Plovdiv existed for a long time in the shadow of Sofia, the Capital City of Bulgaria. In recent years, it has flown onto the radar of international travelers, especially since claiming the title as European Capital of Culture in 2019. This came as no surprise to many Digital Nomads that have been keeping Plovdiv a closely held secret for a lot longer than that. Plovdiv is cheap, has amazing things to see and do, and hums with a vibe that you don’t get in many other European towns. Having just spent over a month in the city, I decided to do my Complete Guide to Plovdiv, to show you just how great it could be for your next vacation.
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Personally, I have fallen in love with Plovdiv. I came here on this visit for a full month, with the goal of catching up on a lot of blogging about my recent month long trip around Turkey. I have done that, but still found myself drawn out every day to wander the streets of Plovdiv Old Town, sit in her Ancient Roman Theatre for hours on end, and just soak up the atmosphere.
In short, Plovdiv has rapidly become like a second home to me.
So in this Guide to Plovdiv, I am going to cover everything that I have learned about this amazing city. Where to stay, things to do, and how to save money by eating cheaply, and finding the best free activities around town.
I hope it helps you understand a bit more why Plovdiv is becoming every travelers favorite East European destination.
Table of Contents
- Where is Plovdiv?
- About Plovdiv
- Best time to visit Plovdiv
- How to get to Plovdiv
- How many days do you need?
- Things to do in Plovdiv
- Day Trips from Plovdiv
- Where to stay
- Where to eat
- How to get around
- Summary
Where is Plovdiv?
Plovdiv can be found laying along the banks of the Maritsa River in the South Central part of Bulgaria. It is the second largest city in Bulgaria, and is located 132 kilometers South East of the Capital City, Sofia.
About Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria, and considered to be the Cultural Capital of the Country. It was first settled around 8000 years ago, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, and one of the oldest in the world.
The city of Plovdiv was built across 7 hills, six of which still remain today. The Old Town is built on two of them, and is still the central part of the modern day city, and most visited by tourists and locals.
Over the years, Plovdiv was conquered and ruled by Persians, Thracians, Macedonians, Celts, Romans, Huns, Bulgarians, Goths, and Ottoman Turks. Each civilization brought with them their own cultures and architecture, making modern day Plovdiv a patchwork quilt of ancient ruins and architectural styles that you would struggle to find anywhere else.
Plovdiv is a dream come true for lovers of history, architecture and archeology. There is so much to see, do and experience in such a small city. For many, one visit is not enough, and many will find themselves returning time after time to soak it all in. For most, they simply fall in love with it.
Best time to visit Plovdiv
Personally, I love Plovdiv at any time of the year. But like all locations anywhere in the world, there are some times that are better than others.
In Plovdiv, as can be expected, Spring, Summer and Autumn are the best times to visit. The months from April to October, to be more precise. Keep in mind though, that the wettest months of the year are in May and June, even if it is warmer than in winter.
The coldest month is January, when the temperatures can drop to -3 and peak at about 7 degrees.
The warmest months in Plovdiv are July – August, where the temperatures can reach around 32 degrees, with a low of only about 23 degrees.
My suggestion for the best time to visit Plovdiv is from July to October for the very best weather and conditions.
How to get to Plovdiv
Getting to Plovdiv is easy, and there a multiple different ways to do it. Most are quite cheap too, as travel within Bulgaria is not considered expensive, especially when compared to the rest of Europe.
Here are the best ways that you can get to Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
- Fly – Plovdiv has in International Airport that caters for non stop flights to England, Austria, and Germany. If you are flying from countries other than these, then you will have to arrange a connecting flight.
- Train – Plovdiv Railway Station has lines connecting to the Capital City of Sofia, and has both high speed and regular trains running at all times of the day. Click HERE for tickets and prices.
- Bus – Probably the most common way for travelers in Eastern Europe to get to Plovdiv is by bus. The Buses run to nearly anywhere in Eastern Europe, and are probably the best option for budget travelers.
- Car – If you have a car, then obviously Plovdiv is very easy to find by road, and easy to get around. Although one thing to note is that while IN Plovdiv, a car is not really required unless you want to explore a bit further afield.
Guide to Plovdiv tip – Do your research. If you are coming from Sofia, then decide what time of day you will be traveling to Plovdiv, and check both train and bus options. Sometimes one will be cheaper than the other, depending on time of day. Also, there are some bus companies that don’t run early in the morning, yet the trains run all day.
How many days do you need?
If there is one thing that can be said about Plovdiv, it’s that it is not a big city. It may be the second largest city in Bulgaria, but that is STILL not big. Plovdiv only has around 350k residents, and in the eyes of most travelers that really only seems like a large town!
Also keep in mind that the main sights and things to do in Plovdiv are centralized around the areas that the city was confined to 2000 years ago. That was a LOT smaller than the Plovdiv we know today!
Basically, you can see most of what Plovdiv has to offer in a single day. Many visitors do a day trip from Sofia, and just one day is enough.
Personally, though, I would suggest at least two to three days. In one day you can see most of what the main town has to offer. With an extra couple of days, you can explore a little more in depth, visit a few houses in Old Town, a museum or two, or even get out to attractions out of town such as Asen’s Fortress.
In short, you can see the Plovdiv highlights in a day, but two to three days would be perfect to cover it all.
Things to do in Plovdiv
Plovdiv is a city that is overflowing with Ancient ruins, culture and a rich vein of history that dates back thousands of years. They are STILL discovery relics of the past around the city, and nearly every time you return, there seems to be something new, or changed in the city. As you can imagine, there are many things to do in Plovdiv, and most of them will really please the History Buffs!
Here is the Guide to Plovdiv list of things to do.
- Take a walk around Old Town – This is the heart of Plovdiv, and one of the most extraordinary Old Town’s that you will find in Europe. Just wandering the streets and looking at the architecture, the old paved roads, and ancient ruins can take you all day if you’re not careful!
- Sit in the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolous – This Ancient Roman Theatre is the best preserved of its type in the world! Hidden from view under the hill until only recently, you can now visit it, sit in the stands, or even attend a live concert during the Summer months!
- Stroll down the main Pedestrian Street – It may sound strange, but the main pedestrian street has a lot to offer. From Roman Ruins, to statues, parks, and architecture from every major period of Plovdiv’s past.
- Chill out in the Tsar Simeon Gardens – These incredible gardens are located at the Southern end of the main pedestrian street. A spot of green in the city, where locals and visitors can sit on the lush grass, chill out under the trees, or wander among the many statues and fountains.
- Visit the Ancient Stadium of Philippopolous – This incredible stadium is actually located BENEATH the main street. Sections of it have now been preserved though, and the main piece is located in the middle of main street below street level. You can view it from above, or take the stairs down for a free self guided tour.
- Get lost in Kapana – Kapana, literally meaning “the Trap” is the arts and culture district of the town. Located between Old Town and the main street, Kapana is full of street art, quaint cafes and chic restaurants.
- Explore some of the Houses in Old Town – Old Town has many Renaissance period houses that are fully restored and preserved as memories of the past. You can tour inside many of them, and see how the rich residents of the past lived their lives.
- Discover the past in the museums – Also mostly in Old Town, you will find a number of museums that can be visited and explored for only a small fee. Most notable are the Regional Archaeological Museum and the Regional Ethnographic Museum.
- Watch the Singing Fountains – In Tsar Simeon Gardens you will find the amazing Singing Fountains. Head down there on a Summer Evening and watch them as they perform a multicolored dance to perfectly choreographed music.
- Climb a Hill – Plovdiv was built on 7 hills. 6 of them remain, and while old town resides on 2 of them, there are others that you can still climb. Most notably are Sahat Tepe, which houses the famous Clock Tower, and Bunardzhika Hill, home to the incredible Alyosha Monument. Both locations are beautiful places to catch one of Plovdiv’s incredible sunsets too.
- The Free Plovdiv Walking Tour – This tour is FREE and starts in the main square. Walk around town for 2 hours with a guide, who tells you all about the wonderful history while taking you to all the main attractions and things to see.
For more information on FREE things to do in Plovdiv, check out THIS article.
Guide to Plovdiv tip – This list is NOT exhaustive. The best way to see Plovdiv is to explore. Use this list as a guide, and while wandering the streets keep your eyes open. There are ruins all around the city in Plovdiv, preserved and on display. You never know what you will find!
Day Trips from Plovdiv
While the main attractions of Plovdiv are within the very center of the city itself, there are some wonderful places to visit out in the surrounding countryside as well. While this IS a Guide to Plovdiv, I also want to tell you all that you can experience on a full trip to Plovdiv, so would remiss not to mention Day Trips!
With so much history in this part of Bulgaria, and mountains surrounding the valley that is home to the city, there are several things you might not want to miss when visiting Plovdiv.
So here are the Guide to Plovdiv suggestions for best day trips.
- Bachkovo Monastery, Fortress Asen and Wonder Bridges – On this tour, travel down to nearby Asenovgrad, where you will head up the mountain to the historical Asen’s Fortress. From there you will visit the Bachkovo Monastery, before going higher into the mountains to discover the beautiful natural marble bridges carved out of the rock by ancient rivers. Click HERE to find out more.
- Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, and Shipka Memorial Church Tour – Visit the most beautiful town in Bulgaria at Veliko Tarnovo, the historical village of Arbanasi, and learn a lot more about Bulgaria and it’s history. Check it out HERE.
- The 7 Rila Lakes Full Day Guided Hike – Visit the most popular hiking destination in Bulgaria with this fully guided tour to the famous 7 Rila Lakes. Click HERE for more details.
- Asen’s Fortress DIY trip from Plovdiv – To find out how you can visit the incredible Asen’s Fortess on your own from Plovdiv using Public Transport, check out THIS article.
Where to stay
There are many wonderful places to stay in Plovdiv. Given the choice, you would want to be staying as close to the center as possible, especially given the fact that in Plovdiv, you will most likely be walking everywhere. Luckily, that is the case with most of the best accommodation, and certainly with the places I have hand picked for you!
So here are the Guide to Plovdiv choices for where to stay in Plovdiv.
Luxury
THE EMPORIUM PLOVDIV
A luxurious hotel with exquisite contemporary designs. Staff are extremely friendly, going out of their way to assist guests in any way possible. The rooms at The Emporium are modern and luxurious in both look and feel, even boasting smart lighting and blinds. Possibly the best hotel in Plovdiv!
Mid Range
VILLA FLAVIA BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Sitting at the higher end of Mid Range hotels in Plovdiv is this gem. Centrally located, guests enjoy wonderful breakfasts, a rainfall shower in the bathroom, and well appointed rooms. Only a short stroll from the main street and everything Plovdiv has to offer, you just can’t go wrong.
Budget
HAKUNA MATATA GUEST HOUSE
Located in easy walking distance of town, this guest house gives you the nice homey feeling that you want from a hostel. Great breakfasts and facilities, clean and friendly. The recent addition of a wonderful rooftop bar gives guests a great place to unwind at the end of the day and meet fellow travelers.
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
Where to eat
Next up is the Guide to Plovdiv tips on where to eat.
If you are looking for a night out in Plovdiv, then head down to Kapana. This is where you will find all the craft beer and wine bars. Kapana is very popular on the weekends too, especially on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
While there are some good places to eat in Kapana, the best restaurants can be found in all different parts of the town. Here are some of the best.
- Rahat Tepe – A beer garden located in Old Town and a favorite for locals and visitors.
- Pavazh – A Restaurant in Kapana that serves traditional dishes.
- Hemingway – Located at the Southern end of town, serving European dishes.
- Smokini – Located in the middle of town for Contemporary Bulgarian Food.
- Alex Foods – On the main street, for cheap but excellent Kebabs and other fast foods.
- Yogi Foods – Just near Alex Foods, for wonderful Gozleme and Kebabs.
Guide to Plovdiv Tip – If you are on a budget, then check out THIS article which lists all the best places around the center of town to eat, and still save money!
How to get around
Getting around in Plovdiv is pretty simple, and only really requires the one answer.
Walk!
Plovdiv is only small, so it is very easy to get around and to find your way anywhere. If you are staying central, then everything that you need is within walking distance, and any other mode of transport would really just be counterproductive.
But, in the case that you might want to move further afield, or are staying a bit further away from the center, there is always the bus. They cost very little, only about 1 LEV for a ride that will take you anywhere within the city limits. To get further out, you can catch the bus from the Plovdiv South Bus Station.
The Train is also available, but not to get around Plovdiv. At the Plovdiv train station you can catch the train to neighboring towns, or places such as Sofia.
Summary
Plovdiv is a great place to visit. It’s history is unparalleled anywhere in the world, and is a must see for any traveler at least once in their lifetime. I hope you have enjoyed this Complete Guide to Plovdiv, and that it helps you to get to this amazing town to see and enjoy all that it has to offer.
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