Plovdiv, Bulgaria: History, Sights and Access

Bulgaria is an exceptional country that serves as a crossroads between Europe and Asia. Its culture combines Thracian, Ancient Greek, Byzantine, and Roman influences.

Whether you are a history buff, a foodie, or prefer seaside holidays, Bulgaria has something to offer every type of visitor.

See below what you can see and do in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

The city centre is incredibly lively and bustling, whereas the Old Town of Plovdiv is much quieter and more relaxed. Both areas are ideal for walking, offering very easy access to the most important sights of Plovdiv.

The centre of Plovdiv, although fully modernised with many shops and boutiques, cafes, and hotels, still allows you to find and admire historical sites as they have remained from the past!

The most important sights in Plovdiv

The Roman Stadium

It is located near the tourist information office in Dzhhumaya Square.

The stadium was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in the 2^nd century. The original structure had seating for over 30,000 spectators. Now, only a small part of the 14 rows of marble seats remains.

Visitors have the opportunity to see only a portion of the semicircular seating rows and a panoramic depiction of the original stadium.

Roman Forum

There could not be a Roman city without a forum – an open public square dedicated to economic, religious, and political matters – serving as both a meeting point and a marketplace.

The remaining ruins are located behind the central post office on General Gurko Street.

The northern part of the complex contains a theatre with 300 seats, used for concerts and theatrical performances.

Trakart Cultural Centre

Below Tsar Boris III Obedinitel Street

are the remains of an aristocratic 3^rd-century house known as “Eyrene’s House” with beautiful mosaic floors.

The Trakart Cultural Centre also features an excellent collection of ancient ceramics and glass objects over 1000 years old. The collection contains both utilitarian and decorative items crafted by the Neolithic inhabitants of Plovdiv.

The Main Street

The main street of Plovdiv is Knyaz Alexander I, which stretches from the Tsar Simeon Gardens and passes through Dzhumaya Square. It then crosses the Maritsa River as a pedestrian bridge. The entire street is pedestrianised and filled with cafes, shops, and trees, making it ideal for walks and strolls throughout the day.

The Old Town

The Old Town has a completely different look and feel from the rest of the city. The streets are cobbled, and the houses are characterised by the National Bulgarian architecture of the 19th century.

The houses of that era were large, ornate, and richly decorated with frescoes, columns, beautiful verandas, and handmade furniture. Many of these houses now function as museums open to the public.

Some of these house-museums include Balabanov (Konstantin Stoilov 57), Hindliyan (Artin Gidikov 4), and Nedkovich House (Tsanko Lavrenov 3). Each house has an entrance fee of 5 Bulgarian Leva (2.5 euros) for adults and 1 Leva for children. For 15 Leva (7.5 euros), you can buy a combined ticket that grants you entry to all three houses, as well as the Zlatyu Boyadzhiev Gallery, the Dimitra Kirov exhibition, and the theatre.

The Ancient Roman Theatre of Plovdiv

This theatre is arguably the most impressive sight in Plovdiv. It is one of the best-preserved theatres in the world and is still used today for various performances.

Each year, it hosts the Plovdiv International Folklore Festival, an event that draws hundreds of spectators from all over Bulgaria to watch traditional songs and dances from other countries.

 

Other Points of Interest in Plovdiv

Ethnographic Museum

Located within the Old Town at Stoyan Chomakov 2.

It is housed in a historic Renaissance building from 1847, owned by Argir Kouyumdzhioglou. The exhibition includes jewellery, costumes, musical instruments, antique furniture, weapons, and ceramics.

Bulgarian Revival Exhibition

Also located within the Old Town on Tsanko Lavrenov Street.

This rich photographic exhibition is housed in the 19^th-century home of Dimitar Georgiadi – one of the city's wealthiest merchants. The house is very impressive with external frescoes in a vibrant purple hue.

Tsar Simeon Garden

This beautifully landscaped area, designed by the Swiss Lucien Chevalas during Ottoman rule, is located at the southwest end of the city's main street.

The garden features ponds, musical fountains, sculptures, and monuments dedicated to Bulgarian heroes.

There are also temporary sculpture exhibitions throughout the year.

Where to Stay in Plovdiv

If you plan to spend 2 to 3 days exploring Plovdiv, we advise you to stay in a hotel within the Old Town. Find a hotel not directly on the main street to avoid the city noise, but still within close proximity to most of the city's attractions.

Find all hotels in Plovdiv on the Booking.com page https://www.booking.com/region/bg/plovdiv.el.html.

Access to Plovdiv

You can reach Plovdiv either by road from the northern Greek-Bulgarian border (Promachonas) or by flying to Sofia (from Athens, with daily flights) and then travelling by road to Plovdiv.

The distance from Sofia to Plovdiv is approximately 1.5 hours and 143 km.

If you wish to fly to Sofia, you can find cheap flight tickets and all possible airline combinations on our website.

There is also a train that covers this route.

From Promachonas, the distance is 251 km and will take approximately 3.5 hours due to the poor road network.