By rail
Plovdiv, trains from Sofia
Europe · Bulgaria
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
An ancient city of hills, theatres and old houses
Getting there
By air
Plovdiv Airport (PDV), ~10 km by road
Best time to visit
April to June or September to October — warm and pleasant
Don't miss
The Roman Theatre
The Old Town
Kapana
Nebet Tepe
Things to do
Walking the Old Town
Roman ruins
Art galleries
Wine tasting in the Thracian Valley
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: MrPanyGoff · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes for cobbles, sun hat
A quieter corner
Bachkovo Monastery in the Rhodope foothills south of the city
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Plovdiv?
April to June or September to October — warm and pleasant. What to pack: Comfortable shoes for cobbles, sun hat.
How do I get to Plovdiv?
Fly into Plovdiv Airport (PDV), ~10 km by road.
What is there to do in Plovdiv?
Walking the Old Town, Roman ruins, art galleries, wine tasting in the Thracian Valley. A quieter find: Bachkovo Monastery in the Rhodope foothills south of the city.
What should I eat in Plovdiv?
Kavarma, lyutenitsa, banitsa, Thracian Valley wines.
About Plovdiv
- Hills
- Riverside
Where it is
Plovdiv lies on the Maritsa River in southern Bulgaria, spread across several rocky hills in the Upper Thracian Plain.
History
Plovdiv began as a Thracian settlement and was later named Philippopolis after Philip II of Macedon. Under the Romans it became a major city with a stadium and theatre. During the Bulgarian National Revival in the 19th century wealthy merchants built the colourful houses of the Old Town, and the city was a European Capital of Culture in 2019.
People
Bulgarian is spoken in Plovdiv, the country's second city, which has a relaxed pace and a strong arts scene, with Armenian, Turkish and Roma communities also part of its history.
Known for
- A well-preserved Roman theatre
- Colourful National Revival houses
- The creative Kapana quarter
- Views from its hills
Did you know?
Plovdiv is often described as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe.
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