Plovdiv, Bulgaria: travel guide
One of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, famed for its Roman Theatre of Philippopolis, cobbled National-Revival Old Town and the creative Kapana district. European Capital of Culture 2019.
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Sofia
- Nearest airport
- PDV
Top places to visit in Plovdiv
Roman Theatre of Philippopolis
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry EUR 3
A superbly preserved 1st-century Roman theatre carved into the Old Town hillside, still hosting summer performances.
Dzhumaya Mosque
Mosque · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h
One of the Balkans' oldest Ottoman mosques (14th-century), with a striped minaret at Dzhumaya Square.
Nebet Tepe
Viewpoint · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h
The original Thracian citadel on the Old Town's highest hill, now a ruined viewpoint prized for sunsets.
Church of Sts Constantine & Helena
Church · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h
A vividly painted 1832 Old-Town church with a gilded iconostasis by master carver Ivan Pashkula.
Tsar Simeon Garden & Singing Fountains
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 1 h
Plovdiv's central 19th-century park with lakes, sculpture and evening musical fountain shows.
Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h
The exposed northern curve of a 2nd-century Roman stadium that once seated 30,000, sunk beneath the main square.
Ethnographic Museum (Kuyumdzhieva House)
Museum · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry EUR 3
An opulent 1847 Revival mansion displaying Bulgarian folk costumes, crafts and rural life.
Balabanov House
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry EUR 3
A restored merchant's Revival mansion used for art exhibitions and chamber concerts.
Plovdiv Old Town (Stariya Grad)
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h
A cobbled hill quarter of colourful National-Revival mansions, artist studios, churches and museums.
Kapana Creative District
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 1 h
"The Trap" — a grid of narrow lanes turned into a buzzing quarter of galleries, craft bars and eateries.
Knyaz Alexander I Street
Market · about 0.8 h
The long pedestrian spine of the city centre, lined with shops, cafes and Roman-era remains underfoot.
Things to do
- Plovdiv Old Town Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from EUR 12 per person
- Kapana Food & Craft Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from EUR 30 per person
- Roman Philippopolis Guided Tour Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 18 per person
- Thracian Valley Wine Day Trip Day Trip · 7 h · from EUR 55 per person
- Plovdiv Evening Bar Tour Nightlife · 3 h · from EUR 22 per person
Day trips and tours
- Bachkovo Monastery & Asenova Fortress Tour 6 h · from EUR 45
Where to stay in Plovdiv
- Old Town (Stariya Grad) about EUR 95 per night
Atmospheric Revival-house hill of museums and the Roman theatre — scenic but steep.
- Kapana about EUR 85 per night
The creative bar-and-restaurant quarter, best for nightlife and cafes.
- City Center / Knyaz Alexander I about EUR 80 per night
The pedestrian main street, most central and convenient for shopping.
Hotels
- Hebros Hotel 4-star · EUR 90 to EUR 150 per night
- Hotel Odeon 3-star · EUR 60 to EUR 95 per night
- Ramada by Wyndham Plovdiv Trimontium 4-star · EUR 80 to EUR 130 per night
- Landmark Creek Hotel & Wellness 5-star · EUR 90 to EUR 150 per night
Where to eat
- Hebros Bulgarian, European, Fine dining · about EUR 35 per person
- Aylyakria Mediterranean, Bulgarian · about EUR 22 per person
- Rahat Tepe Bulgarian, Traditional · about EUR 18 per person
- Restaurant Philippopolis Bulgarian, European · about EUR 21 per person
- Smokini Bulgarian, French, Italian · about EUR 18 per person
- Gusto Italian, Pizza · about EUR 13 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial taxi overcharge
Around the train station and Old Town
Taxis without a company sticker or with an unusually high per-km rate on the windscreen overcharge tourists.
How to avoid it: Book by phone or app, or check the printed rate on the passenger window before getting in.