One Day in Plovdiv: A Complete Guide for Bulgaria’s Cultural Capital

I’ll be the first to admit it – until just before our Bulgaria trip, I’d never even heard of Plovdiv. That’s entirely on me, but as a result, when Andrea was planning our route, I stubbornly insisted we only spend one night there, which in practice meant less than 24 hours in the city. Looking back, this turned out to be a pretty major mistake. So if you’re reading this article and planning to visit Bulgaria’s second-largest city, learn from my ignorance and schedule more time here!

Plovdiv in a Nutshell

Plovdiv holds a distinction that makes most European cities look like newborns: it’s been continuously inhabited for over 8,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest living cities, predating Rome, Athens, and Constantinople. Built across seven hills (locals call them tepeta) along the Maritsa River in southern Bulgaria’s Thracian Plain, the city has collected civilizations like souvenirs. Thracians named it Eumolpias, Philip II of Macedon renamed it Philippopolis, the Romans called it Trimontium, and the Ottomans knew it as Filibe. Each empire left its architectural calling card, creating a city where you can literally stumble over Roman stones while walking to get morning coffee, peek into a 2nd-century amphitheater that still hosts rock concerts, or photograph Bulgarian National Revival mansions built atop medieval fortress walls.

Modern Plovdiv (population 350,000) has evolved into Bulgaria’s cultural capital, a title it wore officially as European Capital of Culture in 1999 and 2019, though locals would argue it never needed the validation. The city splits into distinct personalities: the cobblestoned Old Town perched on three hills showcases the country’s finest collection of colorful 19th-century merchant houses with their distinctive overhanging upper floors and painted facades, while down below, the pedestrianized main street runs directly over an ancient Roman stadium. The Kapana (“The Trap”) creative quarter has transformed from Ottoman artisan workshops into Bulgaria’s hippest neighborhood, where street art covers formerly crumbling walls and craft beer bars neighbor traditional mehanas. It’s a city that manages to feel both profoundly ancient and surprisingly contemporary, where archaeological discoveries regularly delay construction projects.

How to Get to Plovdiv from Sofia

By Car

As I mentioned in our Seven Rila Lakes article, we made it to Plovdiv by car with a bit of a detour, coming from one of the country’s most beautiful regions – though it wasn’t showing us its friendliest face during our visit. This meant roughly a 3-hour drive for us, on roads that were pretty beat up in places, where we were basically slaloming between potholes at about 30 km/h (18 mph). The good news is that getting from Sofia is much less challenging and considerably faster: the A1 motorway passes right by Plovdiv, and via this route, you can reach the city center in about two hours.

By Bus

Numerous daily bus routes run from Sofia to Plovdiv, though opinions are mixed about their convenience and practicality. It’s surprisingly complicated to figure out the situation since several bus companies operate between the two cities. Karat-S seems to be the most popular, with their own website (though ironically, even the English version is in Bulgarian), although curiously after selecting your route they refer to themselves as CityLines. The buses depart in the morning from the not-particularly-central Central Bus Station, despite its name. A one-way ticket costs around 20 BGN (~$11 USD), and the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. The buses arrive at Plovdiv Central Train Station – which, not surprisingly after the above, isn’t exactly central either.

You can buy tickets at the bus station or through the website linked above, but if you prefer an English-language international booking platform, Busbud also lists this route, where you’ll find other providers with different departure times as well.

By Train

I can’t remember who told me – maybe it was Peter? – but someone advised against taking the train. That said, it’s true that even the fastest train connection is slower than the buses (the express train still takes nearly 3 hours), though it’s cheaper, with a one-way ticket costing around 11 BGN (~$6 USD). The train basically departs from and arrives at the same stations as the buses in both cities. I’ll be honest, I couldn’t figure out how to buy tickets on the state railway company BDZ’s website (or if you even can), but of course, the train station is always an option. Note that trains typically don’t terminate in Plovdiv but continue all the way to Varna or Burgas, so keep an eye out for that when looking for your platform at the station.

It appears that you can also buy train tickets (alongside bus tickets) on 12go, though we didn’t try this option ourselves:

Plovdiv Day Trip from Sofia

Since Plovdiv is relatively close to Sofia, you can actually cover the main sights on a day trip, albeit a rushed one. You’ll have essentially the same amount of time in the city as we did, so if you’re not doing a multi-city loop like us, this can be a perfectly good solution!

These tours are naturally available through most well-known providers (like GetYourGuide, Viator, Tripadvisor), but we’ve also handpicked a few options for you:

Best Places to Stay in Plovdiv: Accommodation Guide

We faced a tough decision when choosing accommodation in Plovdiv: should we stay a bit outside the city center where we’d definitely have parking at the hotel but face a hassle getting in, or should we risk parking in the downtown area but be close to all the attractions, especially given we only had less than 24 hours to spend here?

We ultimately went with the former option, largely because Andrea found an amazing hotel called Hotel Jägerhof. While it’s a bit outside the center, it’s easily accessible by car and offered free parking. This was by far our best accommodation during the entire Bulgarian road trip. The Premium King room was incredibly spacious and comfortable with a fantastic bed, the breakfast was delicious with a great selection (including several types of banitsa, of course!), and the staff was very attentive and friendly.

However, the location away from the center meant we didn’t have the energy to head into town on the evening we arrived – we just grabbed a (really good) dinner at the brewery-restaurant attached to the hotel and went to sleep. And since checkout wasn’t until late the next morning, we almost canceled our walking tour because the bed was so darn comfortable.

That said, looking back, next time we’d probably stay closer to the center, even if we were spending more time in the city, simply because it’s more convenient to be near the attractions. (By the way, several buses stop near the hotel that can get you downtown in 20-30 minutes.)

So, if you’re looking to stay closer to the action, here are some options we researched:

• Hostel Old Plovdiv – If you’re truly on a budget, this hostel is right in the Old Town on the hill. Dorm beds start at $15, though private rooms run around $60.
• Sunflower Apartment – Not in the Old Town but fairly central, this apartment could be a good choice for longer stays.
• Luxury Studio Kapana – If you’re craving the buzz of the city, this small apartment with a balcony sits on the edge of the Kapana district.
• Doubletree By Hilton Plovdiv Center – If you prefer a central location with a major international chain.
• Villa Flavia Heritage Boutique Hotel – If you’re looking for a uniquely designed boutique hotel right in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of everything.

Things to Do in Plovdiv: Free Walking Tour Itinerary

Now we get to the heart of the matter – what’s worth checking out in this multifaceted city. True to form, we kicked things off with a free walking tour, and since we’d had great experiences with them in Sofia, we chose the 365 Association’s local tour.

Like in Sofia, quite a crowd gathered – around 50 people – so they split us into two groups (fortunately, they managed to call in a second guide). If you’re looking for a smaller, more intimate experience, it might be worth browsing the paid tour options (though with tips, you’ll end up paying about the same anyway). We were eyeing this one:

Most non-specialized tours follow roughly the same route, so that’s what I’ll walk you through here. Our starting point was in front of the City Hall at Stefan Stambolov Square. We managed to park at a nearby parking lot for 3 BGN (~$1.65 USD) per hour, though navigating the local ring road to get there was pretty tricky (you have to go down first, then back up).

Plovdiv Downtown: Roman Forum and Main Street

For lack of a better term, that’s what I’ll call this section, which covers about a third of the tour and took its current form after Bulgarian reunification in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Interestingly, this area was also the center of Roman-era Philippopolis, so after learning a brief history of the city, we got to see the Roman forum and the surrounding Roman ruins. If you’re into socialist-communist architecture, the post office building makes for a good photo opportunity.

From there, we headed down Knyaz Alexander Street (Княз Александър), which you could call the main pedestrian promenade. Walking along this street, you’re surrounded by genuine architectural diversity – Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings line the way. The street is packed with cafes, galleries, and shops, from small local businesses to international giants like H&M.

As you reach the end of the street, the Djumaya Mosque’s minaret might first catch your eye, but it’s worth looking down at your feet too: here you’ll see the curved outline of an ancient Roman stadium. If no one’s mentioned it yet, this is where it becomes crystal clear that the street you’ve been walking along essentially follows the line of a Roman racetrack (the pavement actually marks the exact location, which our guide pointed out). We heard they’re planning to excavate the ruins beneath the buildings more thoroughly and create a walkable museum, though understandably, that’s no simple engineering feat.

Kapana District Plovdiv: The Creative Quarter

The mosque, originally built in the 14th century (then destroyed and rebuilt in the 15th), also marks the entrance to our next area: Kapana, which means “The Trap.” In medieval times, this was where the city truly came alive, composed of classic Ottoman timber buildings that mostly housed artisan workshops – street names like Leather Street and Gold Street still bear witness to this heritage.

The neighborhood earned its name from its labyrinthine layout – once you wander in, it’s remarkably hard to find your way out. As tends to happen with wooden structures, a massive fire eventually consumed them, but the district was rebuilt in the early 20th century in its current form. Its most recent renaissance is tied to Plovdiv’s designation as European Capital of Culture in 2019.

What was once a neglected part of the city has transformed into an exciting and interesting area where bars and cafes line the “labyrinth” walls, buildings can be claimed and used by visual artists for their creative work, and stunning street art covers many walls. It’s a genuinely buzzing, youthful scene that’s worth visiting not just during the day but in the evening as well. Kapana has become Plovdiv’s cultural and creative epicenter.

Plovdiv Old Town: Bulgarian Revival Architecture and Nebet Tepe

Our next stop was the Old Town perched on one of the hills. The winding cobblestone streets meandering through beautifully restored colorful houses built in the Bulgarian Revival style offer fantastic photo opportunities wherever you go. With our guide, we “climbed” Nebet Tepe hill, where you can explore the ruins of Pŭldin Fortress – this hill has defended the city from enemies since Roman and Byzantine times. From here, you get excellent views of the entire city, and you can see all the other hills except one. Where did Plovdiv’s seventh hill disappear to? That’ll remain a mystery for now! (Though you’ll find out during the tour.)

During our Old Town stroll, we also passed one of the old city gates and St. Konstantin & Elena Church. A beautiful example of Bulgarian Revival architectural style is the ethnographic museum here with its ornately painted facade and distinctive shape.

Ancient Roman Theater Plovdiv: Active 2,000-Year-Old Amphitheater

The tour ends near the Philippopolis Ancient Theater, specifically at the statue of famous jazz musician Sasho Sladura. Built in the 1st century, the theater was surprisingly forgotten until the 1960s when it was rediscovered during an archaeological excavation.

The structure has been remarkably well-preserved, best proven by the fact that it’s still actively used today. Performances and concerts are regularly held here, and the 3,500-seat venue offers a truly unique experience beyond just the shows themselves – the location is just as thrilling. Unfortunately, we couldn’t examine the theater more closely because Nick Cave was performing there that evening – but there were Australians in our group who’d traveled all this way for him!

Sahat Tepe Hill: Clock Tower and City Views

We visited this spot on our own, outside the framework of the free walking tour. This is the hill that draws attention from the pedestrian street with its interesting rock formations and clock tower. You can access it from there, via the stairs next to the colorful “together” sign, then following the marked trail, about 10 minutes total.

Honestly, I found the view less impressive than from the previously mentioned Nebet Tepe, and while the clock tower supposedly chimes a bit every hour, when we were there, we specifically waited for 3:00 PM, but nothing really happened.

Best Museums in Plovdiv Bulgaria

We didn’t have time for them, but Plovdiv has several fascinating museums, so if you’re spending, say, 2 days in the city, it’s worth allocating time for them:

• The Regional Ethnographic Museum: This is the building I already mentioned regarding the Old Town. It’s worth checking out not just from the outside but inside too, if you’re interested in period objects, jewelry, and weapons.
• Balabanov House: Located in the Old Town, this is a period building constructed in the Bulgarian Revival style. Several similar houses can be entered; if you’re interested, check out this website.
• Regional Natural History Museum: The country’s second-largest museum of this type. Everything’s here from dinosaurs to aquariums to live butterflies.
• Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis: Our guide highly recommended this relatively new museum, which from the outside looks like an unattractive metal box, but it’s built over an originally 4th-century basilica that wasn’t discovered until the 1980s.

Day Trips from Plovdiv: Buzludzha and More

Since Plovdiv is located almost in the center of the country, several attractions can be explored on day trips from here. We’ve selected a few for you – I particularly recommend the Buzludzha Monument if you haven’t already planned it into your Bulgarian itinerary:

Summary: Making the Most of Your Plovdiv Itinerary

Plovdiv completely exceeded my low expectations and proved why it deserves more than the rushed 22 hours we gave it. This 8,000-year-old city seamlessly blends ancient history with contemporary culture in a way few European destinations can match. The Roman ruins scattered throughout the modern city center aren’t roped-off museum pieces – they’re woven into daily life, with shops and cafes literally built around and above them.

The ideal Plovdiv itinerary should include at least two full days, ideally three. This gives you time to thoroughly explore the colorful Old Town with its Bulgarian Revival mansions perched on the hills, get properly lost in the artistic Kapana district (both day and night), visit the remarkably preserved Roman amphitheater, and dedicate time to the excellent museums we had to skip. The free walking tour with 365 Association makes an excellent introduction to orient yourself and understand the city’s complex history.

Location-wise, staying in the center makes the most sense unless you specifically need free parking for a road trip. Getting here from Sofia is straightforward whether you choose bus, train, or car – or simply book a day trip if you’re pressed for time. The city also serves as an excellent base for exploring central Bulgaria, with destinations like Bachkovo Monastery and the bizarre Buzludzha Monument within easy reach.

My biggest takeaway? When planning things to do in Plovdiv, give yourself more time than you think you need. This city has a way of revealing layers the longer you stay. It’s really not just a day trip destination but a place that deserves its own chapter in your Bulgarian adventure.