Perperikon – Location and description: The half-ruined Thracian city of Perperikon (official website of the location) is one of the most fascinating destinations in Bulgaria. Although discovered 20 years ago, the excavations are continuing and every successive step of the digs feeds Bulgarian historians’ imagination.  Situated in Eastern Rhodopes , Perperikon is hewn into the rocks at 470 meters altitude. The distance from Sofia is about 250 km (3 hours drive) and from Plovdiv about 100 km (less than 2 hours drive). The road is generally in good condition. The closest bigger city is Kardzhali (just over 20 km, about 30 min drive). Perperikon is an archaeological complex which covers an area of ​​about 12 square km. Being one of the oldest megalithic sites in Bulgaria, Perperikon embodies history that spans through several epochs. The complex  consists of four main parts, which form a perfect combination representing the Neolithic: a massive fortress wall; Acropolis- built of huge stone blocks, located in the highest part of the hill; Palace- carved into the […]

This is our second part of the “10 must-visit places in Plovdiv”. You can find Part I here. We are going to tell you about 5 more places in our city and their history. 10 must visit places in Plovdiv #6: The City Art Gallery The City Art Gallery of Plovdiv is one of the most remarkable cultural institutions in Plovdiv. There you can see some of the best examples of Bulgarian fine arts. The expositions of the gallery are situated in five different buildings, which are close to each other in the downtown area of the city. Four of them are in the Old Town of Plovdiv and the other one is on the main street of the city.          For bigger image of the map click here. Representative Permanent Exhibition – it contains over 200 works of Bulgarian art. There you can find the oldest example of non-religious Bulgarian painting, dating from 1812. This is the portrait of Sofronii Vrachanski, one of the most significant Bulgarian Revival leaders. Icon Gallery: the […]

Welcome to Plovdiv! Here we’ll post some of the most intriguing and famous places in the city. The fact that Plovdiv is not a large city is very convenient in terms of visiting numerous sites in a relatively short period of time. The thing is that the city is one of the oldest ones in Europe – founded approximately 6000 BC by ancestors of the Thracians. Plovdiv is full of history and amazing facts so you’ll need at least 3-4 days to get a relevant idea of its character. You can always visit the Free Plovdiv Tour – you will get to know the city in only a couple of hours. But still, Plovdiv is not all about the past – it is the second largest city in Bulgaria and is populated by a lot of young people, studying in its universities (6 universities and 4 colleges) and exploring the city’s diversity. One of the oldest European cities offers cultural and entertaining tourism and its environs are a great place […]

Bulgarian Monasteries Bulgaria is a country with rich cultural heritage and important parts of this heritage are the Bulgarian monasteries. These unique temples are not only historical and architectural landmarks but also symbols of the Bulgarian spiritual power which preserved the Christian faith during many turbulent times. The Bachkovo Monastery is our next must-see place in the Plovdiv region (pronounced “Bachkovski manastir”). This beautiful landmark is situated 29 km south from Plovdiv and 9 km away from Asenovgrad, in the valley of the Chepelarska river in the Western Rodopi mountain. The monastery is only 10 km south from Asen’s fortress so you can combine the two landmarks on a single trip and go on an exciting Bulgarian adventure! The monasteries have played an important role in our history. They are beacons of traditional Bulgarian and Christian culture. Many of them have impressive architecture and unique interior. The magnificent wood-carving works and wall – paintings also contribute to the one of a kind atmosphere in the Bulgarian temples.  Some of the biggest […]

The Asenova Krepost (Asen’s fortress) – Working Hours and Ticket Prices Working time: 10:00 h – 17:00 h (November-March), 10:00 h – 18:00 h (April-October);Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and SundayTickets: Adults – 3 lv; Children – 2 lvGPS: 41.986466,24.872957Tel: 089 487 7880   If you have finished your tour in Plovdiv and you are eager to visit another interesting destination in the region, we strongly recommend the Asen’s fortress („Asenova krepost” , „Асенова крепост”).     Location of Asen’s Fortress (Asenova Krepost) This fascinating place is seated on a high, rocky ridge in the Rodopi mountain, on the left coast of the Asenitsa river, about 2-3 km south from the little town of Asenovgrad (“the town of Asen”) and 20 km south from Plovdiv. The castle was built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great in VI century. A stone inscription says that in 1230 Ivan Asen the Second rebuilt the fortress after he won the glorious battle near Klokotnitsa. The place is known also as “Stanimahos” (Станимахос) […]

You are at the right place. Plovdiv is one of the cheapest cities in Europe. According to calculations of PriceOfTravel, backpackers need around BGN 30 per day for their stay in Plovdiv. Accommodation for free The best option for a free accommodation is to stay with a friend. Do not forget to bring something to your host for “Thank you“! In case you have no friends here,check sites such as Triptrotting and Couchsurfing. These are corporations based that offers theirs users hospitality exchange and social networking services. A practice of moving from one friend’s house to another, sleeping in whatever spare space is available, floor or couch, generally staying a few days before moving on to the next house. Transportation for free To go around the city is not that hard. Most of the sightseeing’s which you definitely have to see are in the center. If you are walking in the city you do not need to use the public transport. Museums, galleries and churches for free In Plovdiv there are many churches and none of them has an entrance fee. However, […]