A private transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv costs 100 € for a car with up to 4 passengers, 120 € for a minivan with up to 6 and 140 € for a minibus with up to 8. The price is fixed for the whole vehicle, one way, with no prepayment. The drive is about 150 km and takes around 1 hour 45 minutes, door to door. The same prices apply from Sofia Airport (Terminal 1 or 2).
Plovdiv is the best day trip from Sofia if you like local food. The city has farmers markets, a covered market hall, small producers selling cheese, honey, wine and vegetables, and a lively old centre full of cafés. Below you will find how to plan the trip, what to buy, what it costs to get there with a driver, and answers to the most common questions.
Prices for the car with a driver
| Vehicle | Passengers | Sofia → Plovdiv | Sofia Airport → Plovdiv |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car (sedan) | up to 4 | 100 € | 100 € |
| Minivan | up to 6 | 120 € | 120 € |
| Minibus | up to 8 | 140 € | 140 € |
Distance about 150 km, travel time about 1:45 h. Price per vehicle, not per person. Child seats are free. No prepayment: you pay at the end of the trip.
Book your Sofia – Plovdiv transfer or see all routes in our price list.
Why go to Plovdiv for a farmers market
Plovdiv sits in the middle of the Thracian Plain, one of the most fertile parts of Bulgaria. Tomatoes, peppers, cherries, peaches, grapes and roses grow all around the city, and many small farms bring their produce straight to town. That is why the markets in Plovdiv feel different from a supermarket in Sofia: you buy from the person who made the cheese or picked the apples.
The Association of Farmers and Craftsmen from Plovdiv and the region, NATURALNO, was created to bring organic and home-made products closer to people living in big cities. Its bazaar has been held on Stanislav Dospevski Street, opposite the entrance of the City Art Gallery, just off the main pedestrian street. Dates and hours change through the year, so check the organisers’ page before you travel.
Besides the organised bazaars, Plovdiv has everyday markets where locals do their shopping. They are the easiest way to see what is in season and to taste Bulgarian produce at local prices.
What to buy
- Cheese and dairy: white brine cheese (sirene), yellow cheese (kashkaval) and thick Bulgarian yoghurt.
- Honey and bee products: mountain honey from the Rhodopes, pollen and propolis.
- Vegetables and fruit: pink tomatoes and peppers in summer, apples, pumpkins and walnuts in autumn.
- Preserves: lyutenitsa, jams and pickled vegetables made at home.
- Wine: the region around Plovdiv and Asenovgrad is known for Mavrud, a local red grape.
- Rose products: rose oil cosmetics and rose jam from the nearby Rose Valley.
- Organic cosmetics and herbs: soaps, creams and dried mountain herbs for tea.
Bring a cool bag if you plan to buy cheese, butter or meat. The car stays with you for the return, so heavy bags and boxes are not a problem.
How to plan the day
A simple plan that works for most people:
- Morning pick-up in Sofia. The driver collects you from your home, hotel or Sofia Airport at the time you choose.
- Arrive in Plovdiv around midday. The drive along the Trakia motorway takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Market and lunch. Shop at the market, then have lunch in Kapana, the creative district with small restaurants and craft shops.
- Old Town walk. See the Roman Stadium on the main street, the Ancient Theatre and the colourful Revival houses of the Old Town.
- Return to Sofia. Book the return trip for the evening, or ask the driver to wait for you.
If you want the driver to stay with you for the day or bring you back the same evening, tell us when you book and we will give you a fixed price for the whole trip.
Car with driver or bus and train?
There are buses and trains between Sofia and Plovdiv, and they are cheaper per person. A private car is better when you travel as a family or a group, carry shopping bags, travel with small children, or want to leave from your own door and come back at your own time. For 3 or 4 people the price of a car is close to the price of tickets plus taxis to and from the stations, and you save the waiting.
- Fixed price for the whole car, agreed before the trip.
- No prepayment. You pay at the end.
- Free child seats. Just tell us the age of the child.
- 24/7 service, including early mornings and late evenings.
- Licensed carrier. You can read about our licence on the site.
Other trips from Sofia and Plovdiv
The same driver can take you further. Popular combinations are Plovdiv with Asenovgrad Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery, the wine villages around Plovdiv, or the Rose Valley around Kazanlak in late May and early June. From Plovdiv we also drive to the ski resorts Pamporovo, Bansko and Borovets in winter. See all prices in the price list or check the Sofia Airport to Plovdiv transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a car with a driver from Sofia to Plovdiv cost?
A private transfer costs 100 € for a car with up to 4 passengers, 120 € for a minivan with up to 6 and 140 € for a minibus with up to 8. The price is for the whole vehicle, one way.
How long is the drive from Sofia to Plovdiv?
About 150 km and around 1 hour 45 minutes on the Trakia motorway, depending on traffic.
Is the price the same from Sofia Airport?
Yes. Sofia Airport (Terminal 1 or 2) to Plovdiv costs the same as from the city: 100 € / 120 € / 140 €.
Do I have to pay in advance?
No. There is no prepayment. You pay the driver at the end of the trip.
Can the driver wait and bring us back the same day?
Yes. Tell us your plan when you book and we will give you a fixed price for the return or for a driver who waits for you.
How many people fit in the car?
A sedan takes up to 4 passengers. For 5 or 6 people, or for 4 people with a lot of luggage or skis, choose a minivan. Groups of up to 8 travel in a minibus.
Are child seats available?
Yes, child seats are free. Add the age of the child in the booking form.
Ready to go? Book your transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv. Fixed price, no prepayment, child seats free.