Burgas Airport (BOJ) – How to Actually Get to Your Hotel

Burgas Airport sits about 12 km northeast of Burgas city center and roughly 25 km from Sunny Beach. If you have booked a package holiday, your tour operator likely arranged a coach. If not, you have three realistic options: Bus 15 to Burgas center, a metered taxi, or a pre-booked private transfer.

Bulgaria uses the euro. It joined the euro area on 1 January 2026, and since 1 February 2026 the euro has been the only legal currency — the lev is gone. The changeover rate was fixed at 1.95583 BGN = 1 EUR, and many local price lists still show both figures. Any guide (or old forum post) telling you to withdraw leva is out of date.

Bus 15 is the cheapest way in: a single ticket bought on board costs 0.80 EUR (Burgasbus tariff, January 2026). Taxis are metered, and private transfers are quoted as a fixed price when you book — see below for why we do not print a taxi figure here.

The airport is small and seasonal. From May through September it handles a high volume of charter flights from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, and Russia. Outside that window, it is very quiet and some services may not operate.

BOJ has a single terminal. After you clear passport control (quick for EU citizens, slightly longer for others), you collect luggage in a compact hall. There are a few currency exchange booths here — rates are acceptable but not great. ATMs are available just outside arrivals and generally give better rates.

The arrivals hall is small. You walk out through sliding doors into an open area where tour operator reps hold signs, taxi drivers wait, and transfer drivers line up. It can feel a bit chaotic during peak summer arrivals when multiple charter flights land within the same hour, but it sorts itself out quickly.

There is a small duty-free shop, a cafe, and a car rental desk area. Do not expect a large modern terminal — this is a functional seasonal airport.

Bus 15 runs from the airport (Terminal 2) to Burgas central bus station. A single ticket bought on the bus costs 0.80 EUR; a 45-minute transfer ticket loaded on a Burgasbus e-wallet is 0.66 EUR (operator tariff, January 2026). Departures run roughly every 20-25 minutes at peak times, from about 05:10 until 23:00 from Autogara Yug and until about 23:15 from the Sarafovo end. Note that the 15A variant stops at the roundabout rather than the terminal. It does not go to Sunny Beach directly — you would need to transfer at Burgas bus station, which adds complexity with luggage.

Taxis are available outside arrivals. The legitimate ones are metered and must display a rate card on the window — read the per-km rate before you get in, because rates differ between companies and the difference is the whole scam. Insist the meter is running. A common issue is drivers quoting an inflated flat fare to tourists — politely decline and ask for the meter, or walk to the next car in the rank.

We deliberately do not print a euro figure for the taxi ride here: Bulgarian taxi rates are set by each company rather than by a published municipal tariff, and they were re-denominated into euro during the 2026 changeover. The rate card on the window is the only number that is actually true for your car.

Bulgaria is affordable by European standards, and Burgas transfers reflect that — but the only fare we can state with confidence is the published bus tariff.

Taxi fares scale with distance, so the resorts cost several times the ride into Burgas. Rates rise at night and companies differ from one another, which is why the rate card on the window matters more than any number printed on a website. Private transfers have the advantage of fixed pricing — you see the total before you commit, and it does not change with traffic or route.

Charter flights to Burgas frequently arrive late — 11 PM, midnight, even 1 AM slots are common in summer. At these hours, Bus 15 does not run. Your options narrow to taxis (still available, drivers wait for late flights) or a pre-booked transfer.

The airport does not close between flights, but it empties out quickly. If your flight is delayed past midnight, having a pre-arranged transfer removes the stress of negotiating with the remaining taxi drivers. Bulgarian taxis run a higher night tariff, which is shown on the same window rate card as the day rate — check both before you board.

Burgas Airport is manageable with children. The terminal is flat and compact — no long walks. Luggage trolleys are available. The real challenge is the onward journey: if you are heading to Sunny Beach with a family of four plus suitcases, Bus 15 is impractical. You would need two bus changes and there is limited luggage space.

A private transfer or taxi is the sensible choice for families. If you need a child seat, request it when booking a transfer — taxis in Bulgaria rarely carry them. Most transfer companies provide child seats free of charge if requested in advance.

For pre-booked transfers, your driver will wait in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name. The hall is small enough that you will spot them quickly. If you do not see anyone, step outside — some drivers wait in the parking area directly in front of the terminal.

Taxis line up in a designated rank just outside the arrivals door, to the right. The parking lot is small and close to the terminal — you will not walk more than 50 meters to any vehicle.

Going to Burgas city on a budget? Take Bus 15. It is cheap and straightforward.

Going to Sunny Beach or a resort? Book a private transfer or take a taxi. The bus route requires a change and is not practical with holiday luggage.

Arriving late at night? Pre-book a transfer. Bus 15 will not be running and taxi availability is unpredictable.

Traveling with small children? Book a transfer with a child seat request. Bulgarian taxis do not carry them.

Renting a car? Book well ahead in summer. The airport has several rental desks but availability drops fast in July and August.