Yes — in Plovdiv there are taxis at any time of night, every day of the year, including Christmas and New Year’s Eve. One works 24 hours a day and takes bookings by phone on 032 22 22 and through One App at 3 in the morning just as at 3 in the afternoon. What differs at night is the price, where the car will come from, and a few things worth knowing in advance.
How much a taxi costs at night
From 22:00 to 06:00 the night rate applies. It is slightly higher than the day rate and is displayed on the window of every car:
| Day 06:00–22:00 | Night 22:00–06:00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting fee | €1.60 | €1.80 |
| Per km | €0.80 | €0.90 |
| Per minute of waiting | €0.16 | €0.16 |
| Booking fee | €0.50 | €0.50 |
A 5 km journey around town at night comes to about €7 including the booking fee — around 70 cents more than during the day. If you set off just after 06:00 in the morning, you already pay the day rate. Check on the meter that the right rate for the time is switched on. All prices are on the Taxi services page.
Why it is better to book at night than to flag down a car
During the day, free taxis are constantly passing along the main boulevards. After midnight there are far fewer, and most are at ranks or already on their way to a booking. Waiting on the pavement for one to pass is the slowest and least certain way to get home.
When you book, the dispatcher or the app sends you the nearest free car. In One App you see the car’s number plate, its make and how it is moving towards you on the map, so you can wait inside — in the bar, in the entrance hall or in the hotel — and come out when the car is already outside.
When the wait is longer at night
- Friday and Saturday between 23:00 and 02:00 — bars and restaurants in the centre and Kapana close at roughly the same time and everyone looks for a car at once.
- After concerts, matches and weddings — hundreds of people leave the same place in the same minute.
- New Year’s Eve after 00:30 — the busiest hour of the year. If you can, book in advance for a set time.
- Bad weather — in rain and snow, everyone who would otherwise walk looks for a taxi.
At these times it helps to book 10–15 minutes before you are ready, not when you are already on the pavement. If the journey is important — for a train, a flight or an early shift — book a car for an exact time in the app or by phone the evening before.
Taxi to the station, airport and hospital at night
These are the journeys that can’t afford to be late, and they are often at night: an early train from Central railway station, a coach from South bus station, a flight from Plovdiv Airport or Sofia Airport. For these, book a car in advance for a set time. For the airports the price is fixed and you know it before you set off — see Taxi to Plovdiv Airport and Taxi Plovdiv – Sofia.
If you are going to hospital, tell the dispatcher exactly where you are going — for example, which entrance of St George University Hospital. The driver will drop you at the right place and you won’t be wandering around in the dark. In a medical emergency, however, call 112 — a taxi is not an ambulance.
What else is available in Plovdiv at night
Public transport stops late in the evening and starts again early in the morning, and in between there is almost no way to get around without a car. So there are three options at night: your own car, a taxi or walking. If you have been drinking, your own car is out — and here you have two choices:
- Taxi — if your car can stay where it is until morning.
- Drink & Drive — a driver comes and drives you home in your own car, so you don’t have to leave it overnight.
Public holidays: do taxis run?
They do. One is on duty at Christmas, on New Year’s Eve, at Easter and on all public holidays — by phone and in the app. At peak holiday times waits are longer, so plan your journey in advance.
How to choose a 24-hour taxi
“24 hours” is written on lots of signs. Check whether the company really has cars on the road at night, rather than just answering the phone:
- Call at 2 in the morning. If they say “we have no free cars”, the company isn’t really 24-hour in practice.
- The night rate is displayed on the car and matches the one on the website.
- You know which car is coming — number plate and make, and in the app, where it is right now.
- You can pay by card — at night nobody wants to go looking for a cash machine.
- You get a receipt.
More on how to spot a reliable taxi in How to choose a taxi in Plovdiv.
Safety at night: 4 habits
- Before you get in, check the car’s number against the one in the app or from the dispatcher.
- Sit in the back if you are travelling alone.
- Send a friend or relative the car’s number, or let them know you have set off.
- If you are booking for someone else, send them the car’s number so they know which one to get into.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a taxi in Plovdiv at 3 in the morning?
Yes. One works round the clock — book on 032 22 22 or in One App at any time.
What time does the night rate start?
From 22:00 to 06:00. The starting fee is €1.80 and each kilometre is €0.90.
Can I book a taxi at night for an exact time?
Yes — in the app or by phone. We recommend it for the station, the airport and early shifts.
Do taxis run on New Year’s Eve?
Yes, but from 00:30 until about 03:00 is the busiest time of the year. Book in advance or be prepared to wait.