Category: Bulgaria

Bourgas

Do you need a car in Bourgas?

Should you rent a car in Bourgas Bulgaria > Bourgas

Bulgarian coastal resorts that were developed during the communist era tended to have good public transport provision, and this still applies within the city of Bourgas today, and also in the other major Bulgarian Black Sea coastal resort of Varna. However, public transport here is still nothing like as prolific as it is in the capital Sofia.

Bourgas Introduction

Why? Why not? Ratings

Why should you rent a car in Bourgas?
In terms of factors like the cost of the hire itself, fuel costs, road tolls and parking charges, is it worth hiring a car in Bourgas?

Bourgas Car hire summary

Overall drive rating

80%
 

Cheapest rate for one week

€70

 #51/300
 

How much should I expect to pay in the peak season?

 

 €170

# 105/300
 

Free parking score

Total 442 - of which 129 have free parking. [full notes - parking]

29%

#210/300
 
  • Modern Bulgarian tourist resorts tend to have spread out further along the coast, and although plenty of resort transfers and local bus services are still available, you might still prefer to get around in a hire car if you are staying at this sort of location.
  • Another real advantage of getting a rental car for your visit to Bourgas is that it might be useful for travelling inland, and seeing some of the scenic forested areas which make for a contrast to the busy coastal resorts.

Why not? Visiting Bourgas without a car

Why? Why not? Ratings Comments

Bourgas public transport quick facts

Train score

 

00%

Water travel score

00%

Overall public transport score

20%

Walking and Cycling Overview

Active travel score

(walking + cycling)

30%
  • There is still a reasonable network of buses in the city of Bourgas itself, with reasonable services in and around the resorts.
  • No car needed if you are mainly staying in the resort or just visiting beach locations.
  • Road safety is a major concern in Bulgaria, compared to other EU nations.

Ratings

Car rental in - Bourgas Need v worth & should!

Do you need a car in Bourgas?

Based on comparison with transit, walking and cycling.
 

Is it worth hiring a car in Bourgas?

Based on value for money
 

Should you rent a car in Bourgas?

Weighing up the above, if you are asking about hiring a car, is it a good idea?
 

Who is travelling?

Is it worth renting a car in Bourgas if I am a solo / budget traveller?

What about for 2 people travelling together?

For families?
 

Where are you staying?

Do you need a car in Bourgas if we are staying in a central area?

What if we are staying on the edge of the city/resort?

Or in a rural area?
 

What is your attitude towards driving?

Should I hire a car in Bourgas if I prefer not to drive?

If I am easy either way?

If I prefer to drive?
 

Verdict

Final score:

7
Go back up to:
Why? Why not? Ratings Comments
 

Do you need a car in Bourgas?  Verdict – yes

Would you hire a car in Bourgas?

Have you driven in Bourgas? Do you agree with our advice on whether or not it's worth hiring a car in Bourgas?
Tell us what you think using the comments section below:
 

 

Sofia

Do you need a car in Sofia?

Should you rent a car in Sofia Bulgaria > Sofia

Sofia Introduction

Why? Why not? Ratings

[coming]

James says - a few trip notes:

I’ve just got back from Sofia, and I really loved this city – so much in fact that I hardly left town, other than to take the amazing mountain railway to Bansko.

The Bulgarian capital has a good network of public transport options, including a newly developed underground system to complement the well-established trams.

Why should you rent a car in Sofia?
In terms of factors like the cost of the hire itself, fuel costs, road tolls and parking charges, is it worth hiring a car in Sofia?

Sofia Car hire summary

Overall drive rating

40%
 

Cheapest rate for one week

€70

 #50/300
 

How much should I expect to pay in the peak season?

 

 €225

# 151/300
 

Free parking score

Total 147 - of which 30 have free parking. [full notes - parking]

20%

#243/300
 
  • A hire car might still be useful, especially for travelling into the mountains at your own pace, but it is certainly far from essential.

Why not? Visiting Sofia without a car

Why? Why not? Ratings Comments

Sofia public transport quick facts

Train score

 

80%

Water travel score

40%

Overall public transport score

80%

Walking and Cycling Overview

Active travel score

(walking + cycling)

90%
  • Sofia also offers good access to a range of parks and national parks which are all sufficiently close to the city centre that you can get there easily by bus, and return back to your hotel within the same day. In fact, Sofia is rare amongst European capitals in having ski facilities literally within its boundaries.

Looking further afield, Bulgaria offers some great scenic train rides, including the world-famous line to Bansko, which is also another popular skiing area.

Do you need a car in Sofia? No!

Ratings

Car rental in - Sofia Need v worth & should!

Do you need a car in Sofia?

Based on comparison with transit, walking and cycling.
 

Is it worth hiring a car in Sofia?

Based on value for money
 

Should you rent a car in Sofia?

Weighing up the above, if you are asking about hiring a car, is it a good idea?
 

Who is travelling?

Is it worth renting a car in Sofia if I am a solo / budget traveller?

What about for 2 people travelling together?

For families?
 

Where are you staying?

Do you need a car in Sofia if we are staying in a central area?

What if we are staying on the edge of the city/resort?

Or in a rural area?
 

What is your attitude towards driving?

Should I hire a car in Sofia if I prefer not to drive?

If I am easy either way?

If I prefer to drive?
 

Verdict

Final score:

3
Go back up to:
Why? Why not? Ratings Comments
 

Would you hire a car in Sofia?

Have you driven in Sofia? Do you agree with our advice on whether or not it's worth hiring a car in Sofia?
Tell us what you think using the comments section below:
 

Varna

Do you need a car in Varna?

Should you rent a car in Varna Bulgaria > Varna
  • To follow.

Varna Introduction

Why? Why not? Ratings
  • To follow.

Why should you rent a car in Varna?
In terms of factors like the cost of the hire itself, fuel costs, road tolls and parking charges, is it worth hiring a car in Varna?

Varna Car hire summary

Overall drive rating

90%
 

Cheapest rate for one week

€70

 #52/300
 

How much should I expect to pay in the peak season?

 

 €205

# 132/300
 

Free parking score

Total 644 - of which 174 have free parking. [full notes - parking]

27%

#219/300
 
  • To follow.

Why not? Visiting Varna without a car

Why? Why not? Ratings Comments

Varna public transport quick facts

Train score

 

90%

Water travel score

90%

Overall public transport score

90%

Walking and Cycling Overview

Active travel score

(walking + cycling)

90%
  • To follow.

Ratings

Car rental in - Varna Need v worth & should!

Do you need a car in Varna?

Based on comparison with transit, walking and cycling.
 

Is it worth hiring a car in Varna?

Based on value for money
 

Should you rent a car in Varna?

Weighing up the above, if you are asking about hiring a car, is it a good idea?
 

Who is travelling?

Is it worth renting a car in Varna if I am a solo / budget traveller?

What about for 2 people travelling together?

For families?
 

Where are you staying?

Do you need a car in Varna if we are staying in a central area?

What if we are staying on the edge of the city/resort?

Or in a rural area?
 

What is your attitude towards driving?

Should I hire a car in Varna if I prefer not to drive?

If I am easy either way?

If I prefer to drive?
 

Verdict

Final score:

6
Go back up to:
Why? Why not? Ratings Comments
 

Do you need a car in Varna? Yes

Would you hire a car in Varna?

Have you driven in Varna? Do you agree with our advice on whether or not it's worth hiring a car in Varna?
Tell us what you think using the comments section below: