The Best Things To Do in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Eager to learn more about the best things to do in Plovdiv? You're in luck! You're going to love Europe's 2019 City of Culture.

My Plovdiv travel experience was sponsored by Plovdiv 2019 and I thank them for their support.
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Plovdiv is the kind of city that gets under your skin, that infects your soul with joy, the sort of place you'll want to return to again and again. The culture, history, art, and architecture draw you in, grab your heart, and won't ever let it go. It is a medium sized city that feels super-sized with options and opportunity. 

With Plovdiv being a 2019 European Capital of Culture, I suspect many people will feel the same way I do about this fascinating city. Here are some of my personal picks for the best things to do in Plovdiv, the kinds of stops I'd personally suggest to my friends, all which embody the culture and the beauty that the city is famous for. 

The "Archaeological Underpass" and Trakart Cultural Center 

What happens when you're building a pedestrian underpass beneath a major road and you discover... another road? Not just any road, but an ancient Roman road, complete with chariot ruts, dating back to the second century. If you're in Plovdiv, you use it! Plovidv's Roman road is once again hosting foot traffic, shops, and services from its position beneath Tsar Boris III Obedinitel Blvd.

If the Roman road was recycled, the adjacent Roman villa was "up-cycled". Dating to the late second century-early third century, the villa is now a charming small museum, part of the Trakart Cultural Center. Here visitors can see spectacular in-situ Roman mosaic flooring - and the original pipes for running water and sewage. I really enjoyed this stop. It's just a few minutes from the city's main pedestrian street (more on that in a moment!) but far enough away from the tourist scene that we had the museum all to ourselves. It provides a nice snapshot of everyday life in Plovdiv, as nearby you will see people going to work, browsing at a produce stall, or running errands. Just like the Romans once did in this exact spot!

The Post Office and Tsar Simeon's Garden

It's not very often that visiting a Post Office makes my list of must-see attractions in a city, let alone one that's surrounded by construction, excavation, and archaeological digs. But Plovdiv is no ordinary city!

The Post Office itself is in an unremarkable building which dates to the Soviet era (really, you don't need to see the inside) but the square around it, adjacent to the city's Municipal Building, is truly extraordinary. It doesn't look like much now, but that's all about to change - dramatically.

Work is underway to transform the area. Archaeological excavations are slowly peeling back the layers to reveal the glory of a public square that dates back to the late first century / early second century. At that time, Plovdiv was known as Philippopolis, after Philip of Macedonia. This sounds like ancient history but there has been a settlement in this region since the seventh century, BC.

While the archaeological work makes things a bit dusty for now, the nearby Tsar Simeon's Garden couldn't be more pristine and relaxing. Public parks in Bulgaria have a such a calm, genteel vibe that make you want to linger with a book and this is just one of the many you could seek out to spend some time.  

Discover the highs and "lows" of Plovdiv's Old Town

To explore Plovdiv's Old Town, get ready for some highs and lows. First, you need to be ready to climb up - and then up some more! Plovdiv's beautiful Old Town is a delightful mix of cobblestones, historic buildings, traditional crafts, and plenty of cats. It's also the location of one of Plovdiv's seven famous hills. Known as Nebet Teepe, this hill is beloved by locals and tourists alike. If you've made it as far as the Old Town, you only have a final short walk to the top of this hill in order to enjoy the beautiful views. 

But while you're in the Old Town, you should also go down, walking dozens of steps to visit the city's Ancient Theatre, one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Like so much of ancient Plovdiv, it dates to the first century. With room for some 3,500 spectators, it's in frequent use to this day and will undoubtedly be even more so during the Capital of Culture events. 

If you're keen to base yourself in the Old Town, you have some good choices. I stayed in a beautiful private room at Hostel Old Plovdiv. You can read my full review here.

Exploring Europe's Longest Pedestrian Street

Together, Rayko Daskalov Street and Knyaz Aleksandar I Street are "Glavnata", stretching 1.8 km long, making it the longest pedestrian street in Europe. It's a fantastic destination for people watching (or, in my case, dog watching. The pup in the photo above would "sing" while his owner played the violin!) It has the usual assortment of high street shops and global brands but you'll also see something rather out of the ordinary. There's a Roman Stadium in the middle dating back to the beginning of the second century. What you're seeing is only a tiny section of what would have been a 240 x 50 meter structure designed to hold 30,000 spectators. ​

Tobacco City

It's no exaggeration to say that tobacco forms part of the historical and cultural DNA of every Plovdivian. For decades, the processing of tobacco products was one of the region's most significant industries and everyone I spoke to in Plovdiv had a family member who worked in Tobacco City at one point in time. Today, the "City" is a collection of ghostly, ethereal warehouses. Some are in a serious state of disrepair, roofs and windows long gone and their elegant, 1920s facades being pummeled by the elements. Others are enjoying a rebirth and restoration, serving as office space and the backdrop for cultural activities. During the 2019 Capital of Culture schedule, the public spaces around these warehouses will host special events. One in particular, "Smoke. Tobacco Stories"  will use art, literature, photography, film, and more to explore the history of the city through the lens of the tobacco industry. 

If you happen to be visiting outside of 2019, don't fret. I have a feeling that amazing things are going to happen in this dynamic neighbourhood over the next few years. If you arrive in Plovdiv via the bus, make note that Tobacco City is directly behind the station. Try to set aside some time to explore before or after your bus ride. 

The Odeon of Philippopolis

The Odeon is my favourite attraction in Plovdiv. And it's not because I frequently saw cute cats exploring there! Nor is it because the area once represented a cultural space, including a square and a library. It's also not because this first century/second century project demonstrated just how significant Plovdiv was in terms of its political and cultural status.

I love it because it was my next door neighbour. Imagine practically sleeping in an ancient Odeon and waking up to this view! My Plovdiv hotel, Villa Antica, was directly across the street from the Odeon and it may hold the record for best hotel view I've ever had. I was amazed by how close and accessible the Odeon was and just how few people strolled by to look at it. It was like I had my own personal ruins to swoon over.

If you'd like to take a peek at them yourself and you're not staying at Villa Antica, one of Plovdiv's best restaurants is next door to the Odeon. It's called Hemingway and I had a delicious lunch there and several of my colleagues reported the same. 

Plovdiv is a star in 2019 - and every year

One of the things that struck me about Plovdiv is how the entire city is viewing its status as a 2019 European Capital of Culture as anything but a one year affair. A dedicated team has been working for years now to ensure that the projects and projects implemented as part of being a Capital of Culture have long term sustainability. If you're able to attend a specific exhibition or event in 2019 - that's wonderful! But the efforts made to put Plovdiv's culture on center stage will pay dividends for years to come.

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