Plovdiv is one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria. Local buildings contain a thousand-year history, and the mountain landscapes only add to the charm of the ancient streets. We’ll tell you what to see in Plovdiv and the surrounding area, whether it’s worth renting a car and how to get maximum impressions at minimal cost.
This is one of the most ancient cities in Europe; the first settlement on this site was founded by the Thracians in 1200 BC. e. Subsequently, the city came under the control of the Macedonians, Romans and Turks, and in the 19th century it became one of the centers of the formation of Bulgarian independence. Each era has left its historical mark, so Plovdiv is replete with man-made attractions.
Average rental prices in Plovdiv by car class
Car classes |
Price per day |
Deposit amount |
|---|---|---|
compact cars |
from 6 EUR (12 BGN) |
from 150 euros |
small cars |
from 18 EUR (36 BGN) |
from 150 euros |
standard |
from 20 EUR (40 BGN) |
from 200 euros |
minivan |
from 26 EUR (52 BGN) |
from 300 euros |
SUVs |
from 35 EUR (70 BGN) |
from 800 euros |
luxury |
from 60 EUR (120 BGN) |
from 1500 euros |
*Prices are valid for November 2024. Check the available cars in the city and review the offers from rental offices.
What do you need to rent?
To rent a car in Bulgaria you will need an ordinary European driving license (ID) with an unexpired expiration date (an IDP is not required), a foreign passport and a Visa/MasterCard bank card to make a deposit.
Minimum age is 23 years and driving experience is at least 3 years. For drivers under 23 years old – additional charge. costs 6 euros per day and double deposit.
Make a reservation in Plovdiv, preferably 7 days before the start of the rental, to get good discounts from the rental company.
How to choose a rental car?
Decide where you will travel: around Plovdiv, to another city along the highway or cross-country along mountain serpentines. Who will you be traveling with, i.e. how many passengers will be in the car.
Travelers |
Car body |
Transmission |
|---|---|---|
Two people |
coupe, compact sedan or hatchback |
Manual |
A loner |
coupe, sedan, hatchback |
Automatic, Manual |
Company of 2-4 people |
full-size sedan, station wagon or hatchback |
Automatic |
Company of 5-7 people |
minivan |
Automatic |
Family 3-4 people |
full-size sedan, station wagon or hatchback |
Manual |
Goals and routes |
Transmission |
Engine capacity |
Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
Short trips around the city |
автомат |
1.1-1.6 liters |
In the city there will be enough coupe, sedan or hatchback with an automatic transmission with a small engine capacity. |
To sights off-road |
automatic, manual |
1.6-2 liters |
To overcome ups and downs, it is preferable to choose a car with high ground clearance and not the smallest engine. |
To other cities along the highway |
machine |
2-3 liters |
To save on gas stations and comfort when overtaking, it is better to take a diesel car with a powerful engine. |
Car rental companies
Top Rent-a-Car – National rental company of Bulgaria. The best prices and new cars with minimal mileage, usually up to 50,000 km. Still remains a leader in quality and comfort of services.
Discover Cars – World Travel Awards winning car rental comparison site. Customers can find, compare and rent a car in Bulgaria. Competitive prices at over 10,000 locations worldwide.
EconomyBookings – International booking service for economical car rental. Large selection of cars, more than 20,000 rental points, 150 countries. 24/7 reservation and support service.
Rentalcars – World leader in online car booking. Rentalcars is part of the American company Priceline, which also includes Booking.com.
Localrent – Car rental broker in local rental companies. Low prices, low deposits: from 0 to 300 euros. Manual confirmation of the selected vehicle option.
BikesBooking – Online booking service for motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and bicycles around the world.
GetrentaCar – Marketplace for renting vehicles from local owners at the best prices. Competitive prices in Bulgaria, best price guarantee, tender system. 24/7 support in 20 languages. Prepayment is only 15%.
Cities near Plovdiv
If a traveler is only interested in city attractions, there is no point in renting a car. It would be much wiser to choose a hotel closer to the center and order a transfer from the airport to get to the place in comfort. All interesting places are concentrated in the center, and it is easy to move between them on foot. If the hotel is located far away, take a taxi: in any case, it will be cheaper and easier than renting a car.
Another thing is trips to Plovdiv and neighboring regions, where there is also something to see. In this case, you cannot do without a car. If you are planning a trip to Asenovgrad or the Bachkovo Monastery, try to find a hotel in the southern part of Plovdiv: you will save time leaving the city and will not be stuck in traffic jams.
Useful information
Info |
Data |
|---|---|
Population |
384 156 (2020) |
Square |
110 km² |
IATA code (airport) |
Plovdiv PDV |
Nearest airport |
16 km (24 minutes) |
Airport information desk |
+359 882 010539 |
Language |
Bulgarian. |
Currency |
BGN – lv. (Bulgarian Lev) |
Country code |
+359 |
Police/ambulance phone number |
112 (for free) |
Direction of movement |
right-handed |
Speed limit outside the city |
90 km/h (56 mph) |
Speed limit within the city |
50 km/h (31 mph) |
Permissible blood alcohol level |
0.05‰ ppm |
Availability of access to the sea |
No |
Weather throughout the year
Average temperature in Plovdiv by month:
Jan. |
Feb. |
March |
Apr. |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
+1 |
+3 |
+6 |
+12 |
+17 |
+21 |
+23 |
+22 |
+18 |
+12 |
+7 |
+3 |
The best time to visit Plovdiv is the second half of spring or early autumn. Warm weather without sweltering heat is conducive to walking, and the ancient streets are equally beautiful both surrounded by April greenery and to the accompaniment of rustling autumn leaves. In summer the city is quite hot: during the day the temperature rises to 29°C. In such weather, walking along steep and winding streets can seem tiring.
Walking the streets of the Old Town is more comfortable in cool weather.
In addition, in summer Plovdiv has the highest prices for services. Car rental is no exception. In July, renting a car will cost twice as much as in spring or autumn.
Parking zones in the city
It is quite difficult to park a car for free in the center of Plovdiv. Most streets near the main attractions are included in the blue toll zone. Parking costs 2 leva per hour. If you have a local SIM card, you can pay for parking via SMS, but it is more convenient for a tourist to use a parking meter. Fees apply from 08:30 to 17:30. There is also a small green zone in Plovdiv – streets where only local residents are allowed to park.
You can look for a free place on the streets located east of Tsar Boris III Boulevard. True, in the middle of the day all permitted parking lots are usually filled to capacity. You should not leave your car in front of private houses, especially if you block the entrance to the gate. In such places you can often find cars parked, but usually they belong to local residents.
Attractions in Plovdiv
The most interesting places are concentrated in the Old Town. In some streets it is surrounded by an ancient fortress wall built by the Thracians. If you rent a car in Plovdiv, you can get to the picturesque attractions in the vicinity of the city. We will describe some of them a little further.
Ancient amphitheater
The main attraction of the Old Town is the ancient Roman amphitheater, which still hosts concerts and theatrical performances. In the Roman part of Plovdiv, a basilica, baths, a forum and other buildings have also been preserved. Along Cathedral Street you can climb Nebet Tepe Hill, from which a beautiful panorama of the city opens.
Prince Alexander I Street
To the west of the Roman buildings stretches the street of Prince Alexander I, built in the 19th century. It is worth walking along it to the old mosques of Juma and Imaret. You can wander the surrounding streets all day: many of them are pedestrian, and the atmosphere of the ancient city has been preserved surprisingly carefully.
Asen’s fortress
20 km from Plovdiv is the Asenova Fortress – the castle of a local feudal lord, built in 1231. As befits a real castle, it is located on the top of a high mountain with stunning views. Travel another 7 km to the south and you will reach the Bachkovo Monastery with cozy courtyards and numerous medieval buildings.
