Traveling from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Sofia Airport (SOF): what you need to know
The average length of a direct flight from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport is 2 hours 50 minutes.
Helsinki and Sofia are both in the UTC+2 timezone. That means you won't have to adjust your watch after you land.
Give yourself plenty of time to catch your HEL to SOF flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Traveling during a peak month like June? School holidays and other popular seasons can result in longer lines and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
Getting to Sofia (and then seeing more of Bulgaria!) is a snap with Norwegian Air Sweden. This popular carrier has direct flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport.
The airline with the highest booking volume on this route is Norwegian Air Sweden.
If you want to explore another city along the way, just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport. These are the most popular stopovers between HEL and SOF:
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague
Riga International Airport
Orio al Serio International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Sofia Airport (SOF)
$67 is the best price for a one-way Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport flight. A return flight starts at $148. These fares may change depending on demand and availability.
Book nine months before you travel. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from HEL to SOF.
Organize your trip for August. That's the cheapest month for flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
You don't need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as there's a change in price on cheap flights from HEL to SOF.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport.
Handy information about Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)
When it comes to the on-time performance of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, 60.23% of flights arrive within the expected timeframe.
Central Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is approximately 12 miles. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 30 minutes to get there if you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving.
Planning to catch public transport? Expect a journey time of around 45 minutes.
Get your break off to a relaxed start by staying near HEL. Whether you're taking an early flight from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Arriving at Sofia Airport (SOF)
Book a hotel close to SOF if you're taking a late Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport flight. Check in to one of these options and skip the long transfer after landing:
Pick up a Sofia Airport rental car and discover Sofia and beyond with your own set of wheels. MEX, Surprice and NU Car Rentals are top outlets to choose from here.
Lock in the best rate by reserving your vehicle from Sofia Airport about one week before your trip.
Getting from Sofia Airport (SOF) to central Sofia
From Sofia Airport, Sofia is approximately 7 miles away. It takes around 15 minutes to get to the center driving.
When traveling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 35 minutes.
When to fly to Sofia Airport (SOF)
The quietest month for a flight from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport is April, while August is the most popular. Choose the best time to visit Sofia based on whether you prefer a more relaxed vibe or a faster pace.
The warmest month in Sofia is August, with the temperature ranging between 57ºF and 86ºF. Book your flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Sofia Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from HEL to SOF in January. Temperatures average between 12ºF and 45ºF then.
Explore more of Bulgaria
Sofia has its own special appeal, but there are so many other parts of Bulgaria you should also see. About 80 miles south-east of Sofia, a visit to Plovdiv will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with popular sights like Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv Roman Theatre and Archaelogical Complex Nebet Tepe.
If you're ready to explore another side of Bulgaria, head for Varna, roughly 240 miles east of Sofia. Park Asparuhovo - Asparuhovo sea garden, Dormition of theotokos Cathedral and Sunset viewpoint (място за гледане на Залеза) are the start of reasons to visit.