Plovdiv: Getting there & around

Only charter flights use Plovdiv Airport; the Plovdiv Airport travel agency (ul Gladston 4) can therefore only book domestic and international flights to and from Sofia.

Plovdiv's three bus stations include the Yug bus station (tel: 626 937), diagonally opposite the train station, and a 15-minute walk from the centre. Alternatively, local buses stop across the main street outside the station, Bulevard Hristo Botev. From the Yug bus station, public and private buses go to the destinations listed.

From Rodopi bus station (tel: 777 607), through the underpass by the train station, daily buses serve Haskovo and Karlovo and hourly buses (between 06:00 and 19:00 ) go to Smolyan (2.5hrs), via Bachkovo (1hr), Chepelare and Pamporovo. The Sever bus station (tel: 553 705), in the northern suburbs, has one daily bus to Pleven, Ruse, Troyan and Koprivshtitsa. Union-Ivkoni Vesna 61 (tel: 628 365; train station underpass; 08:00 - 18:00 ) offers buses to international destinations, including Paris, Rome, Vienna and Amsterdam. Etap, at the Yug bus station, sells bus tickets to Istanbul, Athens and more.

Plovdiv's train station (tel: 632 720; bul Hristo Botev) is well organised, though the platforms aren't numbered and staff don't speak English. Computer screens at the station entrance and in the underpass leading to the platforms list recent arrivals and upcoming departures. You can store luggage here; the office is always open.

Plovdiv is best experienced on foot. Much of the old town is off-limits to cars anyway, so when taking a taxi your most likely 'final destination' will be outside the Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa on Ulitsa Saborna, where all cars must turn back (at night the street is usually open). Although taxi drivers conscientiously use meters, a few offenders charge expensive rates. Travel agencies along the mall or the tourist information centre can help with car rental.