Plovdiv

One of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a Roman theatre that still hosts performances, painted Revival-era mansions, the creative Kapana district, and the title of 2019 European Capital of Culture.

Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second-largest city, set in the middle of the Upper Thracian Plain on the Maritsa River, about 150 km from the capital Sofia. Considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, it bears the marks of the Thracians, Philip II of Macedon (who gave it the ancient name Philippopolis), the Romans, the Byzantines and the Ottomans, and it was European Capital of Culture in 2019. The city is ringed by its "seven hills", and the main sights cluster in three walkable areas. First, the Old Town atop three hills, where cobbled slopes are lined with painted mansions from the 19th-century National Revival, along with the Roman Theatre, the ancient fortress on Nebet Tepe and the Ethnographic Museum. Second, the pedestrian main street and Dzhumaya Square below, where part of the Roman Stadium is exposed underground, with the Roman Forum and the Episcopal Basilica mosaics nearby. Third, the Kapana creative district north of the main street, whose lanes are packed with cafés, craft beer bars and galleries. Day trips: to the south in the Rhodope Mountains are Bachkovo Monastery, Asen's Fortress and the Wonderful Bridges; to the north, the Thracian temple at Starosel and the Roman town of Hisarya; about 1.5 hours' drive northeast lies the Kazanlak Rose Valley, with its Thracian tomb, the Shipka Memorial Church and the Buzludzha Monument. The best seasons are Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct; the Kazanlak Rose Festival takes place in late May–early June, the Roman Theatre hosts opera and concerts in summer, and the Night of Museums and Galleries arts festival runs in September. Getting there: trains or buses from Sofia take about 2–2.5 hours, and Plovdiv Airport has limited routes. Allow 2–3 days, including one day trip. Bulgaria has used the euro since 2026; the cobbled slopes in the Old Town can be slippery, so wear shoes with good grip.

Top sights

• Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis – A Roman theatre built in the 1st to 2nd century AD, set into the hillside and remarkably well preserved, that still hosts operas and concer…
• Old Town of Plovdiv – A preservation area of National Revival-era architecture on three hills, with painted bay-window houses, cobbled slopes and ancient gates.
• Kapana Creative District – An old artisans' quarter whose name means 'trap'. Its colourful alleys are full of cafés, craft beer bars, galleries and street art.
• Bachkovo Monastery – Bulgaria's second-largest monastery, founded in 1083 and known for its medieval frescoes, its icon of the Virgin Mary and its ossuary.
• Roman Stadium of Philippopolis – The northern end of a 2nd-century Roman stadium, exposed beneath Dzhumaya Square. It holds up to 30,000 spectators, and you can view it for…
• Nebet Tepe – The Thracian-Roman fortress ruins at the city's origin, with views over the Maritsa River and the whole city. A popular sunset spot.
• Regional Ethnographic Museum – A museum housed in the Kuyumdzhioglu House. Its deep blue baroque revival facade is the most photogenic revival building in the Old Town.
• Balabanov House – A reconstructed 19th-century merchant's residence, notable for its oval hall, carved wooden ceilings and fine décor, which also serves as a…
• Hindliyan House – The residence of an Armenian merchant, with wall paintings of cities such as Venice and Istanbul covering its walls, and a marble bathroom.
• Church of Sts. Constantine and Helena – One of the oldest churches in the Old Town. The current building was rebuilt in 1832 and is notable for its gilded wood-carved iconostasis…
• Dzhumaya Mosque – One of the oldest mosques in the Balkans, an Ottoman building from the 14th to 15th centuries, with nine domes and a minaret of alternating…
• Roman Forum & Odeon of Philippopolis – The remains of the ancient city's political and commercial centre, including a small semicircular concert hall, next to the Central Post Of…
• Small Basilica of Philippopolis – A small early Christian church from the 5th century, with geometric and deer-motif floor mosaics and a cross-shaped baptistery.
• Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis – The largest early Christian church ruins in Bulgaria, with roughly 2,000 square meters of bird-motif floor mosaics, now open to visitors af…
• Trakart Cultural Centre – An archaeological exhibition in an underground passage beneath the main street, displaying Roman-era mosaics from the House of Eirene in si…
• Plovdiv Main Street (Knyaz Alexander I) – Said to be one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets, linking Central Square with Dzhumaya Square, with a Roman stadium buried beneath it.
• Sahat Tepe (Clock Tower Hill) – A small hill beside the main street, topped by a 16th-century Ottoman clock tower and offering views over the Old Town and the Roman Theatr…
• Bunardzhik Hill & Alyosha Monument – An 11-meter Soviet soldier statue on Liberators’ Hill, with 360-degree views of the city and excellent sunsets and night views.
• Regional Archaeological Museum Plovdiv – The main museum for Plovdiv’s 8,000-year history, with Thracian gold, Roman sculpture and mosaics.
• Asen's Fortress – A medieval fortress ruin on a cliff top, with a well-preserved 12th-century Church of the Virgin Mary and views over the Asenitsa River val…
• Wonderful Bridges (Chudnite Mostove) – Two huge natural stone arch bridges in the Rhodope Mountains, carved by river erosion, with forest trails and meadows suited to a half-day…
• Red Church (Perushtitsa) – The brick ruins of a 5th- to 6th-century early Christian church, with tall walls standing alone in the fields. It is one of Bulgaria’s most…
• Starosel Thracian Cult Complex – A Thracian royal temple inside a burial mound, with the largest Thracian stone burial chamber in the Balkans and Ionic column decorations.
• Hisarya (Diocletianopolis) – A spa town with well-preserved Roman city walls and the “Camel” South Gate, plus several public springs where you can drink mineral water f…

Where to eat

• Pavaj – A popular tavern in the Kapana district, using local seasonal ingredients to make traditional Bulgarian dishes lighter…
• Aylyakria Gastropub – A gastropub in the Kapana district housed in a century-old building, featuring a concise seasonal menu that infuses tra…
• Rahat Tepe – A traditional restaurant on Nebet Tepe in the Old Town, featuring wooden terraces overlooking the entire city, with the…
• Hemingway – A mid-to-high-end restaurant near the Roman Theatre, featuring a terrace on a quiet street and a menu spanning European…
• Sofra Turkish Restaurant – An affordable halal Turkish restaurant in the alleys of Kapana, famous for its charcoal-grilled lamb skewers and kunafe…

Itineraries

• Sofia, Rila & Plovdiv – A short route starting from the capital, connecting Rila Monastery, Boyana Church, and Plovdiv Old Town.
• Sofia to Black Sea Public Transport Crossing – Cross the country from west to east without a car, traveling from the capital through ancient towns and the old capital…
• Bulgaria Grand Loop Self-Drive – Set off from Sofia on a loop through the mountains, the Rhodopes, the Rose Valley, and the Black Sea, returning via the…
• Rila, Pirin & Rhodope Mountains Self-Drive – Drive through three mountain ranges in southern Bulgaria to see monasteries, glacial lakes, caves, and traditional vill…
• Melnik Wine Cellars & Rose Valley – From the red wines of the Struma Valley to Thracian wineries, the Rose Valley, and ancient Thracian tombs.
• Bulgaria & Romania Highlights – From Sofia, cross the Danube via the Rose Valley and the old capital to Bucharest and Transylvania.