Compare Bulgaria Airport car hire

Bulgaria remains relatively unexplored, despite its wealth of natural and historical attractions. Ready to break the cycle? Hire a car here in 2025 to discover remote monasteries and villages in the mountainous interior, and meander along sandy beaches on the Black Sea coast.

Language: Bulgarian | Currency: Bulgarian Lev лв | Avg. Flight time: 3 hrs 5 mins

If you’re flying into Bulgaria’s capital, you’ll find a wide range of car hire options at Sofia Airport (SOF). Major rental companies such as Avis, Hertz, Sixt and Europcar have offices in terminal 1 or 2 at Sofia, and the drive to central Sofia is under 20 minutes in good traffic. Varna Airport (VAR), another popular hub for those hitting the coast, offers similar services and the drive into the city takes around 15 minutes.

Several big car hire brands operate in Bulgaria, but local brands dominate in cities – though Sixt and Dollar/Thrifty are in central Sofia. Some are represented at smaller airports too: Hertz is at Plovdiv Airport (PDV), and both Hertz and Sixt are at Burgas Airport (BOJ) on the Black Sea coast.

Bulgaria is a reasonably large country, but it is easy to explore by car if you want to go beyond the major cities. Its key arterial road is the A1, which runs east from Sofia and cuts through the south of the country, connecting to Plovdiv and finishing at Burgas on the Black Sea. The A2 runs further north and finishes at Varna, while the A3 runs south from Sofia towards the Greek border.

Bulgaria drives on the right, and its roads vary considerably. Main roads tend to be well maintained and easy to navigate, while smaller rural roads often lack markings and can be plagued with potholes. If you’re driving in Sofia or Plovdiv, the roads can get busy, especially during commuter times, so its worth choosing your moment and mapping your route out in advance.

If Bulgaria’s mountains and ski resorts are on your agenda, you’ll need to be extra cautious and make sure your hire car and insurance are suitable for winter conditions.

Plovdiv

Plovdiv, the country’s second largest and most historic city, is spread out across seven hills about 140km (87 miles) south-east of Sofia. It’s packed with incredible architecture, from the well-preserved Roman theatre to the brightly painted 19th century manor houses that line the streets of its Old Town.

The Black Sea Coast

Want to see why tourists from the Balkan region head to Bulgaria in the summer? Take a road trip along the beautiful Black Sea coast. Starting in the north, you’ll pass the white sandy beaches of Krapets and Shabla, the quaint fishing port of Kavarna, and the coastal cities of Varna and Burgas. Between Burgas and the Turkish border is Strandzha Nature Park, a protected region of wild river valleys and pretty rural villages.

Rila Mountains

Drive an hour and a half south of Sofia and you'll start to climb into the Rila, a popular ski area with locals (and some budget-conscious Brits). But don't save this stunning national park for winter. Its ski resorts become bases for hiking and mountain biking in summer, and you can also visit the 10th century Rila Monastery, whose galleried courtyard and candy-striped exterior hide remarkable murals that run riot across walls, ceilings and columns.

1. Road signs in big cities and on major roads use both Roman and Cyrillic script, but in rural areas you might encounter Cyrillic-only signs. Use an international map or a satnav if you head off the beaten track.
   
2. Between November 1 and March 31, drivers are required to carry snow chains and fit them when indicated by road signs. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph) when snow chains are in use.
   
3. Not all of Bulgaria’s streets are well looked after, especially those outside of the cities. Beware of potholes in more rural areas, and watch out for cars driving at night without headlights.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.