Travel Information
Visa information
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, so EU/EFTA citizens can enter the country simply with a valid ID or passport. Citizens of many other countries do not require a visa for a short-term stay (90 days) - click here for a list. For more information, please check the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria: https://mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria
In case that you require a visa and/or wish to request a conference invitation letter, please contact us at pde.plovdiv@gmail.com
Travelling to Plovdiv
There are two main ways to reach Plovdiv from abroad.
Fly to Sofia Airport (SOF), located about 150 km away from Plovdiv. Most airlines operate from the new Terminal 2, except Easyjet and Wizzair which mostly use the older Terminal 1.
You can then take a private transfer, train or car to get to your final destination.
By private transfer
This is the easiest option: you can book a (car) private transfer online that will pick you up from SOF airport and drop you off directly at your hotel in Plovdiv. At this time the usual price of such a transfer is about 70-80 EUR. A taxi should cost appr. 200-230 BGN.
By train
Take the metro line M4 from Sofia Airport Terminal 2 station up to the small Iskarsko Shose station (two stops). From there you can board a train directly to Plovdiv. For train schedules and tickets, please see the BDZ website.
By car
You can rent a car at Sofia Airport. Plovdiv is connected to Sofia via the A1/E80 highway and the trip takes about 1hr 40mins.
Fly directly to Plovdiv Airport (PDV), located 12 km southeast from the city center. This is a small airport with limited infrastructure which serves budget airlines, such as Wizz Air, RyanAir, and offers few direct routes (mostly to the United Kingdom).
Currency
The official currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev (BGN). The exchange rate to the euro is fixed to appr. 1 BGN = 0.51 EUR.
Currency can be exchanged at local banks, which are open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, or directly through ATMs, which are widely available and accept major debit and credit cards. Credit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants. Cash payments are usually accepted only in BGN.
Language
The country's language is Bulgarian but many (especially young) people can speak some English. Most street and road signs are written both in the native Cyrillic and in the Latin alphabet.
Sightseeing
Plovdiv is known in Bulgaria for its relaxed, outdoorsy and artsy atmosphere (the locals even have special words for that!). The best districts for sightseeing are: The Old Town, a picturesque gathering of beautifully restored 18th and 19th century houses, with many art galleries, museums, cafes and restaurants; The Kapana district - the new artsy-trendy place to hang out; The Main Street (Knyaz Alexander I Str); all of which are short walking distance away from each other.
See more at:
https://www.visitplovdiv.com/en (also has a nice online tourist map)
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/bulgaria/plovdiv-and-rodopi-mountains/plovdiv
There is a lot to visit around Plovdiv too, such as the beautiful Bachkovo monastery, or the spa town of Hisarya.
Furthermore, during the days of the conference the famous annual Rose festival in Kazanlak and around takes place, with its main events scheduled for the weekend of June 1-2: https://www.rosefestivalkazanlak.com/