Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second-largest city and one of the cities that immediately surprised us. Located in the historical region of Thrace, it’s considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. History is everywhere: Roman ruins, old houses, narrow streets, and hills offering ever-changing vistas. At the same time, Plovdiv feels vibrant, creative, and not at all stuffy.
For us, the city feels like a perfect blend of past and present. There’s an incredible amount to discover, whether you’re strolling through the old town, sitting on one of the hills, or simply watching life go by in a café. We recommend spending one or two days in Plovdiv. During the day, the city is relaxed and culturally rich, while in the evening it comes alive with restaurants, bars, and a fantastic atmosphere. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also hike outside the city or take short trips into the surrounding area, Plovdiv is a great base for exploring.
one of europe’s oldest cities, still full of life
Plovdiv captivated us immediately. The city is relaxed, creative and incredibly steeped in history, without feeling heavy or overwhelming.
Between the old town, the hills and the vibrant neighborhoods, everything feels very authentic. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a charming city with atmosphere, where you’ll want to simply linger and enjoy yourself.
Plovdiv Old town is in general ,with its many old and beautiful buildings, well worth seeing. It’s located on three of Plovdiv’s hills: Nebet Tepe, Dzhambaz Tepe and Taksim Tepe. The old town is listed and it is just an experience to stroll through the cobblestone streets and discover beautiful buildings, museums, romantic courtyards, temples, cafés & restaurants and much more. Plovdiv Old Town is about a 10-minute walk from the modern city center.
In 2004 the old town of Plovdiv was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the heart of the old town in Plovdiv you probably can’t miss the Ethnographic Museum. Today the Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum has a collection of over 40,000 exhibits. The Ethnographic Museum is located in a very beautiful old building from the Enlightenment period. It shows a historical overview of the way of life of the people of Plovdiv.
An absolute must do when coming to Plovdiv is a visit at the Roman Theater of Philippopolis. It was built with 7000 seats and has gorgeous 180° views of the city and the surrounding valley. It’s by far one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Roman theaters in the world.
During the summer months, theater and music performances take place regularly in the theater. Admission: 5 leva (2.50 euro) per person
An absolute must do when coming to Plovdiv is a visit at the Roman Theater of Philippopolis. It was built with 7000 seats and has gorgeous 180° views of the city and the surrounding valley. It’s by far one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Roman theaters in the world.
Get some drinks at Central Perk & try some awesome Bulgarian food at Pavaj
The Alyosha Monument is an 11-metre high statue. The granite statue is rising to the top of the second tallest hill, the Bunardzhika Hill, in Plovdiv. It depicts a Soviet soldier from the 1950s. The hike up the hill takes about 30 minutes from City Center. You can climb the hill from several sides. It’s also a nice path where you can explore a lot.
Bring something to eat and drink and enjoy the beautiful sunset or sunrise at the Alyosha Monument
The Church of the Holy Mother of God, or also known as Sveta Bogoroditsa, is located in the old town of Plovdiv on one of the seven hills, the Nebet Tepe. The church is a Bulgarian National Revival churchand existed on the site as early as the 9th century.
It is not permitted to take pictures inside the church. Shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting the Church of the Holy Mother of God
The Dzhumaya Mosque is located in the heart of Plovdiv. It was built around 1363-1364 and is one of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in the city. You can recognize the mosque from afar due to its outstanding tower. Nowadays the Dzhumaya Mosque is an active Muslim temple.
Next to the entrance of the mosque is the Dzhumaya, a Turkish Coffe & Pastry shop where you can sit inside or outside and try variations of homemade specialties, such as kadayif, halva, lokum or cakes, with ayran, Turkish coffee and fresh lemonade
The Clock Tower is located on Sahat Tepe Hill. It was built in 1812 and has a height of 17.5 meters. It overlooks both the modern city center and the old town with the Roman Theater of Philippopolis. From the city center it only takes 5-10 minutes to get to the clock tower.
From the Clock Tower you have a beautiful sunrise and you can overlook the entire city
The Bulgarian Cuisine is part of the Balkan cuisine. The main course usually consists of meat with vegetables, salad or bread. Bulgarians prefer to drink wine, beer or water. When it comes to meat, Bulgarian cuisine is dominated by lamb, pork and chicken.
We would recommend the restaurant Pavaj, wich has awesome traditional food and is located in the art district Kapana
The Plovdiv city center is the hub of the city. Here you will find many shops, the Roman stadium, the Ancient Theater, the Central Street and many others. Here you will also find the City Garden and the Singing Fountains.
At the end of the pedestrian zone is the pedestrian bridge above the Maritsa. There are several shops and stores inside the bridge
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The easiest way to travel is of course with your own car or rental car. But you can also take the train or bus from Sofia, for example, which run more frequently during the day. Plovdiv also has a small airport. However, very few airlines fly there. Among other things, there is a flight to London Stansted (as of 2025).
The summer months are highly recommended, as this is the best time to visit Plovidiv. This is a great time to explore the city and you can also go hiking in the surrounding region and do other outdoor activities in temperatures of around 20 °C.
Plovdiv is a bit more expensive, but still cheaper than Western European prices. A beer costs around 3-4€ here. Definitely one of the more expensive cities in Bulgaria.
There is a lot to see and do. The surrounding area is also worth exploring. You should spend at least one night here and we recommend planning 1-2 days for Plovdiv.
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