Bulgaria’s Health Act (Article 56, in its present form since 1 June 2012\) bans smoking in enclosed public places and, as an exception, allows separate smoking rooms in airport buildings: closed off by airtight walls and tightly closing doors, clearly marked, ventilated and closed to under-18s. Smoking where it is banned costs 300 to 500 leva, or 500 to 1,000 leva for a repeat offence, and a company that allows it faces 3,000 to 5,000 leva, or 5,000 to 10,000 leva for a repeat. A 2025 amendment to the Tobacco Products Act bans the sale of disposable e-cigarettes; it took effect after the EU notification period ended on 28 January 2026, with three months for shops to sell declared stock, and it bans neither possession nor use. So: - **Sofia (SOF):** after security in Terminal 2, a free smoking area by Gates B1–B4 and the Primeclass Lounge terrace; ask staff whether the Aspire Business Lounge’s smoking area is still open - **Burgas (BOJ):** open-air spaces and terraces in the departure lounge after security, and outside in front of Terminal 2 - **Varna (VAR):** an open-air terrace in the departure lounge after security, and outside the terminal building - **E-cigarettes:** Burgas and Varna apply their smoking rules to them; Sofia publishes no vaping rule, so ask staff ## Sofia Airport (SOF) **[Sofia Airport (SOF)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/sof-smoking-at-sofia-airport/)** has, after security in Terminal 2, a free smoking area of 155 m² by Gates B1–B4, which a reader described on 25 July 2026 as half open and used for vapes as well as cigarettes, and a smoking area on the terrace of the paid Primeclass Lounge (Level 2, €60 on site). The Aspire Business Lounge on Level 0 has a designated smoking area, so ask staff whether it is still open. The airport lists no smoking area in Terminal 1 after security or outside either terminal. ## Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) **[Burgas Airport (BOJ)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/boj-smoking-at-burgas-airport/)** has open-air spaces and terraces in the departure lounge after security, and smoking outside in front of Terminal 2 before security. **[Varna Airport (VAR)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/bulgaria/var-smoking-at-varna-airport/)** has an open-air terrace in the departure lounge after security, and smoking outside the terminal building before security. Both airports apply their smoking rules to e-cigarettes. ## Tips for Smokers at Bulgarian Airports - At Sofia, the free smoking area by Gates B1–B4 is in Terminal 2 and needs no lounge access - Lounge users in Sofia’s Terminal 2 also have the Primeclass Lounge terrace - At Burgas and Varna, the open-air spaces in the departure lounge are the after-security option - Disposable e-cigarettes are no longer on sale in Bulgaria; where an airport publishes no vaping rule, ask staff ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can you smoke at Sofia Airport (SOF)? Yes — after security in Terminal 2: a free smoking area by Gates B1–B4, open to all passengers, and a smoking area on the terrace of the paid Primeclass Lounge. In Terminal 1 the airport lists no smoking area after security, and it lists none outside either terminal, so ask staff. ### Is there smoking after security at Sofia Airport? Yes, in Terminal 2: the free smoking area by Gates B1–B4 and the Primeclass Lounge terrace. The Aspire Business Lounge has a designated smoking area too, so ask staff whether it is still open. The airport lists none in Terminal 1\. ### Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Bulgarian airports? Burgas and Varna apply their smoking rules to e-cigarettes, so vape only in their smoking areas. At Sofia, a reader described the B1–B4 area on 25 July 2026 as used for vapes as well as cigarettes; the airport publishes no vaping rule, so ask staff elsewhere. Bulgaria bans the sale of disposable e-cigarettes under a 2025 amendment in force since 2026; it bans neither possession nor use. ### Where can I smoke before security at Bulgarian airports? At Burgas, outside in front of Terminal 2; at Varna, outside the terminal building. Sofia Airport lists no smoking area outside either terminal, so ask staff for the nearest spot. ### Do I need lounge access to smoke after security at Sofia? The free smoking area by Gates B1–B4 in Terminal 2 needs no lounge access. The Primeclass Lounge terrace, €60 on site, is a second option for lounge users. ### Are there smoking areas at Burgas and Varna airports? Yes — after security, Burgas has open-air spaces and terraces in the departure lounge and Varna has an open-air terrace; before security, smoke outside, in front of Terminal 2 at Burgas and outside the terminal building at Varna.