City · Thracia
Plovdiv
One of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a Roman theatre, the Kapana quarter and a painted old town.
About Plovdiv
Plovdiv, one of Europe's oldest cities
Plovdiv is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, its history reaching back into Thracian antiquity. Spread across several hills, it carries the layered traces of every era, from its Roman theatre and stadium to the colourful houses of the Bulgarian National Revival. In 2019 it was a European Capital of Culture, and that creative energy is still felt in its streets today.
Things to do
- The Roman theatre — one of the best-preserved in the world, still used for performances
- [The Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis](/obiective/ancient-stadium-of-philipopolis) — remains of the Roman track, beneath the central square
- [The Singing Fountains](/obiective/singing-fountains) — a water-and-light show in Tsar Simeon Park
- [Tsar Simeon Garden](/obiective/tsar-simeon-garden-park) — the historic garden in the centre
- [The Alyosha Monument](/obiective/monument-of-the-red-army-alyosha) — from the hill, the widest panorama of the city
The Kapana quarter, a web of lanes filled with workshops, cafés and galleries, is where the creative heart of the city beats.
Old town and history
The old town, with its cobbled streets and painted houses of the National Revival, asks to be wandered slowly, up and down between the hills. The house-museums, inner courtyards and 19th-century churches make up one of the best-preserved ensembles of their kind in the Balkans. The layers are real and verifiable: Thracian, Roman, Ottoman, then the Bulgarian Revival — each left something visible.
Where to stay
- [Grand Hotel Plovdiv](/cazare/grand-hotel-plovdiv-2) — a large, classic hotel near the centre
- [DoubleTree by Hilton Plovdiv Center](/cazare/doubletree-by-hilton-plovdiv-center-2) — an international chain, central
- [The Emporium Hotel Plovdiv - MGallery](/cazare/the-emporium-hotel-plovdiv-mgallery-collection-2) — a boutique of the MGallery collection
Where to eat
- [Pavazh Restaurant](/restaurante/pavazh-restaurant) — contemporary cooking, in the old quarter
- [Hemingway Restaurant](/restaurante/hemingway-restaurant) — a well-known name in town
- [Aylyakria Restaurant](/restaurante/aylyakria-restaurant) — a local mood, in the city's "aylyak" spirit
- [Rahat Tepe](/restaurante/rahat-tepe) — traditional dishes with a view
Getting there
Plovdiv has its own airport, but with few flights; many arrivals come through Sofia, about 150 km away, from where the train or bus reaches the city in 2–3 hours (approximate). The city is a major rail and road hub, easily reached from anywhere in Bulgaria.
Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: the old town is all climbs and cobblestones
- Summer evenings bring concerts to the Roman theatre — check the programme ahead
- Leave time for Kapana at sunset, when its terraces and galleries come alive
Reviewed by Tony Denesa·Updated:
Plovdiv
Attractions
4.8(16.804)din 5 pe Google“Tsar Simeon Garden” Park
Plovdiv Center, ul. "Veliko Tarnovo" 11А, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.8(3.903)din 5 pe GoogleMuseum of Natural Sciences
Plovdiv Center, ul. "Hristo G. Danov" 34, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
See details4.7(323)din 5 pe GoogleClock Tower
Plovdiv Center, ul. "Bozhidar Zdravkov" 19, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(14.479)din 5 pe GoogleSinging Fountains
Central district, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(3.533)din 5 pe GoogleNebet Tepe
Старинен, ЦентърРайон Централен, TsentarPlovdiv Center, pl. "Hebros", 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(459)din 5 pe GooglePlovdiv Regional History Museum
TsentarPlovdiv Center, pl. "Saedinenie" 1, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
See details4.7(508)din 5 pe GoogleFountain in front of the city hall
Plovdiv city hall, TsentarPlovdiv Center, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(169)din 5 pe GoogleRoman aqueduct
g.k. Hristo Botev-SouthYuzhen, 4004 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
See details4.7(8.911)din 5 pe GoogleAncient Stadium of Philipopolis
Staria gradPlovdiv Center, ul. "Hristo G. Danov", 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(2.285)din 5 pe GoogleRegional Ethnographic Museum Plovdiv
ул. „Д-р, TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Doctor Stoyan Chomakov" 2, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(924)din 5 pe GoogleRegional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
TsentarPlovdiv Center, pl. "Saedinenie" 1, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(5.430)din 5 pe GoogleYouth Hill
Halm Na MladosttaCentral district, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(92)din 5 pe GoogleWater cascade down the stairs of the "Kamenica"
TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Angel Bukureshtliev", 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(236)din 5 pe GoogleRoman Forum (2nd part) - Odeon
TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "General Gurko" 14, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(5.203)din 5 pe GoogleMonument of the Red Army "Alyosha"
Бунарджика, Halm Na OsvoboditelitePlovdiv Center, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
See details4.5(198)din 5 pe GoogleHouse-Museum Klianti
TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Todor Samodumov" 3, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
See details4.4(56)din 5 pe GoogleHouse of Nedkovich
TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Tsanko Lavrenov" 3, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Stays
4.9(716)din 5 pe GoogleThe Emporium Hotel Plovdiv - MGallery Collection
Kamenitsa 1Plovdiv Center, Kapitan Raycho Str 66, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(1.354)din 5 pe GoogleDoubleTree by Hilton Plovdiv Center
TsentarPlovdiv Center, pl. "Sveta Petka" 1, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(3.508)din 5 pe GoogleRadisson Hotel Plovdiv
Kamenitsa 2Iztochen, ul. "Lev Tolstoy" 6, 4017 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.4(5.966)din 5 pe GoogleGrand Hotel Plovdiv
KarshiakaSeveren, ul. "Zlatyu Boyadzhiev" 2, 4003 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Restaurants
4.9(579)din 5 pe GoogleORŌ Restaurant Kapana
Kapana, CenterРайон Централен, ул. „Павел Куртевич“ 6A, 4000 Пловдив, Bulgaria
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4.9(461)din 5 pe GoogleShevitsa Bulgarian Food & Wine Restorant Shevitsa
Center, KapanaPlovdiv Center, ul. "Kiril Popov" 2, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.8(565)din 5 pe GoogleRestorant Patriki
ЦентърПловдив ЦентърPlovdiv Center, ul. "Rayko Daskalov" 57А, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.8(1.792)din 5 pe GoogleASADO PLOVDIV - more than grill/steak restaurant
Южна промишлена зонаЮженYuzhen, bul. "Kuklensko Shose" 8Б, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(3.471)din 5 pe GoogleAylyakria Restaurant
€€€€KapanaPlovdiv Center, ul. "Kozhuharska" 3, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.7(98)din 5 pe Google19 City Garden restaurant
Center, TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Veliko Tarnovo" 19, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(1.121)din 5 pe GoogleTams House
Zagreb 4, KapanaPlovdiv Center, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(2.881)din 5 pe GoogleSmokini / Smokini
€€€€TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Otets Paisiy" 12 Street, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(393)din 5 pe GoogleRestaurant Festival
KapanaPlovdiv Center, ul. "Pavel Kurtevich" 2, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.6(11.044)din 5 pe GoogleHappy Bar & Grill Plovdiv Center
€€€€Plovdiv, Patriarh Evtimiy St 13, TsentarPlovdiv Center, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(2.338)din 5 pe GoogleSkapto Plovdiv - Burgers, Beers & Buddies
€€€€KapanaPlovdiv Center, ul. "Yoakim Gruev" 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(6.054)din 5 pe GoogleTorro Grande / Torro Grande
€€€€Kamenitsa 1Plovdiv Center, ul. "Kapitan Raycho Nikolov" 66, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(7.228)din 5 pe GooglePavazh Restaurant
€€€€KapanaPlovdiv Center, ul. "Zlatarska" 7, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(1.326)din 5 pe GoogleLe Petit Paris
€€€€TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Mladezhka" 28, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(1.487)din 5 pe GoogleRESTAURANT Raia
€€€€Kamenitsa 1Plovdiv Center, ul. "Kapitan Raycho Nikolov" 34, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.5(3.498)din 5 pe GoogleHemingway Restaurant
€€€€TsentarPlovdiv Center, ул. Ген.И.В.Гурко 10, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.4(3.336)din 5 pe Google"Yuzhen Polah Pri Malak Bunardzhik" Restaurant
€€€€Halm Na OsvoboditelitePlovdiv Center, ul. "Volga" № 1A, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.3(748)din 5 pe GoogleCasa Petraglia
€€€€TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Nayden Gerov" 19, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.3(4.678)din 5 pe GoogleRahat Tepe
€€€€TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Doctor Stoyan Chomakov" 18, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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4.1(947)din 5 pe GoogleAtlas Restaurant
€€€€TsentarPlovdiv Center, ul. "Knyaz Alexander I" 41, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
See detailsPlovdiv
Monasteries
Experiences & tours
Tours & activities in Plovdiv
Day trips, guided tours, tickets and experiences — book online, many with free cancellation.
Plan your trip
Everything you need to get there
Frequently asked questions about Plovdiv
When is the best time to visit Plovdiv?
Plovdiv is worth visiting year-round, but spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather for walking.
How do you get to Plovdiv?
The easiest way to reach Plovdiv is by car via the Giurgiu–Ruse bridge (you'll need a vignette), or by air to the nearest airport, then a transfer.
How long should you stay in Plovdiv?
Roughly 2-3 days cover the essentials, but many stay a full week, especially on the coast. Pair Plovdiv with nearby destinations for a loop.
Stays in the area
Where to stay in Plovdiv
Compare hotels, apartments and guesthouses in Plovdiv and nearby, on a single map.
Ratings and photos come from Google. Editorial descriptions, prices and official star ratings are being added — indicative data, check before booking.
