Stara Zagora is a small city in the heart of Bulgaria. It’s not very well-known among tourists, but the local attractions are quite unique. Here’s what to see in the center of Stara Zagora and how to drive to one of the most famous park-museums in Bulgaria.
Average rental prices 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 you need for a car rental
To rent a car in Bulgaria, you will need a valid European driving license (no need for an international driving permit), a passport, and a Visa/MasterCard for the deposit.
The minimum age is 23 years old, and you must have at least 3 years of driving experience. For drivers under 23, there is an additional charge of 6 euros per day and a double deposit requirement.
Make a reservation in Stara Zagora, preferably 7 days in advance to get good discounts from the rental company.
How to select a rental car?
Decide where you will be driving: Stara Zagora or rough terrain in the surrounding area and 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 Bulgaria
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 Stara Zagora
The main attraction of these places is located not in Stara Zagora, but in its surroundings. Shipka-Buzludzha Park-Museum is a unique place with beautiful nature and majestic man-made monuments, which is worth visiting first of all. The road to Shipka village by car will take 40-50 minutes along the E85 highway, so you can rent a car for just one day. Even in the peak season, the rental fee will be low and will more than pay for the experience.
Useful information
Info |
Data |
|---|---|
Population |
156 505 (2021) |
Square |
85.8 km² |
Nearest airport |
92.95 km |
IATA code (airport) |
PDV |
Airport information desk |
+359 32 601 127 |
Language |
Болгарский, ENG. |
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 during the year
Stara Zagora is comfortable to vacation in almost any season of the year. In summer it is not too hot in the city, and from fall to spring it is relatively warm and dry. The local winter resembles November in the middle part of Russia, but the rains are much less frequent.
The average temperature by month:
Jan. |
Feb. |
March |
Apr. |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
+2 |
+3 |
+6 |
+12 |
+17 |
+21 |
+24 |
+23 |
+20 |
+13 |
+7 |
+2 |
If you want to save money, come in April or October: prices for car rentals, hotels and other tourist services are reduced by half. At this time there are almost no tourists in the city, and the weather is still favorable for long walks. By the way, on October 5, Stara Zagora celebrates its foundation day with concerts, theatrical performances and other cultural events.
Parking zones in the city
Free parking can only be found in residential areas near the center of Stara Zagora. However, stopping is prohibited on many streets, and only employees or customers may park in designated areas next to shops.
Paid parking, marked by a “Green Zone” sign, is in effect on most central streets. Fees are charged on weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00. You can park for a period ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Each 30 minutes will cost the driver 0.5 leva.
To pay for parking, you need to send an SMS from a local SIM card, or put a ticket under the window, which you will have to buy in advance at a gas station or post office. Alternatively, ask one of the locals to send an SMS and give them a few leva in cash.
Stara Zagora Attractions
For exploring the city and surrounding areas, a car will add value. Some attractions are concentrated in the city center, others in the surrounding areas and near other cities. Therefore, a rental car will not hurt.
Antique Forum
The main city attraction is the Forum of Augustus Trajan, built nearly 2000 years ago. During Roman rule, gladiatorial games were held here, and important local matters were decided. Interestingly, the forum still serves its purpose today: concerts and theatrical performances are held on the ancient stage.
Chapel in Ayazmo Park
Weapons and everyday objects found during the excavations are on display at the Historical Museum. After visiting the antiquities, you should take a walk to Ayazmo Park, which is located a few blocks north of the center of Stara Zagora. It is more like a botanical garden in its variety of plants: rare trees grow here, many of which are imported from the Black Sea regions. When traveling with young children, be sure to visit the zoo.
Shipka-Buzludzha Memorial
But the most unusual attraction is located near the neighboring town of Kazanlak, just a 40-minute drive away. A must-visit place is the Shipka-Buzludzha Museum Park. The visit includes breathtaking mountain landscapes, the tomb of Thracian rulers, and the famous Soviet memorial shaped like a UFO. The latter is gradually deteriorating due to the passage of time—there’s a chance that there may not be a second opportunity to see this quirky structure.
