Overall3.3/10Harder to reach than about 75% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Plovdiv International Airport (10 km away) offers limited international routes; most visitors fly into Sofia (130 km away) and take a train or bus—a straightforward 2–2.5 hour journey.
- The train from Sofia to Plovdiv is considered reliable and competitive on this route; buses are slightly faster and more frequent.
- Sofia Airport's metro (Line 4) connects directly to the central railway station cheaply (1.60 BGN), making onward travel affordable for budget travelers.
- Ryanair operates Plovdiv Airport seasonally and year-round to select European cities; check current routes as they vary by season.
- A light rail network between Plovdiv and nearby Asenovgrad is planned as Bulgaria's first metropolitan light rail project; status and timeline TBD.
Airports
Plovdiv International Airport
- Code
- PDV
- Distance From Center
- 10 km
Airlines
Low-cost Carrier with Seasonal and Year-round Routes
- Carrier
- Ryanair
- Key Routes
- Brussels Charleroi, London Stansted, Milano Bergamo (seasonal); London Stansted (3x weekly winter)
Ground Transport
Train (Mavrudovo Station)
- Cost
- BGN 1.30
- Frequency
- Approximately hourly (Asenovgrad-Plovdiv route)
- Distance To Station
- 3 km from terminal
- Notes
- Walk 3 km or arrange ground transport to reach Mavrudovo station
Taxi/Rental Car
- Notes
- Available at airport; book in advance for better rates
Sofia Vasil Levski Airport (Alternative - Major Hub)
- Code
- SOF
- Distance From Center
- 130 km from Plovdiv
- Notes
- Bulgaria's largest airport with most international connections; requires ground transport to Plovdiv
Day Trip Access
Approximately 2-2.5 Hours
- How to get there
- Train or Bus
- Distance
- 130 km
- Destination
- Sofia
- Notes
- Feasible for a full day trip from Plovdiv
Nearby Airports
Burgas Airport
- Via
- Bus or taxi to Burgas bus station, then train/bus to Plovdiv
- Distance
- Approximately 250 km
Varna Airport
- Distance
- Approximately 400 km
- Notes
- Impractical for Plovdiv unless staying in Varna first
Rail Connections
Plovdiv - Sofia
- Status
- Operational
- Frequency
- Multiple daily
- Notes
- Direct city connections; recommended over buses for this route
Plovdiv - Asenovgrad
- Status
- Light rail project announced (not yet operational)
- Frequency
- N/A
- Notes
- 14 planned stations between Plovdiv and Asenovgrad main stations; first light rail network in Bulgaria; estimated completion TBD
Ground Transport To Plovdiv
Train
- Cost
- BGN 15
- Origin
- Sofia Central Railway Station
- Frequency
- Multiple daily departures (e.g., 08:20, 19:43)
- Duration Minutes
- 180
- Notes
- Direct city-center to city-center connection; considered competitive on this route
Bus
- Cost
- BGN 15
- Origin
- Sofia Central Bus Station
- Frequency
- Multiple daily departures
- Duration Minutes
- 120
- Notes
- Generally more frequent than trains; slightly faster
Direct Bus
- Origin
- Sofia Airport
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Duration Minutes
- 115
- Notes
- From Sofia Airport Terminal 1 Bus Stop to Plovdiv North Bus Station; direct service
Metro + Train/Bus
- Origin
- Sofia Airport via Public Transport
- Metro Cost
- BGN 1.60
- Duration Minutes
- Approximately 180-220 (including metro transfer)
- Notes
- Inexpensive; most common route for budget travelers
Steps
- Metro Line 4 from airport to Central Railway Station (change at Serdika to Line M2)
- Train or bus from Central Station to Plovdiv
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Plovdiv
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.