Important Information:

The 22 Congress of CBGA will be held at the Agricultural University in Plovdiv. Address: Bulgaria, Plovdiv 4000, Mendeleev Blvd. 12.

The on-site registration of the attendees opens on 06.09.2022 at 15.00 h at the foyer of Grand Hotel Plovdiv (until 19.00 h) and continues on 07.09.2022 at Agricultural University (AU), central foyer, from 8.30 h until 18.00 h. Opening ceremony starts at 9.30 h in the Aula of the Agricultural University.

Welcome party will be held at the garden restaurant of Grand Hotel Plovdiv on 07.09.2022 starting at 19.30 h.

Closing ceremony with presentation of the next host of CBGA Congress and farewell with a glass of wine from the Winery of the Agricultural University will be held at AU.

Shuttles bus Sofia-Plovdiv is organized on 06.09.2022 departing from Sofia University (at 15.00 h) and Sofia Airport (15.30 h), and on 11.09.2022 Plovdiv-Sofia, departing from Grand Hotel Plovdiv (GHP) at 8.15 h and from the AU ate 8.30 h. Interested participants, please contact the CBGA2022 Secretariat to make a list of users and send you additional information.

Shuttles buses in Plovdiv during the CBGA2022:
GHP to AU: 8.30 h on 07-08.09.2022 and 9.00 h on 09-10.09.2022
AU to GHP: 19.00 h

Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and the oldest continually inhabited city in Europe. Its picturesque location around the banks of Maritsa River and the surrounding green hills are part of his identity. Since its establishment as a city around the 6th century BC until the modern times, the city has been constantly inhabited. The ancient atmosphere of Plovdiv, its strategic location and the cultural events defy it a place of continuous meetings of cultures and civilizations. The hospitable citizens of Plovdiv are convinced that the city is the most worthy candidate for the European Capital of Culture and expect the visitors to share together the sense of art and history.

The development of the city is related to the era of Philip of Macedonia. It flourished in the period of heyday of the Roman and Byzantine empires and has preserved to some extent over the years of the Ottoman Empire and reached its rise during the Renaissance.

The ancient history of the city leaves permanent marks in its architecture. Remains of Old World, Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern culture coexist entangled in the irresistible beauty of this eternal city.

Plovdiv has preserved many extremely valuable monuments, of which the most impressive are: the Roman Stadium, the Ancient Theatre, the Odeon, the magnificent colored mosaics, the Aqueduct, the walls, the remains of Thracian settlements.

Plovdiv is the cultural capital of Bulgaria and was the European Capital of Culture in 2019. It is an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational center.

https://www.plovdiv.bg/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdiv
http://www.visitplovdiv.com/en
https://tourismplovdiv.org/en/home-en/
https://www.inyourpocket.com/plovdiv
https://plovdivbg.info/?lang=en

Plovdiv, the host city for XXII International Congress of Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association, is located ~140 km away from Sofia Airport. Travel from Sofia Airport takes about 2 hours by car, bus or train.

By car. Major car rental companies provide a choice of vehicles at Sofia airport that can be accessed here: https://sofia-airport.eu/en/at-the-airport/services/rent-a-car/. Once you have a vehicle, please see these detailed travel directions that will guide you to Plovdiv at Google Maps or similar GPS navigation programs.

By bus or train. Sofia Central Railway and Central Bus stations are located next to each other, about 10 km from Sofia Airport.

There are several ways to reach the Central railway and bus stations:

By metro: Sofia Metro is the fastest way for travelers to reach the downtown area and the Railway and Bus Stations. Line 4 of the metro service connects with line 2 at Serdica station that provides the service to the Railway and Bus stations. The cost of a ticket is 1.60 BGN (0.80 EUR).

By bus: Lines no. 84 and 184 transfer from Sofia Airport to the downtown area where make connection with a wealth of lines to the Railway and Bus stations. The easiest route is to take the bus from Sofia Airport, disembark at “Hotel Pliska” bus station, and transfer to bus 305 or bus 213 to reach the central railway station. The cost of a ticket is 1.60 BGN (0.80 EUR) and might be acquired from the drivers, too.

Taxi service from the airport: There is one major taxi company licensed for transfers from Sofia Airport. You can order easily your “OK Supertrans” taxi either at the company’s desk located at the waiting area before exiting the airport (in front right of the arrival exit of the passengers) or by calling phone number +359 973 21 21. The cost of taxi service from Sofia Airport to the downtown is about 15-20 BGN (approx. 7-10 EUR). We do not recommend using other taxi companies or casual shuttle services.

When you reach the central railway-bus station area, here are your options:

Central Bus Station Sofia – Bus Station Plovdiv South

Buses from Sofia to Plovdiv depart hourly. The duration of the trip is about 2 hours. For further information, please check https://www.centralnaavtogara.bg/index.php#b.

Central Railway Station Sofia – Central Railway Station Plovdiv

Direct express and fast trains are available from Sofia to Plovdiv. Trains from Sofia to Svilengrad or Burgas also stop at Plovdiv. The trip duration is about 2.5 hours. For more information, please, check https://www.bdz.bg/en.

In Plovdiv:

The Agricultural University Plovdiv that hosts CBGA 2022 is located ̴2 km away from Plovdiv Central Railway and Bus stations and is accessible by car, taxi, or public transport. CBGA2022 may organize a special shuttle bus between the Sofia airport and the venue city of Plovdiv. Participants should contact the organizers at cbga2022@gmail.com to express their interest for this optional service.