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Old Town (Old Plovdiv)Старият град
Cobbled lanes over three hills, with colourful 19th-century Revival houses, galleries and views over the city. Best explored on foot, early morning or at sunset.
City guide
Plovdiv, like a local
Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city: Roman ruins in the middle of the shopping street, a hilltop Old Town of painted houses and Kapana, the “Trap” district of tiny streets full of bars, wine and art.
Sights worth your time
Ancient Roman TheatreАнтичният театър
A 2,000-year-old theatre that still works: in summer it hosts opera, concerts and festivals with the Rhodope mountains as a backdrop.
Roman StadiumАнтичният стадион
Part of a 30,000-seat stadium from the 2nd century, right under the main shopping street. A short 3D film shows how it looked.
Nebet Tepe hillНебет тепе
The hill where the city began, with fortress ruins and the best sunset view over the river Maritsa. Free and open at all hours.
Kapana creative districtКапана
Old craftsmen’s quarter turned car-free art district: street art, small galleries, craft beer, wine bars and cafés on every corner.
Main Street (Knyaz Alexander I)Главната улица
One of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe, linking the Roman Stadium with the central square. Look for the statue of Milyo the gossip.
Hisar Kapia gateХисар капия
The most photographed gate of the Old Town, built on Roman foundations.
Dzhumaya MosqueДжумая джамия
One of the oldest Ottoman mosques in the Balkans, with nine domes, next to the Roman Stadium.
Bishop’s Basilica mosaicsЕпископската базилика
Huge, beautifully kept 4th–6th century floor mosaics with birds, shown under a modern glass building.
Ethnographic Museum (Kuyumdzhioglu House)Етнографският музей
The most beautiful house in the Old Town, with folk costumes, crafts and a lovely garden.
Balabanov HouseБалабановата къща
A rich merchant’s home from the 1800s with period furniture and art exhibitions.
Archaeological MuseumАрхеологическият музей
Thracian gold, Roman finds and the story of the city from prehistory to the Middle Ages.
Church of St Constantine and HelenaЦърквата „Св. св. Константин и Елена“
One of the oldest churches in the city, full of icons and frescoes, in a quiet Old Town courtyard.
Bunardzhika hill & Alyosha monumentБунарджика и паметникът Альоша
Green hill with an 11-metre Soviet soldier statue and a 360° view of all of Plovdiv’s hills.
Sahat Tepe clock towerСахат тепе
A short climb from the centre to an old Ottoman clock tower and a quiet viewpoint.
Tsar Simeon Garden & Singing FountainsЦар-Симеоновата градина и Пеещите фонтани
The city’s favourite park since 1892. On summer evenings the Singing Fountains put on a light and music show.
40 more places nearby
Updated automatically from OpenStreetMap every week.
- Klianti House
- Veren Stambolyan house
- Hindliyan house
- Plovdiv Regional History Museum
- Regional Natural History Museum - Plovdiv📞
- Dr. Stoyan Chomakov's House
- Monument to the Unification of Bulgaria
- Djurkovi gallery📞
- Bulgarian Revival Exposition
- Encho Pironkov Exhibition
- Exposition Book publishing in Bulgaria in the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century📞
- House of Nevena Atanasova
- Nedkovich House
- Hippocrates Museum Pharmacy
- Permanent exhibition of Bulgarian art
- Permanent Exhibition of Icons
- Crafts street
- Krikor Mesrobovich house
- Ancient Odeon
- Ancient Forum
- Ancient Library
- Bratska mogila
- Eastern gate of Philippopolis
- Georgiadi House
- The Clock Tower
- Philippopolis Art Gallery - Museum
- Exposition of Zlatyu Boyadzhiev
- Late Antiquity Building Irene📞
- Small Basilica
- Св. Лудвиг
- Fantasy - The non-museum of Plovdiv
- L'Union
- Anastas
- Plovdiv Ancient theatre
- Bakalov house
- Plovdiv children's railway
- Dimitar Kudoglu
- The Golden Paving Stone
- Eastern section of the ancient stadium in Philippopolis
- Kapana
Things to do
Free walking tourБезплатна обиколка с гид
Daily English-language walk through the Roman city, Kapana and the Old Town; you tip what you think it was worth. Check the meeting time online.
A summer night at the Ancient TheatreЛятна вечер в Античния театър
Opera Open, rock concerts and festivals from June to September. Buy tickets early for weekends.
Sunset on the hillsЗалез от тепетата
Locals bring a drink up Nebet Tepe or Dzhendem Tepe (the highest hill) to watch the sun go down.
Wine tasting in KapanaДегустация на вино в Капана
Try Mavrud and Rubin, the local red grapes, in a Kapana wine bar or on a guided wine walk.
Children’s Railway on Mladezhki hillДетската железница на Младежкия хълм
A small train that runs through a tunnel up the Youth Hill, with a panoramic stop. Fun with kids.
Rowing Canal parkГребният канал
A 2 km canal with paths for running, cycling and rollerblading, plus cafés along the water.
Easy day trips
Bachkovo Monastery (30 km)Бачковският манастир (30 км)
Bulgaria’s second-largest monastery, founded in 1083, with frescoes and a mountain setting. Half-day trip by car or bus from Plovdiv.
Asen’s Fortress (20 km)Асеновата крепост (20 км)
A medieval fortress on a cliff above the Rhodope gorge, on the way to Bachkovo. Combine the two.
Wonderful Bridges (80 km)Чудните мостове (80 км)
Giant natural rock arches in the Rhodope mountains, with easy forest trails. A full day out.
Starosel: Thracian temple & winery (60 km)Старосел: тракийски храм и винарна (60 км)
Visit a 5th-century BC Thracian temple, then taste wine in the Thracian Valley next door.
Where to eat
PashaПаша
Three floors of Turkish cooking in Kapana; known for adana kebab, veal and homemade ayran. Good lunch menu.
SofraСофра
Small, traditional Turkish restaurant; try the beyti kebab, köfte and the desserts.
AntikАнтик
One of the oldest Oriental restaurants in town; bread baked in a big wood oven in front of you.
d’Asti Osteria Italiana
Central and southern Italian recipes; slow-cooked meats and a pistachio-burrata pizza people talk about.
Osteria RosmarinoОстерия Розмарино
Family-run Italian with fresh pasta and bread baked in house; try the tagliatelle with veal ragù.
AylyakriaАйлякрия
Gastropub in a 100-year-old building: modern Bulgarian dishes, craft beer and cocktails. The name comes from “aylyak”, Plovdiv’s art of taking it slow.
FotoclubФотоклуб
Proper Bulgarian cooking just off the tourist path in the Old Town, with friendly staff.
Golden GardenГолдън Гардън
Creative chef’s kitchen that reinvents Bulgarian flavours; order the “Grandma’s board”.
PavajПаваж
Casual Kapana favourite with Bulgarian classics plus vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free choices.
MayrigesМайригес
Armenian and Lebanese home cooking; a great place to try something different.
YerevanЕреван
Traditional Armenian dishes at the foot of Sahat Tepe; try the manti.
JaponicaДжапоника
Japanese kitchen with imported ingredients; ramen and sushi are the stars.
MusoniМусони
Seafood restaurant; the octopus pasta and the fish platter for two are favourites.
Dzhumaya sweet shopСладкарница „Джумая“
Old Turkish pastry shop by the mosque: künefe, baklava, malebi and strong tea.
40 more places nearby
Updated automatically from OpenStreetMap every week.
- AlmaItalian, italian pizza📞
- AtaliLocal, Bulgarian📞
- Jagerhof Alehousegerman, bavarian📞
- Gustomediterranean📞
- OriginalePizza
- Brewhouse FRIK&Sinternational📞
- Rahat TepeLocal📞
- Sombreromexican📞
- Happy Bar & Grillinternational📞
- Pasa RestaurantTurkish
- ГладиаториLocal
- Даяна 1Local
- КласикоItalian, Pizza📞
- МегданаLocal
- ПикантиноItalian, Pizza📞
- РайаBulgarian, mediterranean📞
- Супа Барsoup📞
- ЧилиLocal📞
- Южен ПолъхLocal📞
- Южен Полъх 2Local
- Asiachinese
- Avocado Bar & DinnerLocal, Pizza📞
- Elidasmediterranean
- La Forchetta Plovdivcrepe, Italian📞
- Le Petit ParisLocal, mediterranean
- Patrikimediterranean
- SmokiniLocal📞
- Trattoria InternazionaleItalian
- AstralLocal
- Roots Wine BarLocal, international📞
- Dalas RestaurantLocal, salad📞
- Maka Ramenramen📞
- OdeonJapanese, Local📞
- Fresh Pastasalad, pasta📞
- Restaurant By The River "Jump"fish
- Сени 1 Смирненски📞
- Festivalbalkan, international
- ChichovstiBulgarian, mediterranean📞
- Ememento📞
- Torro Grande📞
Cheap local eats
★ Best-rated on Google MapsZakusvalnya (snack bar), banicharnitsa (banitsa bakery) and home-cooking eateries serve Bulgarian food at low prices; locals eat here. Ratings and photos: Google Maps.
Bistrot "Lebedite"Бистро "Лебедите"
Balkan Burger
Otomoto
32 more places nearby
Updated automatically from OpenStreetMap every week.
- АйлякъSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- ЙованаSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Кулинарна къщаSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Миан 2020Snack bar (zakusvalnya)
- AerosubSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Bologna FoodSnack bar (zakusvalnya)📞
- brothers’ BBQ SandwichesSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Farm BitesSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- La PastaSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Meki HouseSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Бистро "Ния"Snack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Катми "Ал Густо"Snack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Палачинките на ПепиSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- СамарSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Тракийски катмиSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- ChimneyLand- Козуначени КоминчетаSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Diamant FoodsSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Mary's Sandwich HouseSnack bar (zakusvalnya)
- Lisko Burgers and RibsGrill📞
- Shrek's Barbecue & GrillGrill
- ГОРНООРЯХОВСКА СКАРАGrill
- Sultan DönerDöner
- YogiDöner
- Alex FoodsPizza📞
- Don ApetiPizza📞
- Dodo PizzaPizza
- Kasem FoodsPizza
- Флабъри баничарницаBanitsa bakery
- БаничарницаBanitsa bakery
- ЗакускиBanitsa bakery
- Закуски КатиBanitsa bakery📞
- Топли закускиBanitsa bakery
Good coffee
Monkey House
Minimalist café with bicycle décor, often called the best flat white in town.
Snack! Coffee Roasters
Specialty roaster with a view over the Maritsa river and a friendly crowd.
Croatoan Specialty Coffee
Specialty coffee bar for filter, espresso and a quiet hour.
Dealicious Coffee & Food
Cosy roastery in the Yuzhen district with seasonal drinks and homemade syrups.
Central Perk
A café in Kapana styled after the “Friends” TV series, orange sofa included.
40 more places nearby
Updated automatically from OpenStreetMap every week.
- El Grecogreek, Bulgarian📞
- Dyukyana
- Торти НИКО Премиумcoffee shop, dessert📞
- Чочкоcake, sandwich
- The Family Coffee Roasters📞
- Mekitsa & CoffeeLocal
- Неделя
- Alice Cakes & Coffeecake, coffee shop
- Mikel
- Balaban caffè
- The Garden
- Караванаburger
- Кахунаsandwich
- Continental
- Костаcoffee shop
- Noris
- Bubble Housebubble tea
- City Chef'sTurkish, bakery
- DivinoItalian📞
- Freyjasandwich, pastry
- Happy Bubble Friendsbubble tea
- Izel BörekTurkish
- Les Croissantssandwich, cake
- Mokka Coffee Plovdivcoffee shop, cake📞
- Mr.Bobabubble tea
- Multi Cultimixed international📞
- Starbuckscoffee shop
- Sweet Cornersoup, sandwich
- Takin' Ova
- West Cafecoffee shop, dessert
- Айлякъ
- Березка
- Бяло море
- Дъра Бъра Кафе
- Капанчето
- Кафе Книжарница Доброта
- Мирая
- Натали
- Параграф 22
- Тиган - Палачинкарница
Wine bars
Vino CultureВино Културе
Kapana wine bar with Bulgarian and European wines, homemade tapas and weekend tastings.
Memory Wine & Dine CellarMemory Wine & Dine
The city’s reference for Bulgarian wine, with a summer garden and piano jazz at weekends.
Philippopolis Wine Garden
Garden on a Roman wall in the Old Town with rooftop views over Kapana. Perfect on a summer evening.
HemingwayХемингуей
Restaurant and wine cellar with one of the deepest wine lists in town; open late.
DivinoДивино
Relaxed Kapana spot for a glass of Bulgarian wine and people-watching.
Basquiat Wine & Art
Wine bar mixed with an art space; good for a glass before a night out.
Bars
Cat & MouseКотка и мишка
Tiny Kapana craft-beer bar with a long beer list; on busy nights the crowd fills the street.
Maria LuizaМария Луиза
Colourful, quirky bar with a downstairs room; the owners keep changing the décor.
FargoФарго
Film-themed cocktail bar near Tsar Simeon Garden with quiz nights; busy on Fridays and Saturdays.
Anyway Social Bar
Easy-going Kapana bar, a classic first stop of the night.
Hills Brewery
Local craft brewery taproom; beers named after Plovdiv’s hills.
40 more places nearby
Updated automatically from OpenStreetMap every week.
- Fabric Bar📅📞
- Hopium Taproom, Craft beer bar📅📞
- Lo/Hi Craft Space📅
- Prison Break📅📞
- The Turtle House📅
- Bezistena📅
- Cocktail Bar 'The Moon'📅
- Contrabass📅
- Plovdiverzum Bar📅
- Железарията📅
- Крилото📅
- Anyway Cocktail Bar📅
- Eleven Sparrows📅
- Liquid📅
- Morrigan Irish Bar📅
- Muzl📅
- Non Stop📅
- Politico Speakeasy📅
- Under City📅
- Corner Bar 1912📅
- Irish Pub - Angus Steaks📅
- Jazz Cafesandwich📅📞
- Gingertale bar📅
- Temple Bar📅📞
- Toasty📅
- Wow Barburger📅
- 8 Ball Club📅
- 9ball📅
- Бар 28📅
- Дейзи📅
- Зелена Библиотека📅
- Пианобар Flame📅
- Пожарната📅
- Пощата📅
- Bamboo Garden📅
- Casa de Cuba📅
- Cherry📅
- deGustostation📅
- Escada Bar&Dinner📅
- G Club📅
Live music
Petnoto na RorschachПетното на Роршах
Two-floor cult venue: concerts, stand-up and DJ nights with alternative rock, jazz, funk and electronic music.
Jazz Club V DzhazaДжаз клуб „В джаза“
Proper jazz club with regular live concerts; check the programme and book a table.
Bee Bop CaféБий Боп кафе
Jazz and swing nights, tribute concerts and quizzes.
Vintage HouseВинтидж Хаус
Jazz-focused venue with a small stage, regular concerts and food.
Download
Hard rock and metal bar that also shows the football.
PolineroПолинеро
Big rock club in the Izgrev district for larger concerts and festivals.
1 more places nearby
Updated automatically from OpenStreetMap every week.
Clubs & dancing
Bally ClubБали клуб
Small cult house-music club above Kapana for more than 25 years; parties often go on until dawn.
AvenueАвеню
Café-diner by day, club by night with house and retro DJ sets.
The Sense
Long-running disco bar, popular with locals and sports fans.
MarmaladМармалад
Bar & dinner that turns into a party place at weekends.
Hotels & guesthouses
★ Top-rated on Booking.comPrices, photos and guest reviews are on Booking.com and Google Maps.
None in our list yet. See them on Booking.com: Booking.com
Grand Hotel PlovdivГранд хотел Пловдив
Новиз
Марица
Санкт Петербург
Family Hotel At Renaissance SquareСемеен хотел На площад Ренесанс
Митрополит Панарет 1
Bright house
Plovdiv City Hotel
NorisНорис
Кендрос
Fenix Club
Spilkov's House
Trakiya
Roots Hotel Old TownХотел Корени
A&M Хотел
Antique Plovdiv
Emporium Plovdiv
Transport
City buses
- bus.plovdiv.truenorth.bgLive bus arrivals by stop number or your location.Open
- Livetransport.euSee where every bus on a line is right now.Open
✈️ Airport
- Plovdiv Airport (Krumovo, 13 km)No airport bus: take a licensed taxi (about €6–8 to the centre). Drivers approaching you inside are often unlicensed.🚌 Directions
- To Sofia Airport (≈ 2 h)Bus or train to Sofia, then the metro (line M4) to Terminal 2. Trains to Sofia also stop at Iskarsko Shose, two metro stops from the airport. Leave plenty of time.🚌 Directions
🚌 Intercity buses & trains
- Sofia: bus ≈ 1.5 h, about every hourMorning buses leave from the South Bus Station (Avtogara Yug); afternoon buses from in front of the railway station.🚌 Directions
- Trains (BDZ) to Sofia, Burgas, VarnaCentral railway station next to the South Bus Station. Timetables and tickets on bdz.bg.🚌 Directionsbdz.bg
🚆 Trains (domestic & international)
- Railway station & direct trainsCentral Station next to the South Bus Station. Trains to Sofia (≈ 2.5 h), Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik; the Istanbul night train stops here.bdz.bg🚆 Directions
- 🌍 Sofia → Istanbul night train (daily)Sofia 18:50 → Istanbul (Halkalı) 07:21, via Plovdiv and Dimitrovgrad. Couchette from about €38. Book on the Turkish railways site (TCDD), at BDZ or Sofia Central.ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- 🌍 Bucharest ↔ Istanbul (daily)Stops at Ruse and Gorna Oryahovitsa (Veliko Tarnovo), then Dimitrovgrad. Direct car mid-June to mid-October; otherwise change at Dimitrovgrad. Ruse ↔ Bucharest is also possible.cfrcalatori.ro
Taxis
Holidays nearby
Holidays in Bulgaria →♨️
All year
Narechen Baths
A quiet spa in a green Rhodope valley on the road from Plovdiv to Pamporovo, known for its slightly radioactive (radon) water and treatment of nerves.
- Water about 29 °C, slightly radioactive (radon)
- ≈ 40 km from Plovdiv, 20 km past Asenovgrad
Good for: Peripheral nervous system, joints and movement, and diabetes. The medical pools need a doctor’s prescription; doses are set by the centre’s specialists.
Open guide →♨️
All year
Hisarya
A spa town inside Roman walls, with 22 springs of drinking water famous for the kidneys. Public fountains are free.
- 22 springs, up to about 52 °C
- Drinking cure: bring a bottle
Good for: Kidneys and kidney stones, urinary tract, gall bladder, liver and digestion, joints; recovery after surgery. The cool Stublata tap is traditionally used for the eyes (folk use).
Open guide →⛰️
Summer
Koprivshtitsa
A museum town of colourful 19th-century houses in the Sredna Gora hills, where the April Uprising of 1876 began.
- Six house museums on one ticket
- National folklore festival every five years