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City guide

Plovdiv

Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and the most populous city in the Bulgarian part of the historic region of Thrace, located 144 km southeast of the capital Sofia. It had a population of 329,489 as of 2024 and 540,000 in its greater metropolitan area.

Type CityPopulation 329,489

Why go

  • Oldest and second-largest city in Bulgaria.
  • Served by Plovdiv International Airport (PDV).

History

Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and the most populous city in the Bulgarian part of the historic region of Thrace, located 144 km southeast of the capital Sofia. It had a population of 329,489 as of 2024 and 540,000 in its greater metropolitan area. An important economic, transport, cultural, and educational hub of Bulgaria, Plovdiv was the European Capital of Culture in 2019, and joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.

Restaurants & places to go

International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-02:00 · 69 бул. Източен, 4000 · pivovarnitza.com
Indoor
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Изцяло обновен, ресторант и пицария "Густо" е заведение с 15 годишна традиция. Има и стилна подземна зала, стенописана от… · gustobg.com
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · The new adventurous restaurant in Plovdiv Explore a palette of tastes, which will take you on an exciting journey around the world. Our… · smokini.bg
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · В основата на нашата концепция са farm-to-table философията и българската продукция Opening hours: We-Sa 19:00-23:00 Features: air… · bistroblyan.com
Indoor
International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Fr-Sa 10:00-23:00; Mo-Th,Su 10:00-22:30 Features: outdoor seating · happy.bg
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 37 Княз Александър I Батенберг · hesburger.bg
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 07:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-00:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 6-ти Септември · mcdonalds.bg
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Dessert, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:30-23:00 Features: outdoor seating · 37 бул. България, Пловдив, 4003 · tortiniko.com
Indoor

292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Plovdiv International Airport (PDV) 11 km to the centre
Plovdiv, 16, BG — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 1 airline (Ryanair) · direct flights to 2 destinations incl. Hahn, London (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 2 direct destinations
  • Ryanair FR (737-800) · 2 routes: Hahn, London

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Maritsa Airfield 14 km to the centre
Maritsa, 16, BG
Outdoor
Tsalapitsa Airfield 19 km to the centre
Tsalapitsa, 16, BG
Outdoor
Stryama Airfield 19 km to the centre
Stryama, 16, BG
Outdoor
Asenovgrad Airfield 20 km to the centre
Asenovgrad, 16, BG
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Plovdiv International Airport (PDV); 10 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: PDV has direct flights to 2 destinations on 1 airline (incl. Hahn, London).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Plovdiv. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing