Top places to visit in Plovdiv

• Roman Theatre of Philippopolis

  roman theatre · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A superbly preserved 1st-century Roman theatre carved into the Old Town hillside, still hosting summer performances.

• Dzhumaya Mosque

  ottoman mosque · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the Balkans' oldest Ottoman mosques (14th-century), with a striped minaret at Dzhumaya Square.

• Nebet Tepe

  ancient citadel · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The original Thracian citadel on the Old Town's highest hill, now a ruined viewpoint prized for sunsets.

• Church of Sts Constantine & Helena

  orthodox church · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A vividly painted 1832 Old-Town church with a gilded iconostasis by master carver Ivan Pashkula.

• Tsar Simeon Garden & Singing Fountains

  city park · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Plovdiv's central 19th-century park with lakes, sculpture and evening musical fountain shows.

• Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis

  roman stadium · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The exposed northern curve of a 2nd-century Roman stadium that once seated 30,000, sunk beneath the main square.

• Ethnographic Museum (Kuyumdzhieva House)

  ethnographic museum · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  An opulent 1847 Revival mansion displaying Bulgarian folk costumes, crafts and rural life.

• Balabanov House

  revival house · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A restored merchant's Revival mansion used for art exhibitions and chamber concerts.

• Plovdiv Old Town (Stariya Grad)

  historic quarter · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A cobbled hill quarter of colourful National-Revival mansions, artist studios, churches and museums.

• Kapana Creative District

  creative quarter · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  "The Trap" — a grid of narrow lanes turned into a buzzing quarter of galleries, craft bars and eateries.

• Knyaz Alexander I Street

  shopping street · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The long pedestrian spine of the city centre, lined with shops, cafes and Roman-era remains underfoot.

Things to do

• Plovdiv Old Town Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from EUR 12 per person
• Kapana Food & Craft Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from EUR 30 per person
• Roman Philippopolis Guided Tour Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 18 per person
• Thracian Valley Wine Day Trip Day Trip · 7 h · from EUR 55 per person
• Plovdiv Evening Bar Tour Nightlife · 3 h · from EUR 22 per person

Day trips and tours

• Bachkovo Monastery & Asenova Fortress Tour 6 h · from EUR 45

Where to stay in Plovdiv

• Old Town (Stariya Grad) about EUR 95 per night

  Atmospheric Revival-house hill of museums and the Roman theatre — scenic but steep.

• Kapana about EUR 85 per night

  The creative bar-and-restaurant quarter, best for nightlife and cafes.

• City Center / Knyaz Alexander I about EUR 80 per night

  The pedestrian main street, most central and convenient for shopping.

Hotels

• Hebros Hotel 4-star · EUR 90 to EUR 150 per night
• Hotel Odeon 3-star · EUR 60 to EUR 95 per night
• Ramada by Wyndham Plovdiv Trimontium 4-star · EUR 80 to EUR 130 per night
• Landmark Creek Hotel & Wellness 5-star · EUR 90 to EUR 150 per night

Where to eat

• Hebros Bulgarian, European, Fine dining · about EUR 35 per person
• Aylyakria Mediterranean, Bulgarian · about EUR 22 per person
• Rahat Tepe Bulgarian, Traditional · about EUR 18 per person
• Restaurant Philippopolis Bulgarian, European · about EUR 21 per person
• Smokini Bulgarian, French, Italian · about EUR 18 per person
• Gusto Italian, Pizza · about EUR 13 per person

Getting to Plovdiv

Airport: Plovdiv (PDV)

How visitors arrive in Plovdiv

• Train from Sofia By train from Sofia · common

  Trains run from Sofia to the station just south of the centre; a sleeper service also links Sofia, Plovdiv and Istanbul. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus or car from Sofia By road from Sofia · common

  The A1 motorway links Plovdiv with Sofia and Burgas; buses to Sofia use the Yug station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight to Plovdiv Airport By air from Europe (low-cost) · possible

  Plovdiv airport has only a few low-cost flights. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport bus to Yug bus station

  A bus links the airport with the central Yug bus station, timed around flights. The airport's own site also lists a shuttle bus and taxis. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from Plovdiv airport

  Taxis are available at the airport for a direct ride into the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Train from Sofia to Plovdiv station

  Many visitors arrive by train from Sofia. The station is just south of the centre and an easy walk; Yug and Rhodope bus stations are close by. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Plovdiv has city buses, while the compact Old Town is walkable and its main central street is closed to cars.

  Plovdiv city bus lines and maps

• Taxi

  Taxis are common in Plovdiv and can be ordered from a taxi company; the central area also has a large pedestrian zone.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial taxi overcharge

  Around the train station and Old Town

  Taxis without a company sticker or with an unusually high per-km rate on the windscreen overcharge tourists.

  How to avoid it: Book by phone or app, or check the printed rate on the passenger window before getting in.

Best time to visit Plovdiv

• Jan 5°C
• Feb 9°C
• Mar 14°C
• Apr 19°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 26°C
• Oct 20°C
• Nov 13°C
• Dec 7°C

More in Bulgaria

• Sofia
• Varna
• Nessebar
• Bansko
• Burgas
• Veliko Tarnovo

Frequently asked questions about Plovdiv

What are the top-rated places to visit in Plovdiv?

The highest-rated places in our Plovdiv guide are Church of Sts Constantine & Helena, Tsar Simeon Garden & Singing Fountains, Roman Theatre of Philippopolis, Dzhumaya Mosque, Nebet Tepe.

Where should I stay in Plovdiv?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Plovdiv: Old Town (Stariya Grad), Kapana, City Center / Knyaz Alexander I.

How do I get around Plovdiv?

Ways to get around Plovdiv covered in our guide: City bus, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Plovdiv?

Scams reported to us for Plovdiv include Unofficial taxi overcharge. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Plovdiv?

Average daytime highs in Plovdiv run from 5°C in Jan to 32°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Plovdiv?

The nearest airport to Plovdiv has the code PDV.