Plan
Plan your trip
Everything you need before you arrive.
Flying into Sofia
The best way to reach Sofia is to fly into Sofia Airport. The airport is well connected by metro to Sofia Central Railway Station and Central Bus Station, making it easy to continue to Plovdiv. While railway repairs are ongoing, check your train’s departure station — services to Plovdiv currently leave from Iskar station.
From Sofia
Buses leave Sofia Central Bus Station roughly every hour (~2 hrs). Trains (~2.5 hrs) currently leave from Iskar station due to repairs at Sofia Central. By car it's 150 km on the Trakia motorway (vignette required).
Plovdiv Airport
Plovdiv also has its own airport, around 12 km south-east of the city, with some flights operated by budget airlines. Check the airport’s official flight timetable for current arrivals and departures before planning your trip.
Parking & walking
Paid blue and green zones in the centre (pay by SMS or app). The Old Town is best on foot; leave your car outside it.
Luggage storage
Arriving early or leaving late? Store bags near the centre and keep exploring.
Train timetable: Sofia (Iskar) → Plovdiv
Due to repairs at Sofia Central Railway Station, trains to Plovdiv currently depart from Iskar station in Sofia. Check the latest times on the BDZ official timetable.
| Train | Departs Iskar | Arrives Plovdiv | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| BV 8611 | 06:55 | 09:14 | 2h 19m |
| BV 1611 | 08:44 | 11:16 | 2h 32m |
| BV 8651 | 10:42 | 13:07 | 2h 25m |
| BV 8613 | 13:16 | 15:55 | 2h 39m |
| BV 1613 | 15:38 | 18:20 | 2h 42m |
| MBV 493 | 19:22 | 21:52 | 2h 30m |
| BV 8657 | 21:25 | 23:53 | 2h 28m |
| BV 8627 | 23:00 | 01:34 (+1 day) | 2h 34m |
Bus timetable: Sofia → Plovdiv
Buses depart from Sofia Central Bus Station. Times can change — always check the latest schedule on the Central Bus Station Sofia website.
| Departs Sofia | Arrives Plovdiv | Operator |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 09:50 | Group Plus |
| 08:10 | 10:30 | Karat-S |
| 09:00 | 11:20 | Karat-S |
| 10:00 | 12:20 | Karat-S |
| 10:50 | 13:10 | Karat-S |
| 11:00 | 13:15 | Union Ivkoni |
| 12:00 | 14:30 | Kristal |
| 12:30 | 14:50 | Karat-S |
| 13:10 | 15:30 | Rozhen Express |
| 14:00 | 16:20 | Meritrans |
| 15:00 | 17:30 | Rema |
| 15:15 | 17:35 | Meritrans |
| 16:00 | 18:03 | Rozhen Express |
| 16:30 | 18:50 | Meritrans |
| 17:00 | 19:30* | Pamporovo Bus |
| 18:00 | 20:20 | Meritrans |
| 20:00 | 22:20 | Meritrans |
| 21:30 | 00:15 | Union Ivkoni |
| 23:30 | 01:15 | Union Ivkoni |
* Arrival time approximate. Late-night buses arrive after midnight.