On your next journey, we invite you to the immensely interesting region of Plovdiv. Located in the heart of the Upper Thracian Plain, Plovdiv is almost entirely surrounded by mountains - Sredna Gora mountains to the north and west and the Rhodopes to the south. It is a place of culture and history and the atmosphere alone is worth your time. Our goal is to make you fall in love with Plovdiv and all it stands for, so to those who are still unconvinced, here are 3 reasons to put this city on your bucket list:

More than 6000 years of history

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The city of Plovdiv has a vast historical background. Its official motto is “Ancient and Eternal”, and indeed it is the oldest continually inhabited settlement in Europe. The first to settle here were the Thracians, and throughout the centuries it has been under the rule of Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Bulgarians, with each one of these nations playing a part in shaping its current appearance. 

Capital of Culture in 2019

In 2015 Plovdiv was chosen to be European Capital of Culture in 2019, alongside Matera (Italy). Among the short-listed candidates were also Sofia, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo. Plovdiv, which was the first ever Bulgarian city participating in this initiative, has to organize various cultural events, concentrate on long-lasting development of the social and cultural environment, as well as bring in not only the citizens of Plovdiv, but also those in the neighbouring settlements.

The City of the Seven Hills

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Plovdiv, like Rome and Jerusalem, is situated on seven hills. They are named according to the Turkish word for hill – tepe. Unfortunately, one of the hills – Markovo tepe – is no longer present, but a designated place for it was set in the centre of the town. Dzhendem Tepe (Youth Hill) has the highest altitude - 307m (ground level). There is a clock tower built in the 16thcentury on the top of the Sahat Tepe (Danov Hill). It bears its name after the Turkish word saat meaning clock or hour. Bunardzhik hill, also known as Alyosha, is favourite spot for people from all ages. Its name comes from the word bunar meaning a well, because of the numerous water sources. Nebet tepe, Dzhambaz tepe and Taksim tepe form the so-called Three Hills. The Old Town, with its beautiful Revival houses, is situated there.

Whether you want to satisfy your wanderlust, experience something new and unforgettable, or simply take a break from your daily routine and go on a nice, relaxing vacation, Plovdiv is a definite must-have on your list of travel destinations!