A taxi from Plovdiv to Asenovgrad covers about 20 km and takes about 20 minutes. On the meter the ride from the city centre comes to about €18.10 by day and about €20.30 at night; booked as a transfer, the price is fixed at €25. We drive 24/7: call 032 22 22 or use the One App.
Updated: 16 October 2026
Asenovgrad is the town just south of Plovdiv where the Rhodope Mountains begin, and it is the start of one of the best half-day trips from the city: the medieval Asen’s Fortress on its rock and Bachkovo Monastery a little further up the gorge. It is also the town near Plovdiv that our call centre sends the most cars to, with more than 600 rides between the two in three months. This page gives you the distances, what the ride costs by day and at night, and how to get back to Plovdiv afterwards.
Fares to Asenovgrad, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery
The meter works like this: €1.60 starting fee + €0.80 per km + a one-off €0.50 booking fee by day, and €1.80 + €0.90 per km + €0.50 at night. Waiting is €0.16 a minute at any time. The last column is the fixed transfer price, agreed before you set off.
| Trip | Distance | Day, on the meter | Night, on the meter | Fixed transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Asenovgrad | ≈ 20 km · 20 min | about €18.10 | about €20.30 | €25 |
| To Asen’s Fortress | ≈ 25 km · 25 min | about €22.10 | about €24.80 | €25 |
| To Bachkovo Monastery | ≈ 30 km · 30 min | about €26.10 | about €29.30 | €30 |
| Bachkovo and back, car waits 1 hour | ≈ 60 km + 60 min waiting | about €59.70 | about €65.90 | when booking |
Meter fares are estimates from the city centre; the meter in the car is what counts, and the total depends on the exact address, traffic and waiting time. Fixed prices are per car for up to four passengers, one way, as shown by the calculator on the Transfers page.
Meter or fixed price?
The meter is a normal taxi ride: you call or book in the app, the car arrives and you pay what the meter shows. For Asenovgrad by day this is usually the cheaper option, because 20 km at €0.80 comes to less than the fixed €25.
The fixed price is for a transfer booked in advance. You know the amount before you leave and it does not change with traffic or roadworks. It suits you if you are coming straight from a hotel or the station with luggage, need a car at an exact time, or simply prefer a clear price. Use the booking form on the Transfers page.
Asen’s Fortress
The fortress sits on a cliff above the Chepelare river gorge, about 3 km south of Asenovgrad on the road to Bachkovo. It is named after Tsar Ivan Asen II, who strengthened it in the 13th century, and its best-preserved building, the Church of the Holy Mother of God of Petrich, is the picture everyone takes home. On a clear day you see Asenovgrad and the whole Thracian plain below.
The side road up from the main road is narrow and full of bends, so the last stretch is slower than the map suggests. When you book, say “Asen’s Fortress” rather than just “Asenovgrad”, so the driver heads straight there.
Bachkovo Monastery
Founded in 1083, Bachkovo is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria after Rila. It lies about 10 km past Asenovgrad on the same road towards Smolyan, roughly 30 km and half an hour from central Plovdiv. Pilgrims and tourists come all year, and the days around the monastery’s feast, the Dormition of the Mother of God on 15 August, are the busiest.
Many visitors do both sights in one trip: the fortress first, then the monastery, then back to Plovdiv. Agree the plan when you book: either the car waits for you, with waiting charged by the tariff, or you book the return ride for a set time. If you will be away from the car for more than an hour, booking the return is usually better value. The same road continues to the ski resort of Pamporovo, which has a fixed price of €80 by day and €90 at night.
When people travel
Our call centre data shows many more rides towards Asenovgrad than back. Friday, Saturday and Sunday together account for more than half of the week’s rides, and during the day bookings build from around noon until midnight, peaking around 18:00–19:00 and again late in the evening. Early morning is the quietest time. For a weekend trip, book the car a little earlier or reserve it for a set time in the app.
How to book
- By phone: 032 22 22 (from a foreign number +359 32 22 22). 24/7. Give your pick-up address in Plovdiv, where you are going (the town, the fortress or the monastery) and whether the car should wait.
- In the One App. You see the car on the map as it comes and can reserve it for a set time, without having to explain the address on the phone.
- As a fixed-price transfer with the form on the Transfers page, with date, time and number of passengers.
Pay in cash or by card: every car has a POS terminal through myPOS and takes Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay and Google Pay. A child seat is available on advance request at no extra charge. Going from Asenovgrad back to Plovdiv, book a bit earlier, as the car usually comes out from Plovdiv.
Related: Taxi from Plovdiv to nearby towns, Taxi to the villages around Plovdiv and Plovdiv taxi fares 2026: real examples.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Plovdiv to Asenovgrad?
On the meter the ride from Plovdiv city centre is about €18.10 by day and about €20.30 at night, including the €0.50 booking fee. Booked in advance as a transfer, the price is fixed at €25 per car for up to four passengers.
How long does the ride take?
About 20 minutes for roughly 20 km in normal traffic. Allow a little more on Friday afternoons and evenings.
How much is a taxi from Plovdiv to Bachkovo Monastery?
The monastery is about 30 km from Plovdiv city centre. On the meter it comes to about €26.10 by day and about €29.30 at night; the fixed transfer price is €30.
Can the driver wait while I visit the fortress or the monastery?
Yes, if you ask when you book. Waiting is charged by the tariff at €0.16 a minute, so one hour is about €9.60. For a longer visit it is usually better value to book the return ride for a set time.
Can I book a taxi from Asenovgrad back to Plovdiv?
Yes. Call 032 22 22 or book in the One App and give your exact address in Asenovgrad. The car usually comes from Plovdiv, so book a little earlier or reserve it for a set time.
Can I pay by card, and is there a child seat?
Yes. Every car has a POS terminal through myPOS and accepts cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. A child seat is available on advance request at no extra charge.