Blagoevgrad's centre is compact and easily walkable. The pedestrian boulevard (Makedonia Boulevard), the Varosha old quarter, and the AUBG campus can all be reached on foot from each other within 15–20 minutes. There is no tram or metro system; the city is small enough not to need one.
On foot is the default for everything in the centre. The Varosha quarter, in particular, is only accessible on foot — its cobbled streets are not designed for cars.
Local buses serve the wider city and connect to the train station and main bus terminal. They are cheap and run reasonably frequently, but visitors staying in the centre are unlikely to need them.
Taxis are cheap by Western standards and available throughout the city. They are the practical option for getting to the bus and train stations with luggage, or for reaching the outskirts.
Car hire makes sense if you are planning to visit the Rila Monastery and Pirin Mountains independently, rather than on the public bus services that connect to Rila Monastery once daily.