Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist information
The
Plovdiv Guide
and
Programata
are free weekly magazines listing local bars, restaur-
ants and clubs. The latter is Bulgarian-only, though its website (
www.programata.bg
) is in
English too. The municipal website
www.plovdiv.bg
and
www.plovdivcityguide.com
also
are useful.
Although bookshops sell city maps like Domino's
Plovdiv
(1:11,500), free maps from
hotels, hostels and tourist information centres should suffice.
Tourist Information Centre
( /fax 656 794; tic@plovdiv.bg; pl Tsentralen 1;
9am-7pm)
This helpful centre by the post office provides maps and finds local accom-
modation.
Patrick Penov Personal Trips & Tours
( 0887 364-711;
www.guide-bg.com
)
Li-
censed tour guide Svetlomir 'Patrick' Penov has two decades of experience leading indi-
vidual and small-group tours all over Bulgaria, covering everything from gastronomy and
wine to churches and culture - not to mention mountain biking, snorkeling and extreme
sports.
Since the tours he offers are wide-ranging and can be modified to suit demand, prices
vary, but an average daily rate (as many hours as it takes!) is 200 lv.
Getting There & Away
Air
Approximately 12km from town, formerly neglected Plovdiv Airport is seeing more inter-
national flights, especially in summer. At the time of research, Ryanair was offering
flights to Frankfurt and London, with talk of other carriers to come; check ahead. There's
no airport shuttle bus; a taxi to the centre runs 12 lv to 15 lv.
Bus
Plovdiv's three bus stations include the
Yug bus station
( 626 937
, 626 916) diagonally
opposite the train station and a 15-minute walk from the centre (a taxi costs 5 lv to 7 lv).
Alternatively, local buses (0.80 lv) stop across the main street outside the station, on bul
Hristo Botev. From the Yug bus station, public and private buses serve the destinations lis-
ted. Note that there's often no way of predicting whether you'll be getting a big, modern
bus or a cramped minibus - the latter is particularly likely for rural destinations but can
even be encountered for longer intercity trips.
