Airport Navigation

Извинете, може ли да попитам нещо?

Izvinete, mozhe li da popitam neshto?

Excuse me, may I ask something?

How you stop a staff member or stranger in the terminal before firing your question.

Къде е лентата за багаж?

Kade e lentata za bagazh?

Where is the baggage claim?

First stop after passport control when the signs aren't helping.

Къде е изходът?

Kade e izhodat?

Where is the exit?

Bags in hand, ready to leave the terminal — this gets you pointed at the doors.

Къде има банкомат?

Kade ima bankomat?

Where is there an ATM?

You'll want some cash (euros) in your pocket before the taxi or the metro machine.

Къде мога да си купя сим карта?

Kade moga da si kupya sim karta?

Where can I buy a SIM card?

Ask this in the arrivals hall — getting data working early makes everything else easier.

Къде е стоянката за таксита?

Kade e stoyankata za taksita?

Where is the taxi rank?

Head for the official rank — ignore anyone inside the hall offering you 'taxi, taxi'.

Как да стигна до центъра?

Kak da stigna do tsentara?

How do I get to the center?

The big arrival question — the answer points you to the metro, a bus, or a taxi.

Багажът ми не пристигна.

Bagazhat mi ne pristigna.

My luggage didn't arrive.

The carousel has stopped and your bag isn't there — say this at the lost luggage desk.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

Someone rattles off directions and you catch nothing — say this instead of nodding and walking off lost.

Може ли да повторите?

Mozhe li da povtorite?

Can you repeat that?

You caught half the directions — this gets you the other half without switching languages.

Говорите ли английски?

Govorite li angliyski?

Do you speak English?

The escape hatch — airport staff usually do, but try Bulgarian first.

Много ви благодаря!

Mnogo vi blagodarya!

Thank you very much!

Warm thanks to the stranger who just saved you twenty minutes of wandering.

Къде е паспортният контрол?

Kade e pasportniyat kontrol?

Where is passport control?

You're off the jet bridge in a corridor with no signs in sight and everyone ahead of you has vanished round a corner.

Оттук ли се минава?

Ottuk li se minava?

Is this the way through?

Two corridors, no signs — you point down one and check with the person walking beside you before committing.

Следвайте табелите.

Sledvayte tabelite.

Follow the signs.

Something you hear, not say — the standard brush-off from staff who are pointing at a sign you haven't spotted yet.

Надолу по стълбите.

Nadolu po stalbite.

Down the stairs.

Something you hear — baggage reclaim at Sofia is a level below arrivals, so this is the usual answer.

На кой терминал сме?

Na koy terminal sme?

Which terminal are we at?

Sofia has Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and they're a shuttle ride apart — knowing which one you landed at decides everything next.

На коя лента излиза багажът?

Na koya lenta izliza bagazhat?

Which belt does the baggage come out on?

You're in the reclaim hall, four belts are turning and none of the screens above them is showing your flight.

Лента номер три.

Lenta nomer tri.

Belt number three.

Something you hear — the answer comes back as a bare number, so learn the numbers one to six for this hall.

Багажът от Лондон на коя лента излиза?

Bagazhat ot London na koya lenta izliza?

Which belt does the baggage from London come out on?

Naming your inbound city is faster than a flight number when you ask a ground handler on the floor.

Лентата спря ли?

Lentata spra li?

Has the belt stopped?

The belt has been empty for five minutes and you can't tell whether it's finished or just paused.

Къде излиза извънгабаритният багаж?

Kade izliza izvangabaritniyat bagazh?

Where does oversized baggage come out?

Skis, a bike box or a pushchair don't come round the belt — they land at a separate hatch off to the side.

Извинете, това май е моят куфар.

Izvinete, tova may e moyat kufar.

Excuse me, I think that's my suitcase.

Someone has lifted an identical black case off the belt and is walking away with your bag.

Къде е гишето за изгубен багаж?

Kade e gisheto za izguben bagazh?

Where is the lost luggage desk?

The belt has stopped and stayed stopped — this is the question that gets you to the right counter.

Куфарът ми е счупен.

Kufarat mi e schupen.

My suitcase is broken.

Your case comes round with a wheel torn off or the shell cracked — report it before you leave the hall or the claim dies.

Искам да подам сигнал за изгубен багаж.

Iskam da podam signal za izguben bagazh.

I want to file a lost luggage report.

At the counter, this is the sentence that starts the paperwork rather than another round of explaining.

Ето талона за багажа.

Eto talona za bagazha.

Here is my baggage tag.

The sticker they put on your boarding pass at check-in — hand it over before they ask twice.

Кога ще пристигне багажът ми?

Koga shte pristigne bagazhat mi?

When will my luggage arrive?

The report is filed and you want a number of days before you go and buy a toothbrush.

Ще ви доставим багажа на адреса.

Shte vi dostavim bagazha na adresa.

We'll deliver the luggage to your address.

Something you hear at the lost luggage desk — the standard outcome, so have a Sofia address and a phone number ready.

Къде има колички за багаж?

Kade ima kolichki za bagazh?

Where are there baggage trolleys?

Two heavy cases and a rucksack, and every trolley in sight has already been taken.

Количките безплатни ли са?

Kolichkite bezplatni li sa?

Are the trolleys free?

Asked before you start hunting for coins — at Sofia arrivals they usually are, but check rather than assume.

Къде е тоалетната?

Kade e toaletnata?

Where is the toilet?

Three hours in the air and passport control still ahead of you — the one question you will definitely need.

Има ли място за преповиване?

Ima li myasto za prepovivane?

Is there a baby-changing area?

Travelling with a baby and you need somewhere flat and clean before the taxi ride into the city.

Нямам нищо за деклариране.

Nyamam nishto za deklarirane.

I have nothing to declare.

An officer steps out in front of you in the green channel — this one sentence usually ends it.

Зеленият коридор оттук ли е?

Zeleniyat koridor ottuk li e?

Is the green channel this way?

Green and red split just past the belts and the signage is small — check before you pick the wrong one.

Вдясно след митницата.

Vdyasno sled mitnitsata.

To the right after customs.

Something you hear — most 'where is the exit / the taxis / the ATM' answers in this hall are phrased relative to customs.

Нося само лични вещи.

Nosya samo lichni veshti.

I'm only carrying personal items.

The follow-up when the officer asks what's in the second case.

Къде има обменно бюро?

Kade ima obmenno byuro?

Where is there an exchange bureau?

You've landed with pounds or dollars in your pocket and nothing that works at a Sofia kiosk.

Какъв е курсът?

Kakav e kursat?

What's the exchange rate?

Ask before you hand anything over — airport bureaux post a headline rate that is not the rate you get.

Има ли комисиона?

Ima li komisiona?

Is there a commission?

The classic airport trap: a good-looking rate with the fee taken quietly off the top.

Банкоматът взима ли такса?

Bankomatat vzima li taksa?

Does the ATM charge a fee?

Standing at a machine in arrivals deciding whether to take cash here or wait until you're in town.

Може ли по-дребни банкноти?

Mozhe li po-drebni banknoti?

Can I have smaller notes?

A taxi driver will not break a fifty at eleven at night — ask for small notes while you're still at the counter.

Искам предплатена сим карта с интернет.

Iskam predplatena sim karta s internet.

I want a prepaid SIM card with data.

Opening line at the operator's stand in arrivals, before anyone starts selling you a contract.

Колко гигабайта включва?

Kolko gigabayta vklyuchva?

How many gigabytes does it include?

The packages all look alike on the poster — this is the number that actually matters for your first month.

Трябва ми личната ви карта или паспорт.

Tryabva mi lichnata vi karta ili pasport.

I need your ID card or passport.

Something you hear — Bulgarian SIMs are registered to a document, so it comes out of your pocket again.

Може ли да я активирате сега?

Mozhe li da ya aktivirate sega?

Can you activate it now?

You want data working before you walk out of the terminal, not an hour later in a taxi.

Къде е метростанцията?

Kade e metrostantsiyata?

Where is the metro station?

The metro is the cheap, traffic-proof way into Sofia — this gets you pointed at the entrance.

Метрото е на терминал две.

Metroto e na terminal dve.

The metro is at Terminal 2.

Something you hear, and the single most useful fact here: there is no metro at Terminal 1, you take the shuttle across first.

Един билет до центъра, моля.

Edin bilet do tsentara, molya.

One ticket to the centre, please.

At the machine or the little window by the turnstiles, bags at your feet.

Може ли да платя с карта?

Mozhe li da platya s karta?

Can I pay by card?

You have no cash yet — you can tap a contactless card straight at the Sofia metro turnstile.

Трябва ли билет за багажа?

Tryabva li bilet za bagazha?

Do I need a ticket for the luggage?

A big suitcase officially needs its own ticket on the Sofia metro, and inspectors do check at the airport end.

На коя спирка да сляза за центъра?

Na koya spirka da slyaza za tsentara?

Which stop should I get off at for the centre?

You're on the train with your cases and want the right stop before the doors start closing on you.

Къде спира автобусът между терминалите?

Kade spira avtobusat mezhdu terminalite?

Where does the bus between the terminals stop?

You landed at Terminal 1 and everything you need — the metro, most departures — is at Terminal 2.

Безплатен ли е шатълът?

Bezplaten li e shatalat?

Is the shuttle free?

Asked at the stop with no ticket in hand — the inter-terminal bus at Sofia is free, but confirm rather than guess.

На колко време минава?

Na kolko vreme minava?

How often does it run?

Deciding whether to wait at the stop or pay for a taxi across — the answer is usually every half hour.

Този автобус до терминал едно ли отива?

Tozi avtobus do terminal edno li otiva?

Does this bus go to Terminal 1?

The doors are open and you have about eight seconds to check with the driver before you commit your bags.

Стоянката е отвън, вдясно.

Stoyankata e otvun, vdyasno.

The rank is outside, to the right.

Something you hear — and worth acting on literally: the legitimate taxis are outside the doors, never the man who approached you inside.

Колко ще струва до центъра?

Kolko shte struva do tsentara?

How much will it cost to the centre?

Ask through the window before the boot opens — a normal Sofia airport run into town is a modest fare, not a small fortune.

Моля, включете апарата.

Molya, vklyuchete aparata.

Please switch on the meter.

Апаратът is what everyone calls the taxi meter. If it stays off after you say this, get out.

По апарат, моля.

Po aparat, molya.

By the meter, please.

Your answer when the driver offers you a flat 'special price' for the airport run.

Каква е тарифата на километър?

Kakva e tarifata na kilometar?

What's the rate per kilometre?

The overcharging trick at Sofia arrivals is a legitimate-looking car with an absurd per-kilometre rate printed tiny on the window — say this and read the sticker.

Много е скъпо, благодаря.

Mnogo e skapo, blagodarya.

That's too expensive, thank you.

How you walk away from a quoted price without an argument — polite, final, and you keep moving to the next car.

Вие ли сте шофьорът?

Vie li ste shofyorat?

Are you the driver?

A man is holding a sign with something like your name on it and you want to be sure before you follow him to a car park.

Чакам ви пред изхода на терминал две.

Chakam vi pred izhoda na terminal dve.

I'm waiting for you in front of the Terminal 2 exit.

Said on the phone to whoever is collecting you — naming the terminal is the whole message at Sofia.

Току-що кацнах.

Toku-shto katsnah.

I've just landed.

The first thing you say or text when the phone comes off flight mode.

Къде точно сте?

Kade tochno ste?

Where exactly are you?

You're both outside the same terminal and still can't see each other.

Къде мога да оставя багаж?

Kade moga da ostavya bagazh?

Where can I leave luggage?

A long layover, or you want a day in Sofia without dragging a suitcase round the city.

Колко струва на ден?

Kolko struva na den?

How much is it per day?

At the left luggage counter, deciding between storing the bag and just carrying it.

Ще го взема довечера.

Shte go vzema dovechera.

I'll collect it this evening.

Telling the desk when you're coming back so they know it's hours, not days.

Колко време е до центъра?

Kolko vreme e do tsentara?

How long does it take to the centre?

Deciding between the metro and a taxi with someone expecting you in town at a fixed hour.

Около четиридесет минути с метрото.

Okolo chetirideset minuti s metroto.

About forty minutes on the metro.

Something you hear — answers here come as a rough number plus the mode, so listen for метро, автобус or такси at the end.

Има ли задръствания в момента?

Ima li zadrastvaniya v momenta?

Is there traffic right now?

Sofia's ring road at six in the evening can double a taxi ride — ask before you choose the car over the train.

Къде са гишетата за регистрация?

Kade sa gishetata za registratsiya?

Where are the check-in desks?

Flying out — you're on the departures level with a case and a screen full of desk numbers.

На кое гише е полетът за Виена?

Na koe gishe e poletat za Viena?

Which desk is the flight to Vienna at?

The board hasn't listed your flight yet and you'd rather ask than stand in the wrong queue for twenty minutes.

Ще чекирам един куфар.

Shte chekiram edin kufar.

I'm checking in one suitcase.

At the desk as you lift the case onto the scale — чекирам is what people actually say, not a textbook verb.

Има ли надтегло?

Ima li nadteglo?

Is it overweight?

The case is on the scale and the agent is looking at the number without saying anything.

Може ли място до прозореца?

Mozhe li myasto do prozoretsa?

Can I have a window seat?

Asked while they still have the seat map open, before the boarding pass prints.

Къде е проверката за сигурност?

Kade e proverkata za sigurnost?

Where is the security check?

Boarding pass in hand, looking for the queue that gets you airside.

Извадете лаптопа и течностите.

Izvadete laptopa i technostite.

Take out your laptop and liquids.

Something you hear at the tray, usually while the queue behind you waits — act, don't translate.

Колана ли да сваля?

Kolana li da svalya?

Should I take off my belt?

Half the passengers ahead of you did and half didn't — one short question settles it.

Как да стигна до изход четири?

Kak da stigna do izhod chetiri?

How do I get to gate four?

Airside at Sofia, boarding in fifteen minutes, and the numbering isn't running the way you expected.

Започна ли качването?

Zapochna li kachvaneto?

Has boarding started?

You've just arrived at a gate with a crowd standing up and no announcement you understood.

Какво съобщиха току-що?

Kakvo saobshtiha toku-shto?

What did they just announce?

The tannoy said something, the whole gate area stood up, and you understood one word of it — ask the person next to you.

Полетът е закъснял с един час.

Poletat e zakasnyal s edin chas.

The flight is delayed by an hour.

Something you hear — the shape to listen for is полетът … закъснял с … plus a time.

Изходът е сменен.

Izhodat e smenen.

The gate has changed.

Something you hear, and the one worth reacting to fastest — check the board again immediately.

Полетът за Лондон закъснява ли?

Poletat za London zakasnyava li?

Is the flight to London delayed?

The board says nothing useful and you want it confirmed by a person at the desk.

Може ли да ми покажете на таблото?

Mozhe li da mi pokazhete na tabloto?

Can you show me on the board?

You lost the answer halfway through — pointing at the departures board turns it into something you can read.

Извинете, не разбрах.

Izvinete, ne razbrah.

Sorry, I didn't catch that.

The single most useful sentence in this whole scenario — it says you're still trying, which keeps the other person in Bulgarian and on your side.

Може ли по-бавно?

Mozhe li po-bavno?

Can you say it slower?

You got the shape of the directions but not the words — this buys you the same answer at half speed.

Може ли да ми покажете на картата?

Mozhe li da mi pokazhete na kartata?

Can you show me on the map?

Hold up your phone. Directions you can see beat directions you half-heard, and it keeps the exchange going.

Кой номер казахте?

Koy nomer kazahte?

Which number did you say?

Belts, gates and terminals all come back at you as bare numbers — this asks for just the digit again.

Много ми помогнахте.

Mnogo mi pomognahte.

You've helped me a lot.

Said to the ground-staff member who walked you halfway across the hall — warmer than a bare благодаря and it costs nothing.

Приятен ден!

Priyaten den!

Have a nice day!

How you actually end a small exchange in Bulgaria as you pick your bags back up.

Благодаря, довиждане!

Blagodarya, dovizhdane!

Thank you, goodbye!

Leaving the counter, the taxi or the SIM stand — the standard two-word close.