How to get from Sofia to Plovdiv
- 132 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: bus, 2h 04m
- 9 train departures a day with Bulgarian State Railways
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
2h 04m
direct
Bus
€9
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 25 Sept 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Sofia to Plovdiv. The most useful door-to-door route takes 2h 04m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 132 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on September 17, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
132 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €20Reading date not recorded | 2h 45mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €9Older observation | 2h 04mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€20Reading date not recorded2h 45m · directSee Train details
- Bus€9Older observation2h 04m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Sofia to Plovdiv: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Sofia → Plovdivbus
ArdaTur·2h 04m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateWhich date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Flight prices by day, Sofia to Plovdiv
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€62Departures from Sofia to Plovdiv
Bulgarian State Railways runs 9 scheduled departures a day, the first at 06:30 and the last at 22:50.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian State Railwaystrain | 9 | 06:30 | 22:50 |
| ArdaTurbus | 2 | 08:30 | 20:30 |
| Regional connectionbus | 12 | — | — |
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
- Bus· 1h 50m€10Book
Omio last refreshed these on Fri, Sep 25
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with ArdaTur, Bulgarian State Railways; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Sofia to Plovdiv works
Start with a ArdaTur bus from Sofia to Plovdiv, about 2h 4m. In total it's roughly €9 over 2h 4m, direct, no transfers.
Sofia to Plovdiv: common questions
How long does it take to get from Sofia to Plovdiv?
The most useful route takes about 2h 04m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first train from Sofia to Plovdiv?
The first train with Bulgarian State Railways leaves at 06:30 and the last at 22:50, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Sofia to Plovdiv?
9 a day with Bulgarian State Railways, between 06:30 and 22:50.
When is the first bus from Sofia to Plovdiv?
The first bus with ArdaTur leaves at 08:30 and the last at 20:30, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Sofia to Plovdiv?
2 a day with ArdaTur, between 08:30 and 20:30.
How far is Plovdiv from Sofia?
About 132 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Sofia to Plovdiv cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €9. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Sofia to Plovdiv?
On this route you travel with ArdaTur, Bulgarian State Railways.
Can you get from Sofia to Plovdiv without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 1h 50m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Sofia to Plovdiv?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Where to next
Other ways people search Sofia to Plovdiv
- how to get from Sofia to Plovdiv
- Sofia to Plovdiv travel time
- Sofia to Plovdiv distance
- cheapest way from Sofia to Plovdiv
- Sofia to Plovdiv by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: ArdaTur
Route calculated: 25 Sep 2026
Prices checked: 17 Sep 2026