Day Trips from Plovdiv

Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second largest city and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country. But did you know there is a lot to see outside Plovdiv as well? Within just a couple hours of Plovdiv, there are multiple day trips you can take to explore everything from picturesque towns to natural wonders, ancient monasteries, hilltop fortresses, and more! 

Check out our list of sights below, as well as tips on how to get there and what activities can be combined together. 

Asen’s Fortress

Asen’s Fortress is a medieval fortress in the Rhodope Mountains 30 minutes from Plovdiv. The earliest archeological findings from this site date back to the Thoracians in the 5th century BC. It was rebuilt by the Romans, and later taken over by the Byzantines, Crusaders, Bulgarians, and Ottomans. Its strategic placement atop a cliff makes it an ideal location, with views of the surrounding area, and impenetrable from most sides. Today, the only remaining part of the fortress is St. Mary of Petrich Church which dates back to the 12th-13th century and is still used as a Bulgarian Orthodox Church today. While most of the fortress has been either buried or destroyed, the site still boasts beautiful views of the mountains and Asenovgrad and is well worth the visit. 

The Miraculous Bridges

The Miraculous Bridges (aka The Marvelous Bridges, The Wonderful Bridges, or The Rock Bridges) are natural marble arches in the Rhodope Mountains 1.5 hours outside Plovdiv, which were formed by water erosion from the Erkyupryia River. The largest bridge is 96 meters long and 70 meters high, with an arch that rises 45 meters above the river. It is now a favorite spot for bats, birds, and tourists! These unique formations make for a wonderful day trip from Plovdiv, and there are nice easy hiking trails nearby if you want to extend your adventures in nature. 

Bachkovo Monastery

Bachkovo Monastery is just 30 minutes from Plovdiv and is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria, making it ideal for a day trip from Plovdiv. It was founded in the 11th century and represents a combination of Byzantine, Georgian, and Bulgarian culture. 

Most of the monastery was destroyed by the Ottomans in the 15th-16th century and rebuilt in the 17th century. 

The only remaining part of the original monastery is the Ossuary, which lies 300m east of the central complex. Unfortunately, you are no longer allowed to go inside the Ossuary, but you can still walk up the hill and see it from the outside. 

The monastery contains three churches: Virgin Mary, St. Archangels, and St. Nikola. Virgin Mary and St. Archangels are attached to one another in the main courtyard and St. Nikola lies in a second adjoining courtyard.  

By far, the most popular thing to see at the monastery is the church of the Virgin Mary, which is decorated in gold, has an incredibly ornately painted dome ceiling and walls, and an impressive chandelier.  

You can also visit the old kitchen and refectory, which is decorated with religious frescos, and is one of the oldest remaining parts of the monastery after it was rebuilt in the 17th century. 

The monastery still functions to this day and we were even lucky enough to see a procession. 

You can even spend the night there if you’d like some more time to take everything in or get to know the monks!

The Rose Valley

Did you know Bulgaria is one of the biggest rose-oil producers in the world? We sure didn’t! 

Bulgaria’s rose oil production dates back to the 16th century and today they produce approximately 70-80% of the world’s rose oil. 

The Rose Valley is about 2 hours from Plovdiv, so it’s a bit of a hike fro a day trip. If you want to go for the day, we’d recommend getting an early start for a trip from Plovdiv. Otherwise, you can spend the night there so you can split up the drive and it doesn’t feel as rushed. 

You can find a variety of rose scented products, including rose water, oil, lotion, soap, perfume, and more. If you’re strapped for time, no worries. You can also get these products right in Plovdiv. 

If you’re traveling during the first week of June, you can also check out Bulgaria’s annual Rose Festival in Karlovo and Kazanlak, Bulgaria. 

The Valley of Thracian Kings

The Valley of the Thracian Kings is located in the Kazanlak Valley a little over 1.5 hours from Plovdiv. The Thracians were Indo-European people who lived from 1300 BC to the 6th century BC when they were conquered by the Persians. 

The Valley of the Thracian Kings has the highest number of Thracian tombs in the world. Archaeologists believe the region has over a thousand tombs, with approximately 300 currently excavated. One of the most popular tombs to visit is the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, which dates back to the 4th century BC and is likened to a beehive with a round burial chamber and has well-preserved murals of Thracian life and burial rituals. In order to preserve it, visitors cannot visit the actual temple, but a full-size replica has been made nearby. Several other tombs can also be visited, including the tombs of: Seuthes III, Ostrusha, Helvetia, Shumanets, Griffins, Shushmanets, and Svetitsata.    

Wineries

Though Bulgaria isn’t known as one of the major wine producing countries, it actually has a long history of wine making and has been producing wine for thousands of years dating back to the Thracians. The mountainous landscape, fertile soil, and warm climate lends itself perfectly to growing grapes. The country actually has five different wine regions and they produce several well known and local varieties. Well known varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Or, you can try the more unique local varieties, like Mavrud, Rubin, Melnik, Dimyat, Tamianka, and Misket. 

Be sure to check out one of Plovdiv’s many wine festivals, which they have throughout the year, or hit up one of the wineries for a delicious tasting experience. Visiting a winery or one of these festivals makes for a fun day trip from Plovdiv–in fact many of the festivals are right in Plovdiv. Couldn’t be easier!

Click here if you’d like to read about our experience at Starosel Winery and Spa. 

Koprivshtitsa

Koprivshtitsa is one of the most picturesque towns in Bulgaria nestled in the Sredna Gora Mountains. It sits along the Topolnitsa River and is filled with colorful houses and cobblestone streets. The houses have maintained the traditional style typical of the Bulgarian National Revival period in the 1800s. You’ll see beautiful woodwork painted in brilliant hues of blue, red, and yellow. The town also has a rich history, which you can learn about at the many small museum houses. It’s just 1 hour and 45 minutes from Plovdiv and can easily be visited on a stopover or day trip. 

Click here if you’d like to read more about: A Day Trip to Koprivshtitsa. 

Rila Monastery 

We decided not to visit Rila Monastery during our time in Bulgaria since it’s a 3 hour drive from Plovdiv, which was our home base. It’s not the easiest day trip, but pictures of Rila Monastery look absolutely stunning and it comes highly recommended. 

Rila monastery, which was founded in the 10th century by St John of RIla, is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. 

Most of the current structure was built in the 19th century after a fire, but there is still one part of the monastery, Hrelyo’s Tower, from the 14th century. 

As its name suggests, the monastery is located in the Rila Mountains at an altitude of 1,147 meters. It’s surrounded by 24-meter high walls, almost like a fortress, and has over 300 rooms where approximately 60 monks still live. 

As you enter the monastery, you pass through a large arch with a painting of Jesus and 2 angels overhead. The courtyard is surrounded by arched corridors lined with vivid frescoes with the main church at its center. The impressive church has 5 domes, 3 altars, and 2 side chapels, with a gold painted iconostasis and frescos. 

The monastery also has a museum which covers the history of the monastery, religious art, agricultural equipment, and textiles.  

Seven Lakes

The Seven Lakes are a series of blue-green glacial lakes in the Balkan Peninsula at 2,095-2,535 meters elevation and one of the most popular hiking spots in Bulgaria with stunning mountain, lake, and sky views.  

You can camp or stay at a lodge near the lakes or just go there for the day for a hike.  

The hike starts in Panichishte, where most people take a lift from a parking lot up the mountain before starting the hike.  

Most people divide the hike into 3 parts: the hike to Kidney Lake, the hike to Tear Lake, and the hike back. 

The high to Kidney Lake takes approximately an hour and has been described as relatively easy, with an incline at the beginning and then a plateau. From there you can see Kidney Lake, as well as the four lower lakes. You can stop here and head back for a less strenuous hike.  

The next stretch is from Kidney Lake to Tear Lake, the highest of the Seven Lakes. This hike also takes approximately an hour, but is steeper with a loose rock path.  

Then it’s a 2 hour hike back down to the lift. Most people recommend planning on 5 hours to allow time for breaks.   

If you start your hike from the parking lot and do not take the lift, the hike takes an extra 2 hours (7 hours total).  

Beklemeto Pass

Beklemeto Pass is a passage through the Balkan Mountains that follows Route 35 from Troyan to Karnare along the Karlovo Plain. The pass is about 48 km and at an elevation of 1520 meters and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.  

The pass was originally a Roman road, Via Trayana, and is said to still contain some Roman ruins to this day. 

A short 15-minute hike east of the pass you can also visit the Arc of Liberty Monument. The monument commemorates the Russian victory over the Turks leading to the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. The 37 meter high monument sits on the peak of Goraltepe Mountain offering 360 panoramic views. You can also climb up the monument for an even higher view.  

Last, but not least, Beklemeto Pass is home to the Beklemeto Ski Resort, located about 20 km from Troyan at an elevation of 1320 meters. The resort has snow about half the year and offers Bulgaria’s best biathlon and cross-country skiing.  

How can I get to these places?  

You could visit these places a number of ways, via car, public transportation, or an organized excursion. The cheapest option is definitely taking public transportation, but travel time is often longer and you’re often confined to a more limited schedule in order to catch your return bus or train. Most of these locations don’t really lend themselves to easy access via public transit, so we wouldn’t recommend it.

Renting a car costs more than public transportation, but can be more cost effective than organized groups, especially if you are traveling with a larger group. It can add up paying for each person on a tour. This option also affords the most flexibility. You can stay at sights for as long or short as you like, but it may be best for people who are comfortable and familiar with traveling on their own. 

You can find organized trips to some of these destinations on sites like Tripadvisor, GetYourGuide, or Viator. Organized groups are generally the most expensive, but can be nice from a convenience standpoint. A lot of organized groups will pick you up and drop you off right at your hotel or Airbnb. So you don’t have to worry about figuring out how to navigate public transportation or unfamiliar roads. Definitely recommend that for ease of access!

Final Tips 

• Some of these things can be paired together for day trips. For example, Rila Monasteries and Seven Lakes can be combined for a (long) day.
• We did Asen’s Fortress, The Miraculous Bridges, and Bachkovo Monastery in one day. 
• We also combined Starosel Winery & Spa, some Thracian tombs, and Koprivshtitsa on a 2 day/1 night trip from Plovdiv. 
• Click here to read more about our Two Days & 1 Night in Starosel, Bulgaria. 
• Click here to read more about a Day Trip to Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria.
• If possible, many of the suggested day trips could be extended for an overnight. We’ve suggested a couple above, but depending on the time you have available, all of these make for some nice overnights too.