Search results
Plovdiv (Bulgarian: Пловдив, pronounced [ˈpɫɔvdif]) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, 93 miles southeast of the capital Sofia. It had a population of 346,893 as of 2018 [update] and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area.
- Best Things to Do in Plovdiv
- Best Historical & Cultural Sites in Plovdiv
- Best Tours in Plovdiv
- Best Theaters, Heritage Mosaics & Street Art in Plovdiv
- Best Shopping, Parks & Leisure in Plovdiv
- Best Churches & Mosques in Plovdiv
- Best Museums in Plovdiv
- Best Places to Eat in Plovdiv
- Best Day Trips from Plovdiv
If you’re wondering what to see and do in Plovdiv, you’ll find plenty of options below. This list features all “mandatory” things to do in Plovdiv, the very highlights of this ancient city. You may not be able to visit them all in just one weekend, but I recommend trying your hardest! Don’t miss the Old Town, Roman Stadium and Amphitheater, the Kap...
1. Plovdiv Old Town
Situated on three different hills—Nebet Tepe, Taksim Tepe, and Dzhambaz Tepe—the Old Town of Plovdiv is where you’ll find most historic ruins and architecture well as several superb museums. It’s home to an extraordinary collection of ancient buildings, traditional houses, and cobblestones, combining Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and Bulgarian Revival structures. This is the beating heart of Plovdiv tourism, one of the most visited places in Bulgaria and home to many other attractions listed be...
2. The Medieval Hisar Kapia Gate
The Hisar Kapia Gate is in the Old Town and is one of the top tourist sights in Plovdiv. Built in the 11thcentury, this wonderfully preserved medieval city gate was one of three entrances to ancient Plovdiv. This current gate was actually constructed on top of the foundation of a previous Roman gate. During Ottoman rule, Plovdiv’s wealthy merchants built houses over the fortified walls on both sides of the Hisar Kapia Gate. Nowadays, the ground floors of these houses still have the original m...
3. Nebet Tepe
One of the first Plovdiv Hills to be inhabited by people, Nebet Tepe is home to settlements dating back to 4,000 BC. First, the home of the Thracians. In the Thracian times the village grew in size under Philip II of Macedon and Ancient Rome. Eventually, it became the citadel of the Old Town. Now a beautiful hill filled with ruins, it’s one of the best places to visitin Plovdiv for an insight into the history of ancient Philippopolis. An expansive archaeological complex lies atop Nebet Tepe,...
6. Plovdiv Walking Tour
If you enjoy seeing the sites with a local guide, this walking tour is a great way to experience the highlights of Plovdiv. You will tour Plovdiv’s central area, with the most significant landmarks, including Park Tsar Simeon, Stadium of Philippopolis, Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv Roman Theatre, St. Constantine and Helena Church, Hisar Kapia, Ethnographic Museum, Nebet Tepe, Balabanov House, House-Museum Hindliyan and the Kapana District.
7. 3-D Virtual Tour Of The Ancient Stadium Of Philippopolis
Get ready to travel back in time to experience this amazing piece of history! Have you ever wondered how a historical structure looked in its prime, but had trouble visualizing it? This 3-D virtual tour of the Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis is a super cool way to see the hypothesis of how historians and archaeologists believe the building looked at the time of construction (beginning of the 2nd century AD).
8. Plovdiv Roman Theatre – Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis
If you’re a fan of Ancient Roman architecture, you must visitthe Ancient Ancient Amphitheater Philippopolis. It lies in the heart of the Old Town, in the saddle between Taksim Tepe and Dzhambaz Tepe. Dating from Trajan’s reign in the late 1st century and early 2nd century, it’s one of the world’s best-preserved ancienttheaters. Historians presume that this theater used to hold performances, theatre performances, gladiator games, and hunting spectacles circus events. Damaged in the 5th century...
9. Mosaics From The Episcopal (Bishop’s) Basilica Of Philippopolis
Also known as the Great Basilica, the Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis was discovered and excavated by archaeologist Elena Kessiakova in the 1980’s. As the project progressed over the years, it was discovered that the complex’s interior was covered in mosaics, especially the floors. A modernized building was constructed to cover and protect the original basilica and the mosaics were stabilized, cleaned and preserved within. Today, guests can visit the building to view areas of excavated mo...
10. Mosaic “Postal Pigeons”
The “Postal Pigeons” mosaic can be found in the Central Post Office along most of the foyer’s northern wall. Designed by artist Georgi Bozhilov – Slona in 1977, this three dimensional scene of stylized pigeons was made using used natural stone tesserae in five colors – black, white (marble and white limestone), ochre, light green, and dark green. The artist was quite skilled in mosaic technique, and designed “Postal Pigeons” in such a way that it was installed in just one day.
13. The Pedestrian Street Of Knyaz Alexander I
Also known as Main Street, Knyaz Alexander I Street is the longest pedestrian street in Europe at 1750 m in length. It connects the Kapana Art District with Old Town Plovdiv and is the main shopping street in the city. Along this bustling and lively street you will find shopping boutiques, international chains, restaurants, cafes and the historical Dzhumaya Mosque and Roman Stadium.
14. Park Tsar Simeon
Visiting this ancient garden is a great way to relax in Plovdiv. Cascading trees shade the pathways and delightful garden beds show off all varieties of flowers. Swiss landscape architect Lucien Chevalas designed this public park in 1892. It’s a lush and peaceful area within easy walking distance from the central Old Town. If you walk along Main Street, you will find Park Tsar Simeon at the end, before you reach the Kapana Art District. Highlights include the Goddess Demeter Fountain, a Vienn...
15. Singing Fountains At Night
One of the most remarkable and fun things to do in Plovdiv is watching the Singing Fountainsin Tsar Simeon’s Garden. Located in a lake in the park, this collection of fountains is the setting of a light and music show that takes place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9 p.m.
17. Visit The Church Of St. Constantine And Helena
Another fascinating historic building in the Plovdiv Old Town is the Church of St. Constantine and Helena. Named after Emperor Constantine the Great and his mother, Helena, it’s one of the oldest churches in Plovdiv. It dates from the year 337. Over the following centuries, it was destroyed and reconstructed multiple times. The present structure dates from 1832 and has gorgeous frescoes, icons, and paintings.
18. See The Church Of The Holy Mother Of God
The Church of the Holy Mother of God is one of the most important churches in Plovdiv. A church has stood on this site since the 9thcentury but was destroyed by the Ottomans when they conquered Plovdiv in the late 14th century. The current building dates from 1844 when it was rebuilt as the main church in the city. This church and one of its bishops played a significant role in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s struggle for autonomy. It has a strikingly beautiful tower as well as icons and fres...
19. Admire The Dzhumaya Mosque
The presence of the gorgeous Dzhumaya Mosque is a testimony to the cultural diversity that so characterizes the eastern Balkans. Plovdiv’s main Muslim building, it stands in the city center west of the Old Town. The Ottomans built the original mosque in the 14th century on the previous St. Petka Tarnovska Cathedral Church site. In the 15th century, however, that first mosquewas taken down and replaced by the current building. Among its many features are nine large domes and a towering minaret...
As one of Europe’s oldest cities, Plovdiv has a massive amount of history and cultural heritage. After reading about the things to seein Plovdiv above, you’ll now know all about that, too. However, if you’d like to learn even more about the city’s millennia-long history, I recommend visiting the following Plovdiv museums.
There are no shortage of places to eat in Plovdiv – and maybe just as many more choices of places to drink a coffee or sip a glass of Bulgarian wine. Here are some of the places we loved:
27. Visit Bachkovo Monastery
A 30-minute drive from Plovdiv brings you to the Bachkovo Monastery, a major Eastern Orthodox monastery on the bank of the Chepelare River. Founded in 1033, it was a large complex with many buildings. Currently, only one part survives from those earliest days. That’s the ossuary with its ancient frescoes and typical architectural style that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. The monastery does include various other buildings, though, all constructed in subsequent centuries. Note-worthy...
28. Go For A Trip To Asen’s Fortress
Asen’s fortress lies on the way to the Bachkovo Monastery in Asenovgrad. This imposing medieval stronghold is one of the top castles in Bulgariato visit. Perched atop a rocky outcrop, it is only accessible from one side. The three other sides have nearly vertical drops in the valley below. Dating from the Middle Ages, Asen’s Fortress went through several sieges, including the conquest by the armies of the Third Crusade and, later, the Ottomans. After the 14th-century Ottoman conquest, the cas...
29. Have Some Water Fun At Aqualand
While all other things to do in Plovdiv described above have something, or everything, to do with culture and history, this last one is just plainly about having fun. Aquapark “Aqualand” is arguably the most well-known modern attraction in the city. This large water parkis a great place to take your kids if they’re tired of walking around and sightseeing in Plovdiv. It features lounge areas, a children’s pool, tubing, and thrill slides. The only question now is, where will you start in Plovdi...
- Roman Amphitheatre. Plovdiv’s magnificent 2nd-century AD amphitheatre, built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, was uncovered during a freak landslide in 1972.
- Balabanov House. One of Plovdiv's most beautiful Bulgarian National Revival–era mansions, Balabanov House is an enjoyable way to experience old town nostalgia as well as…
- Ethnographical Museum. Even if you don't have time to step inside, it would be criminal to leave Plovdiv's old town without glancing into the courtyard of this stunning National…
- Atanas Krastev House. Close to Nebet Tepe hill, this late 18th-century house was the residence of local painter and conservationist Atanas Krastev until his death in 2003…
- Ancient theatre. One of the world’s most intact Ancient theatres, this building is still in use almost 2000 years after it was constructed. There’s capacity for up to 7000 here and the structure cuts into the side of Taksim Tepe, one of Plovdiv’s six hills, and as you step down the slope towards the terraces the views of the city and the Rhodope Mountains behind are astounding.
- Plovdiv Roman Stadium. At one time this 2nd-century stadium could seat 30,000 spectators, although today you can only see fragments of this structure.
- Plovdiv Old Town. The car-free cobblestone streets of old Plovdiv are a joy, where traditional homes blend with Plovdiv’s roman ruins. Most of the houses in this part of the city, particularly on Ulitsa Saborna, are half-timbered and some of the richer examples are painted in vivid colours.
- Bachkovo Monastery. Just past Plovidiv’s southeastern reaches, outside the town of Asenovgrad, is this monastery founded in 1083. Bachkovo is the second-largest and oldest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and brings together Bulgarian, Georgian and byzantine religious traditions.
Dec 4, 2017 · CNN — Bulgaria’s Plovdiv remains relatively unknown to most travelers, but it’s beginning to appear on more and more Balkan itineraries – and for good reason.
Today, Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second-largest city and continues to be bustling with life. It’s much calmer than Sofia but still packed with creative charm. Discover ancient ruins, artisan antique shops and artistic happenings – all in the historic heart of Plovdiv.
Learn everything you need to know about Plovdiv, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe and the European Capital of Culture in 2019. Find out where to stay, what to do, when to visit, and how to get around this amazing destination.
