ActivityOld Town wander
Climb the cobbles past painted Revival houses.
- Duration
- 3h
- Level
- Easy
- Season
- All year
Plovdiv
Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city, painted in colours no one else dares use.
Best inSpringSummerAutumnWinter
Scroll to explore - 11 sections
01 - Overview
Built on seven hills above the Thracian plain, Plovdiv has been lived in for 8,000 years without a break. The Old Town is a maze of cobblestone, cantilevered National Revival houses and an intact Roman theatre that still hosts concerts. Below it, Kapana - once the artisans' quarter - is now Bulgaria's most quietly stylish neighbourhood.
FoodPhotography
02 - Things to do
The reasons to come.
Hikes, viewpoints, meals and small adventures. Hover any card for the practical detail.
Activity
AttractionRoman Theatre
A 1st-century amphitheatre still in use today.
- Duration
- 45 min
- Level
- Easy
- Season
- All year
ViewpointNebet Tepe sunset
The original Thracian acropolis, best at golden hour.
- Duration
- 1h
- Level
- Easy
- Season
- All year
RestaurantPavaj
Kapana's tiny kitchen doing playful Bulgarian.
- Duration
- 2h
- Level
- Easy
- Season
- All year
HikeAsen's Fortress
A medieval fortress on a cliff, 30 minutes south.
- Duration
- Half day
- Level
- Moderate
- Season
- Apr - Oct
VillageBachkovo Monastery
Bulgaria's second-largest monastery, frescoed walls.
- Duration
- Half day
- Level
- Easy
- Season
- All year
04 - Best seasons
Four different countries.
Spring
Lilacs in the old town, perfect walking weather.
Summer
Roman theatre concerts under the stars.
Autumn
Wine harvest in the surrounding villages.
Winter
Foggy cobblestones, empty cafés, candlelight.
05 - Where to stay
From mountain huts to design hotels.
- 01
Hebros Hotel
Boutique
A National Revival mansion with eight rooms and a courtyard.
€€€ - 02
Stay Hotel
Design
Concrete + walnut, in walking distance of everything.
€€ - 03
Hostel Old Plovdiv
Hostel
Antique wooden floors, dorms with hand-painted ceilings.
€
06 - Food & restaurants
Tables worth the detour.
01
Pavaj
Modern Bulgarian
Kapana favourite, daily menu chalked on the wall.
02
Hemingway
Mediterranean
Terrace dining beside the singing fountains.
03
Aylyak
Café
A philosophy of unhurried living, served as breakfast.
07 - Interactive map
Plovdiv in detail.
Attraction · 2Viewpoint · 1Hike · 1Route · 1
Explore5 points of interest
Switch to the topographic base or drop the hiking-trails overlay to see the real terrain around Plovdiv. The points below appear in the atlas at the same coordinates.
- Roman TheatreAttraction
- Nebet TepeViewpoint
- Kapana QuarterAttraction
- Asen's FortressHike
- BachkovoRoute
42.1354° / 24.7453°Upper Thrace
08 - Suggested itineraries
Pre-drawn routes.
Route 012 days
Plovdiv weekend
- 01Old Town
- 02Kapana
- 03Asen's Fortress
- 04Roman theatre concert
Route 024 days
Thracian wine loop
- 01Plovdiv
- 02Asenovgrad
- 03Bachkovo
- 04Brestovitsa wineries
09 - Gallery
Plovdiv in frames.
Click any image to enter the lightbox.
11 - Getting there
The drive to Plovdiv.
Starting point
Choose a starting point and show the route to see it drawn here.