Anywhere Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Anywhere Campers SofiaSofiaView map
Hiring a campervan in Sofia means setting off from the heart of the Balkans, at the foot of Vitosha, towards a Bulgaria still little travelled: Rila Monastery and the glacial lakes of the Rila range, the Pirin and Bansko, the old town of Plovdiv, the villages of the Rhodopes, Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the tsars, then the beaches and ancient towns of the Black Sea. 2 partner companies offer motorhomes, campervans and camper vans there: Anywhere Campers and Touring Cars.
The mountains start at the city's doorstep: Rila Monastery is about two hours' drive south, and Plovdiv a little less via the Trakia motorway.
2 rental partners
Where to pick up your vehicle in Sofia?
Touring Cars Rental company category:Standard
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Touring Cars Bulgaria c/o Campers BG Ltd.Tsarigradsko Shose 164, 1138 SofiaView map
Observed prices
Rental prices observed in Sofia
| Vehicle | Winter January | Spring April | Summer July | Autumn October |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €294/day median €297/day | from €316/day median €319/day | from €362/day median €365/day | from €302/day median €304/day |
| Low-profile motorhome | from €305/day median €323/day | from €321/day median €337/day | from €373/day median €384/day | from €313/day median €324/day |
| Large motorhome | from €311/day median €314/day | from €327/day median €329/day | from €373/day median €376/day | from €319/day median €321/day |
Daily prices observed on October 21, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €1,500.
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Sofia
1 Rila, Pirin and Melnik, the mountains of the south-west
- Sofia
- Sapareva Banya
- Rila Monastery
- Bansko
- Melnik
- Rozhen
- Sofia
South of Sofia, Sapareva Banya opens the road to the Seven Rila Lakes chairlift, then a wooded valley leads to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO site famous for its frescoes and galleries. You then reach Bansko, at the foot of the Pirin and the trails of Vihren, before heading down to Melnik, its sand pyramids and wine cellars, and the nearby Rozhen Monastery. Narrow lanes and mountain roads favour a compact vehicle.
- Distance
- about 550 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Camper van or low-profile motorhome
2 Plovdiv and the villages of the Rhodopes
- Sofia
- Plovdiv
- Bachkovo
- Smolyan
- Shiroka Laka
- Trigrad
- Devin
- Velingrad
- Sofia
The Trakia motorway leads to Plovdiv, its old town of colourful National Revival houses and its Roman theatre. To the south, Bachkovo Monastery marks the entrance to the Rhodopes: you pass through Pamporovo and Smolyan, then the village of Shiroka Laka, the Trigrad Gorge and Yagodina Cave, before heading back via Devin and the spa town of Velingrad. Narrow, winding roads where a campervan or camper van is more at ease.
- Distance
- about 600 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
3 Veliko Tarnovo and the Black Sea coast
- Sofia
- Veliko Tarnovo
- Madara
- Varna
- Nessebar
- Sozopol
- Kazanlak
- Sofia
The Hemus motorway crosses the Balkan Mountains north of Sofia, then the foothill roads lead to Veliko Tarnovo, a former capital perched above the meanders of the Yantra, and the village of Arbanasi. The Madara Rider, a UNESCO-listed rock relief, comes before Varna and its beaches. You then follow the coast to Nessebar, a peninsula of medieval churches, and Sozopol, before returning through the Valley of Roses and Kazanlak. A grand tour on main roads.
- Distance
- about 1,000 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
Weather and seasons
When to go in Sofia?
Best time
May, June and September
May to June, September
highs 21 to 26 °C, lows 10 to 15 °C
The best months to leave from Sofia: long days, flower-filled meadows in the Rila and Pirin, a Black Sea still calm in June or peaceful again in September. High Rila often keeps snow in May; late June and September suit the Seven Lakes hikes better, and September adds the grape harvest around Melnik.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 28 to 29 °C, lows 17 °C
Peak season: dry heat in Sofia, full coastal campsites around Nessebar and Sozopol, busy roads to the coast at weekends. The cooler Rila, Pirin and Rhodope mountains are then the best refuge, with pleasant nights and trails clear all the way to the summits.
March, April and October
March to April, October
highs 12 to 18 °C, lows 1 to 7 °C
Cool shoulder seasons, ideal for Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and the monasteries without the crowds. The peaks stay snow-covered in spring, and October turns the forests of the Rhodopes and Vitosha golden. Many Black Sea campsites are closed then: check opening dates before heading for the coast.
Winter
November to February
November to February
highs 5 to 12 °C, lows -4 to 3 °C
Winter is cold in Sofia, with frequent frosts and snow in the mountains. Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo become ski resorts, reachable in a well-heated motorhome fitted with snow-ready tyres; many campsites close, and the narrow roads of the Rhodopes become tricky.
Climate in Sofia, month by month
Most pleasant months: May to October.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 °C | -4 °C | 63 mm | 7 h/day |
| Feb | 9 °C | -1 °C | 34 mm | 8 h/day |
| Mar | 12 °C | 1 °C | 65 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 17 °C | 5 °C | 59 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 21 °C | 10 °C | 76 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 26 °C | 15 °C | 67 mm | 13 h/day |
| Jul | 28 °C | 17 °C | 47 mm | 14 h/day |
| Aug | 29 °C | 17 °C | 36 mm | 13 h/day |
| Sep | 24 °C | 13 °C | 29 mm | 11 h/day |
| Oct | 18 °C | 7 °C | 65 mm | 9 h/day |
| Nov | 12 °C | 3 °C | 66 mm | 7 h/day |
| Dec | 7 °C | -1 °C | 59 mm | 6 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Electronic vignette or distance-based toll
An electronic vignette is required on Bulgarian motorways and most national roads for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes; above that, a distance-based toll applies. Linked to the number plate, it has no sticker: ask the rental company whether it is included for the whole rental, otherwise buy it before leaving Sofia and check its validity conditions.
Uneven roads and the Kresna Gorge
Apart from the Trakia, Hemus and Struma motorways, Bulgarian roads alternate between good surfaces and potholes, especially in the Rhodopes and through villages. The Kresna Gorge, on the road to the Pirin and Greece, remains a narrow national road heavily used by lorries: drive by day and plan shorter stages than the map suggests.
Road signs in Cyrillic
Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet. On motorways and main roads, signs are also written in Latin letters, but not always in villages and in the mountains: learn to recognise the names of your stops, such as Пловдив for Plovdiv or Банско for Bansko, and download offline maps before you leave.
Leave Sofia outside rush hour
Sofia's ring road and main exit boulevards are saturated at rush hour, and on Friday evenings, when residents head for the mountains or the coast. Hit the road early in the morning. In town, watch out for trams and the yellow paving stones of the historic centre, slippery in the rain.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Sofia
Where can I pick up a motorhome in Sofia?
Two partner companies welcome you. Touring Cars hands over its vehicles on Tsarigradsko Shose boulevard, in eastern Sofia, not far from the airport and the start of the Trakia motorway: a departure that avoids crossing the centre. Anywhere Campers meets you in Sofia; the exact address and handover time are given in your booking confirmation.
How much does it cost to hire a motorhome in Sofia?
It all depends on the departure date, the number of days and the vehicle chosen, from the two-berth campervan to the large family motorhome. To find the exact rate, run a search with your dates: offers from Sofia's rental companies are shown with mandatory fees included, at real prices you can book straight away.
Which vehicle should I choose for a road trip in Bulgaria?
The models observed for departures from Sofia range from the Van for 2, for two people, to the Sunlight A70 with 6 berths, including the Adria Matrix and the Carado T-447, with manual or automatic gearboxes. For the Rhodopes and the lanes of Melnik, a compact model is easier to handle; families will prefer a 5- or 6-berth model for the coast.
Can Rila Monastery be visited as a day trip?
Yes: allow about two hours' drive each way, via the Struma motorway to Dupnitsa, then up the Rilska valley to the monastery. The nearby car parks fill up quickly on summer weekends. To visit early, before the coaches arrive, it is best to spend the night before at one of the valley's campsites.
How many days should I plan from Sofia?
One week lets you combine Rila, Pirin and Plovdiv, or explore the Rhodopes. The Black Sea is more than 400 km away: to reach it and return via Veliko Tarnovo and the Valley of Roses, allow at least ten days. With two weeks, you can tour almost the whole country, mountains and coast included.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Sofia with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Alain L.
Canada · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Too rigid computer system
Eric L.
Portugal · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Very good customer experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it! Thanks to the team who were attentive and available for organizing my trip to Canada.
B.
Canada · Oct 2025
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Sofia
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome in Bulgaria?
A category B licence is enough for campervans and motorhomes of up to 3.5 tonnes; above that, category C1 is required. A licence issued outside the European Union often needs to be accompanied by an international driving permit. In Bulgaria, dipped headlights are compulsory in daytime all year round, and each rental company sets a minimum age in its conditions.
Where can I sleep in a motorhome in Bulgaria?
Campsites are plentiful on the Black Sea coast and around the Rila and Pirin ranges, rarer elsewhere, where some guesthouses welcome motorhomes. Wild camping is forbidden in national parks and on beaches; elsewhere, discreet overnight parking is sometimes tolerated: ask locally.
Can I park in central Sofia?
The centre is covered by time-limited paid parking zones, blue and green, often full and poorly suited to a motorhome. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Rotunda of St George and Vitosha Boulevard before departure or on your return, or park on the outskirts near a metro station, a network that also serves the airport.
Which currency is used in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, replacing the lev. Bank cards are accepted at petrol stations, supermarkets and most coastal campsites, but keep some cash for small mountain campsites, markets, monasteries and car parks in the villages of the Rhodopes.
Can I drive into Greece or Romania with the motorhome?
Since January 2025, Bulgaria has been a full member of the Schengen area: systematic checks at the Greek and Romanian borders have disappeared. Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia, however, require a customs crossing. In all cases, the countries allowed depend on the rental company and its insurance: check them in the offer's conditions.
When should I book a motorhome in Sofia?
The number of vehicles available from Sofia is limited, with only two partner companies: book several months ahead for July and August, when the coast and the mountains attract the most travellers, and for the year-end holidays if you are heading for the ski resorts. In spring and autumn, a few weeks are usually enough.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Sofia
Sofia enjoys a rare position: few European capitals have a real mountain, Vitosha, on their doorstep, and three major ranges less than two hours' drive away. Rila, the Pirin and the Rhodopes offer glacial lakes, monasteries and stone villages, while Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo tell several thousand years of history, from the Thracians to the Bulgarian tsars. The Black Sea, a day's drive away, completes the trip with its beaches and ancient towns.
The two partner companies, Anywhere Campers and Touring Cars, offer vehicles with 2 to 6 berths, from the compact campervan to the large family motorhome. From May to October, the climate suits long tours between mountains and coast. A destination still little visited by motorhome travellers, for an unusual journey on the eastern edge of the European Union.