To make a long story short: back when I was a student in Istanbul, I needed to leave Turkey to renew my visa. I only had one day to spend in the nearest country, Bulgaria. I was visiting Bulgaria for the first time and had a hard time deciding where to go. Plovdiv or Sofia? My Bulgarian friend told me to skip Sofia and go sightseeing in Plovdiv instead. 

Plovdiv or Sofia?

My friend said to visit Plovdiv rather than Sofia because:

  • Plovdiv size is a good fit for a day trip to Bulgaria
  • She is originally from Plovdiv and had tonnes of local information for me to visit her hometown. You’re lucky; I wrote them down (including her list of the best restaurants!) so I could share them here!

Are you staying in Sofia? You can book a day tour from Sofia here* and find inspiration about things to do in Sofia.

I considered that I’d probably get other opportunities to visit Sofia later in my life. And I was curious about sightseeing in my friend’s hometown. I had no time to plan, and she had sent me a great itinerary to explore her town as if she were with me. Too easy! I didn’t hesitate too long between Plovdiv or Sofia and followed my friends’ advice to visit Plovdiv for one day.

So I caught a night bus from Istanbul to explore by myself the second largest city in Bulgaria in one day. 

“Plovdiv is the oldest continually inhabited city in Europe.”

I like finding superlative facts about places. So this is the one for Plovdiv. Telegraph UK listed it in the 20 oldest cities in the world. Plovdiv ranks number 8, and all the older cities are in the Middle East. As a comparison, Plovdiv’s earliest inhabitants settled in 4,000BC, a long time before Athens (1,400BC).

Why I loved sightseeing in Plovdiv

Plovdiv has many different facets. From Roman ruins to National Revival houses. From red to blue to yellow. From the mosque to churches and temples… And on top of being diverse, it’s beautiful! I was surprised there were only a few tourists when I visited Plovdiv – which I always appreciate. It was late in the year so the season may have helped.

I was a solo woman traveller in Plovdiv. The beginning was a bit chaotic: I got dropped by the bus too early – in the middle of the night. That’s when I realised my friend’s map was in English and they use a different alphabet in Bulgaria. That was a bit of an adventure to start the day, but I ended up meeting nice Bulgarian people. I had coffee with two local young girls who were excited to practice their English, and we spent a couple of hours walking around their town together. It was great to interact with that many locals; I had a blast. That’s something I love about travelling solo.

Of course, one day was only enough to taste the potential of Bulgaria. I’d love to go to Bulgaria again for longer. I do want to explore Sofia in the future, and I’ve heard many great things about the Black Sea coast.

If you are in Plovdiv for more than one day, there are a few things to explore in the region, including wineries. Have a look at all these day tours available*.

What are Plovdiv’s best sights?

Plovdiv Bulgaria

If you are planning a trip to Plovdiv, you’ll be interested in this free guided walking tour. I did not join the tour, but it seems to cover the city well, and I like to learn from a local guide!

I loved the historic heart of the old town. The cobbled stoned streets and coloured buildings make it look very picturesque. It’s very different from the atmosphere in the city centre. The roman Ancient Theatre is a real must-see, I’d travel across the world for such a view! (more info below)

List of things to see in Plovdiv in one day:

There’s a map at the end of the article with all the attractions and the restaurants I mentioned in the article.

The Roman ruins, especially Plovdiv’s Ancient Theatre

The Stadium and the Forum are interesting, but if you only have time to see one thing, check out the Plovdiv Ancient Theatre. I’ve seen beautiful Roman ruins during my travel, like Aphrodisias in Turkey, but Plovdiv Ancient Theatre was particularly breathtaking. Built in the 1st century AD, it looks almost intact and is still used to host events where 7,000 people can seat! I wish I travelled during the summer months to watch a performance there. Not only is it incredible to wander in a theatre that’s almost 2,000 years old, but the place also offers fantastic views in the background. Indeed, the Romans built the theatre at the top of one of the many hills of the city.

The lovely views from the hills

There are a few hills to choose from to get a bird’s eye view of the city. No doubt you can guess which one was my favourite…! But I also recommend taking the time to check out Danov Hill and Nebet Hill.

The historic houses and museums

The beautiful houses were built in the 19th century. The most famous ones are Lamartine’s house (the only one on my list that cannot be visited), Balabanov’s house, Kuyumdjiev’s house, Hindliyan’s house, Nedkovich’house.

The Ethnographic Museum is inside Kuyumdjiev’s house and an excellent opportunity to learn more about the way of life in this region of the world.

Dzhumaya Mosque

Coming from Istanbul, I wasn’t that impressed – Local Td by Dzhumaya Mosque, but it’s worth noting it is one of the oldest and largest in the Balkans, built in the 14th century.

Kapana

Kapana is the place to find arty shops and lovely cafes.

Check what’s on while you’re in Plovdiv! As I am writing this article, the Festival of the Old Town is on. Also, if you are planning a lot ahead, it will be the Capital of European Culture in 2019.

The best restaurants in Plovdiv – local tips

There’s a map at the end of the article with all the attractions and the restaurants I mentioned in the article.

The main street is Glavna. It is lively with many shops and restaurants to choose from.

My friend told me to get lost in the adjacent streets and particularly advised me to stop at the Art News Café. There are many options for food, and it was cheap! As per her recommendations, I chose what she said is the best restaurant in Plovdiv for my budget: the unique and cosy Veda House. I ordered many Bulgarian specialities, almost the entire menu. A bit too many – each one was quite big… As it was only 10€ for three meals, I expected something smaller. I felt ashamed as I could not finish it all – it was delicious, but the portions were huge!

I had no idea the Bulgarian cuisine was that good.

For drinks, the Ale House had great homemade beers.

If you’re looking for something fancy, you may be tempted by PhilippopolisRestaurant Megdana is also a good option for tourists as they offer folk dances to transform your dinner into a show (booking recommended).

Where to spend the night in Plovdiv? Unfortunately, I did not spend a night in Plovdiv. I only spent one day in Plovdiv and took a night bus back to Istanbul. But I’d recommend staying in Plovdiv for longer than just one day and choosing a hotel in the city centre.  If that’s your plan, you can click here to view hotels*.

Where is Plovdiv?

Zoom in to see the pins for all the places mentioned in the article:

Plovdiv is in the middle of the south of Bulgaria. It is about 2 hours from the capital Sofia. Buses and trains are also going from Istanbul to Plovdiv. Plovdiv has an international airport including direct flights from London with Ryanair.

If you’re not convinced yet you should travel to Bulgaria, check out this article on why Bulgaria is going to be Europe’s next big thing, and you may change your mind!

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The Best Restaurants in Plovdiv - Bulgaria - Local Tips
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Plovdiv or Sofia? I chose Plovdiv!

Eloise

Eloise is the creator and writer of MyFavouriteEscapes.com. She writes about her experiences exploring exotic destinations and finding hidden gems closer to home. Her goal is to share tips and stories to inspire and encourage others to go on their own adventures. She loves outdoor and nature-based activities like scuba diving, hiking, kayaking, and sailing. She grew up in France and has lived in England and Turkey before calling Australia home for the past decade. So let's get ready for another adventure!

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