Plovdiv Airport serves as a starting point for many tourists visiting Bulgaria. Often, the destination isn’t Plovdiv itself but the nearby ski resorts like Bansko, Pamporovo, and other popular winter getaway spots.
To get to the hotel, you can order a shuttle service, but due to the long distance such a service will be expensive. It is much cheaper to rent a car, especially since you can do it right at Plovdiv Airport.
Why renting a car at the airport is convenient
After exhausting security checks and several hours of flying, tourists often want just one thing – to get to their hotel as quickly as possible. The most convenient and cost-effective way to do this is to book a rental car. Renting a vehicle is usually cheaper than taking a transfer from the airport to your hotel, especially if you’re heading to the ski resorts.
Driving in Bulgaria is easy and enjoyable: the road quality is good, the traffic rules are almost the same as in Russia, and gasoline is the cheapest in Europe.
A rental car gives you complete freedom in choosing your route. You are no longer tied to a specific destination, expensive transfers, or public transportation. Travel as you wish, take short trips during the day, and plan multi-day routes to visit different cities – with a rental car, you can do all of this without any limitations.
Airport information
Information |
Data |
|---|---|
IATA code |
Plovdiv PDV |
Airport information desk |
|
Airport email |
|
Cheap flights |
|
Airports closest to Plovdiv PDV |
Sofia SOV– 165 km, 1 hour 56 min. Burgas BOJ– 263 km, 2 hours 50 minutes. Varna VAR– 367 km, 4 hours 34 minutes. |
Location |
42.077013374734676, 24.843907341101033 Open in Google Maps |
Local time |
Local time: +2 GMT |
Language |
Bulgarian, English. |
Currency |
BGN – LV (Bulgarian Lev) |
How to choose a rental car?
Decide where you will drive: on the Bulgarian highways between cities or cross-country and mountain serpentines, 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. |
Rental companies at Plovdiv Airport
The rental conditions at the listed companies may vary. For example, at the Bulgarian company Top Rent A Car, drivers under 23 years old will have to pay an additional fee, while at Sixt, you can rent a car without any extra charges starting at 21 years old. On the other hand, the security deposit at a local rental agency is often several times lower than that of a larger company.
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%.
You can choose the most advantageous option using the widgets located below. Fill out the form, click the “Search” button, and select the best offer. After that, proceed to place your order, fill in the driver’s information, and make a deposit. All that’s left is to save the order details on your smartphone or print the voucher.
Take advantage of all available aggregators to find the best price:
Try to book a rental car in advance: you’ll have a wider selection of vehicles and lower prices. When your flight lands at Plovdiv Airport, the car will be waiting for you in the parking lot. Representatives of the rental company will have prepared all the documents in advance, so picking up the keys will take just a few minutes.
Cities near Plovdiv Airport
Plovdiv Airport is located 15 km southeast of Plovdiv city center. It takes 20 – 25 minutes to drive this distance by car. The city does not have a lot of signposts, so it is better to use the GPS in your smartphone, rent a navigator from a rental company or at least print out a map in advance.
In addition, the main sights of the Plovdiv region can be reached by car from the city. These include the Asenova Fortress near Asenovgrad (22 km along highway 86) and the Bachkovo Monastery (29 km along the same road).
Gas stations near Plovdiv Airport (PDV)
After signing the documents, the client receives the keys to the car with a full tank of fuel. The car must also be returned with a full tank at the end of the rental period. If this is not done, a penalty will be charged, which exceeds the cost of the fuel several times over.
If you forget to refuel the car on your way to the airport, there’s no need to worry: there are several gas stations nearby along route No. 86. The closest gas station on the way from Plovdiv is EKO. If you are coming from the southeast, you can use the Petrol gas station located just before the turn to the airport.
