Things to Do in Plovdiv

Plovdiv Roman Theatre also known as the Ancient theatre of Philippopolis is a historical structure in the center of the city of Plovdiv. This magnificent 2nd century amphitheater, built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, has undergone restoration after the landslide in 1972. The theatre is in form of a semi-circle with an outer diameter of 82 meters. The open spectators’ area consists of 28 concentric rows, divided into 2 tiers by an aisle. There are several inscriptions on the structure, which show that the building was used as the seat of the Thracian provincial assembly. The Plovdiv Roman Theatre is now considered to be Bulgaria’s most magical venues, and can be admired for free from several lookouts along UlHemus. Highlights and must sees include:

• The Stage Building
• The Open Spectators area
• The entrance to the orchestra
• 2-Storey porticos – the first in keeping with the Roman Ionic Order and the second with the Roman-Corinthian Order.
• Vaulted passage, under the central bank of seats of the top tier. 

The Bachkovo Monastery, also known as the Petritsoni Monastery or Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Bulgaria, is one of the oldest and largest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe. It is considered to be an important monument of Christian architecture, which is offers a unique combination of Byzantine, Georgian and Bulgarian culture. This site has undergone several restorations and reconstructions over the period of time. It is the final resting place of both Patriarch Euthymius (1330-1404) and Patriarch Cyril (1953-71). The monastery is also a National monument of culture, art and traditions. It is possible for you to stay at the monastery, to be a part of an Orthodox mass held here. Highlights and must sees include:

• The Ossuary – Only surviving part of the original structure.
• The Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary – built in the place of the monastery’s oldest church destroyed by the Turks.
• The Church of the Archangels.
• Diospyros Tree – brought from Georgia more than 2 centuries ago.
• The Museum of the Monastery and the works of art.
• The ‘’Panorama” mural.
• The 14th century Virgin Mary icon.

Asen’s Fortress, also known as Assenovakrepost to the locals, is a medieval fortress in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains. The fortress is located at an altitude of 279 meters on a high rocky ridge on the left bank of the Asenitsa River. It went through a major renovation in the 13th century, to serve as a border fortification against the Latin raids. The site offers a brilliant view of the city from top. Highlights and must sees include:

• Church of the holy mother of God.

This is a museum dedicated to the history of Plovdiv. This city is a heir to one of the biggest ancient towns in the history- Philippopolis. The museum houses a very rich collection of artefacts. There are 3 departments; all have their own separate building- The National Revival Department, The Unification Department and the book publishing department. Inside the museum, the information is aplenty and also, well organised. The dim lighting creates a curious ambience. History enthusiasts will love this place. This place is a good kick-start for the rest of your Plovdiv trip. Highlights include:

• The Pottery.
• The Gold Jewellery.
• Ancient Medical Instruments.
• The Numismatic Collection.

The Plovdiv Ethnographic Museum is the second largest specialized museum of it’s kind in Bulgaria. The museum preserves over 40,000 exhibits inside Kuyumdzhieva house, which is a fine example of the Bulgarian Baroque architecture from the National Revival Period. There are several temporary exhibitions organized here along with the prestigious permanent exhibition of the museum. Apart from the exhibitions, the Plovdiv Ethnographic Museum also provides coordinative consulting activities to all the other museums of the region. There are several popular traditional festivals organized here such as The Festival of Classic Guitar and The Annual Festival of Chamber Music. Highlights and must sees include:

• Traditional crafts of the region on display.
• The Agriculture and Stock breeding exhibition.
• Collection of preserved religious items.
• Textiles and Clothing exhibition with over 11,000 exhibits.
• Musical instruments and Ritual properties.
• Photo gallery and Fine art collection.

The Alyosha Soviet Army Memorial was erected by the initiative of residents of the city of Plovdiv, in the year 1954-57. The memorial pays tribute to the Soviet casualties during the liberation of Bulgaria from the Government and their Nazi allies. An 11-meter tall concrete statue of a Soviet soldier is installed here, which tops a 6-meter granite pedestal. This Alyosha was about to be demolished 3 times, but the Bulgarians defended the monument forming a human shield. The site has a cosmic vibe to it and offers a spectacular view of the Plovdiv city. Highlights and must sees include:

• Statue of the Russian soldier.
• Mesmerizing View from the top.

NebetTepe (Nebet Hill) is known to be the place where the people of ancient Plovdiv were settled and remained to live here for 8 millennia. It is located in the northern part of the three hills (Trimontium), and offers a spectacular view of the Plovdiv City from the top. There are preserved remakes of the north fortified wall from the time of Justinian the great (6TH century). These fortified walls of Nebettepe have also been restored several times during the Middle age. This hill is one of the easiest to climb and the walk through the old Plovdiv town to reach here is an experience in itself. Highlights and must sees include:

• Spell bounding view of the city from the top.
• Ancient settlements.
• Remains of a fortress wall and tower.
• Maritsa river.

Djumaya Mosque (Dzhumaya) is an ancient mosque in the center of Plovdiv. It is one of the biggest and oldest mosques in Bulgaria. It is believed that this mosque was built as an imperial mosque by Shihabedin pasha, during the reign of Murad II (1359-85). The Djumaya mosque is built with thick stonewalls and is covered by solid-coated domes. There are foursquare pillars supporting the 9 huge interior vaults. This mosque is believed to be one of the three examples of the oldest type of the Ottoman worship buildings still preserved in the entire region. Highlights and must sees include:

• 23 meter high minaret.
• Walls and Vaults painted with quotations from the Koran.
• Sultan’s box.
• Pedestal for the imam.
• Fountain.
• Floral - pattened walls.

The ancient stadium of Philipopolis in Plovdiv was built in the beginning of 2nd century AD during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, and is among the largest structures from the times of Ancient Rome that exist in this region. Located in the Northern part of the fortified city, the stadium has a capacity to seat up to 30,000 spectators. The seats are tiered in 14 rows, dissected by stepped aisles down the track. The seats are made of concrete marble blocks and some of them bear Greek inscriptions on them. This stadium is one of the best-preserved buildings in the city of Plovdiv and attracts visitors from all over the region and abroad. Highlights and must sees include:

• The Vaulted passage street under the sfendona of the stadium.
• The modern visitor center - an information center and a 3D cinema where you can see a reconstruction of the stadium..
• Pillars of the aqueduct and the fortification wall.
• Greek inscriptions of the seats and pillars.
• Granite stone walls of the Cavea.
• Inscriptions and art work on the Main entrance.

Chiesa SS. Constantin e Elena is a small church in the old town of Plovdiv. It is a part of a larger complex, however you can only enter this church and stroll in the adjacent courtyard a bit. St. Elena was the mother of Constantine the Great, who was responsible for changing the Roman Empire from a polytheist to Monotheist religion. This church is one of the few churches dedicated to both Elena and Constantine. Highlights and must sees include:

• The wall paintings of Elena and Constantine.
• Frescoes on the Portico wall outside.

GrazhdanskiKlub is located at a 50 meters walk down the hill from Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv. This place is one of the best restaurants in Plovdiv, where the staff is polite, food is great and the servings are huge. The place is surrounded by lush green trees, which control the climate during the summer seasons. Highlights and must see includes:

• Great food in less price
• Surrounded by beautiful green courtyards
• Multiple Cuisines
• Vazrazdane Gallery

This is a popular cafe in Plovdiv. The infrastructure is unique. The floor might look an unenthusiastic grey, but the furniture is an antithesis of it. It is colourful and peculiar. The chairs are made of wire. But they are comfortable, thanks to the big soft cushions. The tables look like they have been reclaimed from the flea market. The lighting is dim and warm. This eccentric setup gives a very homely vibe to this cafe. You may not want to leave this place very soon. Highlights include:

• The Cappuccino.
• The Library.
• The wide variety of continental snacks.
• Computer access.

Plovdiv Regional Historical Museum is located in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The museum was established in 1951, and it covers the history of Plovdiv from the 15th century till date. It has three departments, each occupying a separate historic building. It is a small museum, which includes history, and colonialism from when the Spanish came to town. Highlights and must see includes:

• Pictorial representation of pre and post Spanish History
• Charts which describes the Spanish culture
• Incas
• Works of Garcilaso de la Vega
• Colonial art work
• Paintings of Maria de la Leche
• Paintings of trinity

Hisarya, located on the outskirts of the Sredna Gora in Plovdiv Province, is a small resort town, which has an elevation of 368 meters and a population of 7691. The town was founded thousands of years ago, which later became a Thracian city and, when Thrace fell to the Romans and became a Roman Province, and thus Hisarya became a Roman town. After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Hisarya was included in the province of Eastern Rumelia; after the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885 it became a part of Bulgaria. Highlights and must see includes:

• Amphitheatre.
• Barracks of the Roman Garrison.
• Foundation of Old churches.
• Roman Fortress.
• The southern gate known as “the Camels”.

Cultural Center-Museum TrakArt, located in the Archaeological Subway in the city of Plovdiv, is famous for its floor mosaics. In September 2003, a project for conservation and restoration of the antique mosaics was initiated for the Restoration of this monument of culture of national and world significance. TRAKART has obtained a grant from the USA state department. The cultural centre- Museum was opened on May 24, 2004, holding the European Forum of the Associations for the conservation of the cultural Heritage. Highlights and must see includes:

• “In situ” , ancient Roman mosaic.
• Glass in ancient style.
• Protothracian Portrait.
• Roman miniature portrait.
• Chamber hall.