Location: Plovdiv
Top Things to do in Plovdiv
What to do and see in Plovdiv, Bulgaria: The Best Places and Tips
Plovdiv (Bulgarian: Пловдив, pronounced ['pɫovdif]) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, with a city population of 341,567 as of 2015 and 675,586 in the greater metropolitan area. It is an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational center. There is evidence of habitation in Plovdiv dating back to the 6th millennium BCE, when the first Neolithic settlements were established; it is said to be one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Restaurants in Plovdiv
1. Plovdiv Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Bulgaria's "second city", Plovdiv has 19th century houses and Roman ruins, including a Roman Amphitheater in use today.
Reviewed By Miha P - Maribor, Slovenia
Ordinary visitor needs at least a day and archeologists a week. All kinds of ruins are in the central part, mainly from antique times, some are even older. Main part is preserved, some neglected. Different churches and mosques are all around. A line of small museums and reconstructed houses (from different periods) are at the top of the old town. They are good for visit even in cold or rainy time. Top attraction is old, partly reconstructed Greek theater, interesting is pedestrian zone with a stadium under the street. You can visit an old basilica with mosaics.
2. Park Tsar Simeon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 129 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew G - Thessaloniki, Greece
This must be the best park in Plovdiv. It features a big area full of nature to talk a morning jog or an evening walk. In the big "lake", situated in it there is a colorful Fountain which is best seen at night. Worth a visit
3. Plovdiv Roman Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 922 reviews
Reviewed By Miha P - Maribor, Slovenia
Stone antique theater is real attraction. It was built between two hills and disappeared during the history. After excavations in was partly reconstructed and serves for the same purpose as centuries ago. It is still a theater for different Performances. Stone seats, really steep staircases and scene with pillars and sculptures are worth visiting.
4. Alyosha Soviet Army Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 155 reviews
Reviewed By TravelinYokel
There's a maze of paths going up there, some more easy to take than others but even on the hottest of days the view is the best one you'll get of Plovdiv.
5. Assenova krepost (Asen's Fortress)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By 427BeatleBob - Watsonville, California
Personally, I was not too impressed with this site. I found the fortress or what was left of it was not photogenic but the church was from the outside. Not much to see inside.
You do have nice views overlooking the valley. They charge four Levs for entrance fee.
6. Ethnographic Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
There are three reasons to visit this place. First the beautiful architecture of the building itself, second the typical interior decoration of a wealthy 19th century Plovdiv merchant house and third the ethnographic museum proper.
After passing a gate one comes into a green yard and can see the fascinating painted front, curved in its central part. There are curves on the roof too and also plenty more curves inside, especially with the elliptic ceilings. This is obviously the reason why this Bulgarian Renaissance mansion has gotten the sobriquet 'Baroque'.
The almost regal house consists of two floors. On the upper part one gets an idea of the 'alafranga' (Frankish, thus western) life-style of the Plovdiv 'upper class'. The mansion in fact had been be built - in 1847, as it says at the entrance - by a wealthy Greek merchant in homespun textiles. He had to leave the town, together with all other Greeks, during the ethnic cleansing in the area that followed the Bulgarian independence in 1878.
In the ground floor there are exhibits, which inform about the different economic activities in the area during mainly the 19th and early 20th century: Viticulture, Rice growing, Vegetable farming, Stock breeding, Cultivation of Tobacco and Damask Roses and also Goldsmithing and Jewellry-making.
7. Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis
Overall Ratings
4 based on 292 reviews
Reviewed By Nik R - Varna, Bulgaria
The ancient Stadium of Philippopolis is another well-preserved building from the Roman times in Plovdiv and the biggest Roman structure on the Balkan Peninsula. It runs beneath, along the shopping pedestrian street downtown,it is partially restored and can be accessed close to Dzhumaya Mosque.
There are some info boards, a small souvenir shop and you can also watch a short 3D movie for a very cheap price.
It is commendable that such an old structure is so well taken care of.
8. Chiesa SS. Constantin e Elena
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By Raymond W - Chengdu, China
This church is situated in the heart of Plovdiv's old town on a cobblestone lane filled with numerous fine old houses. Like the timber houses on this street, the Constantine and Elena Church is largely a product of the nineteenth century Bulgarian Revival. It features icons and wall murals from nineteenth century artists who were inspired by the religious art of Bulgaria's pre-0ttoman past.
This is a classic Bulgarian Orthodox Church with colourful frescoes depicting Biblical scenes and numerous images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. It also has a masterful iconostasis and an ornate wooden pulpit and priests' throne. There is a woman in attendance who sells candles and guidebooks to visitors. However, a brief visit will suffice for most tourists.
9. Djumaya Mosque
Overall Ratings
4 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By GandalfTheDrunk - Sheffield, United Kingdom
It is hard to miss the Djumaya Mosque in Plovdiv, as it dominates the Old Town square. At a glance, it may appear closed to the public, but if one pushes through the cafe and up the stairs, visits are indeed possible. The staff on the front door are welcoming, and simply ask that you remove your shoes inside the porch before entering the main hall.
There is not a lot to "see" inside, in the sense that unlike most other mosques that are open to the public there is no exhibition on Islam or similar topics. Instead, it is a fairly pleasant quiet space, where one is free to roam and explore the hall, as long as one is quiet and respectful. It really is worth a quick visit, for this reason.
10. Regional Archaeological Museum Plovdiv
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By Sorin D - Bucharest (Romania)
The Plovdiv Archeological Museum is important because Bulgaria has a long, surprising and interesting history that deserves to be known. The museum is not so great. I was particularly interested in the exhibits of the Thracians and the Roman artifacts. The presentation and organization seemed good to me. I received useful explanations and I was also advised to visit other cultural objectives in the city.
Next to it was the museum "Unification of Bulgaria in 1885" - unification with Rumelia.
The location is very accessible, in the Soedinenie square, near the big monument.
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