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How many days in Plovdiv? 3 days for the Roman city, the Old Town and Bachkovo
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, built on a group of hills above the Maritsa river. Under its pedestrian main street lie a Roman stadium, a forum and a mosaic-floored basilica, while the hilltop Old Town is a quarter of painted 19th-century merchant houses. Give it three days: one for Roman Plovdiv, one for the Old Town and the hills, one for Bachkovo Monastery in the Rhodope foothills. It is also one of the best-value city breaks in the EU.
Short answer
Two days covers the Roman sites, the Old Town and Kapana. The third adds a half-day to Bachkovo and Asen's Fortress, and an evening of Thracian wine.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Roman Plovdiv and the main street
Morning. Start at Dzhumaya Square, where the curved end of the Roman Stadium of Philippopolis is visible below street level; the rest lies under the shops of the main street. Next to it stands the 15th-century Dzhumaya Mosque. Then visit the Great Basilica (Bishop's Basilica), a 5th-century church whose large floor mosaics of birds and patterns were restored and put under a modern roof (a few euros; check current price).
Afternoon. Walk the pedestrian street Knyaz Alexander I, one of the longest in Europe, south to the remains of the Roman Forum and the small Odeon near the central post office. Rest in the Tsar Simeon Garden, where the singing fountains play on summer evenings.
Evening. Climb to the Antique Theatre, the 2nd-century Roman theatre in the Old Town, for sunset over the city and the Rhodope mountains; in summer it hosts opera and concerts (tickets from about €10-30). Dinner in the Old Town costs about €12-20 per person.
Bulgaria uses the euro since January 2026. Some small shops and taxis still show old lev prices alongside; check your change.
Day 2: The Old Town, Nebet Tepe and Kapana
Morning. Walk up the cobbled lanes of the Old Town (Staria Grad) through the Hisar Kapia gate. Visit two or three Revival houses: the Kuyumdzhieva House, home of the Ethnographic Museum, the Hindliyan House with its painted walls, and the Balabanov House. A combined ticket for several houses costs about €5-10.
Afternoon. Climb Nebet Tepe, the hill at the northern end of the Old Town, where the remains of the ancient and medieval fortress look over the river. Then visit the church of Sts Constantine and Helena, with its painted porch and icons.
Evening. Walk down to Kapana, the 'Trap', a grid of narrow lanes of old craftsmen's workshops between the Old Town and the main street, now full of bars, cafés, galleries and street art. Craft beer costs about €3-4, and a Bulgarian dinner about €15-25.
The Old Town cobbles are large and uneven, and the lanes are steep. Wear flat shoes with grip.
Day 3: Bachkovo Monastery and Asen's Fortress
Morning. Drive or take a bus about 40 minutes south to Bachkovo Monastery, founded in the 11th century, the second-largest monastery in Bulgaria after Rila. The courtyard and church are free to enter; the 12th-century ossuary up the road and its frescoes may have separate hours and a small fee.
Afternoon. On the way back, stop at Asen's Fortress above Asenovgrad (a few euros), a medieval fortress on a rocky ridge with a restored church of the Holy Mother of God. Allow about 1 hour, including the views over the gorge.
Evening. Back in Plovdiv, taste Mavrud, a red grape grown in the Thracian plain, at a wine bar or a winery near the city. A glass costs about €3-6, a tasting €10-25.
Stalls at Bachkovo's entrance sell honey, jam and herbs from the Rhodopes. Bring cash for small purchases and for the monastery's candles.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 as written and Day 2 in the Old Town and Kapana. You lose Bachkovo Monastery.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to Koprivshtitsa, a mountain village of Revival houses linked with the April Uprising of 1876 (about 1.5 hours), to the Thracian tombs and the rose valley around Kazanlak (about 1.5-2 hours; roses bloom in late May and early June), or on to Sofia (about 1.5-2 hours by bus or train).
Where to stay in Plovdiv
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostels in Kapana and near the main street | Cheap beds in the centre, steps from the bars. | €35-60 |
| Mid-range | Old Town | Sleep in a restored Revival house, walk to the Roman theatre. | €60-110 |
| Mid-range | Centre near the main street | Flat walking, near Dzhumaya Square and the garden. | €55-100 |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels in the Old Town | Historic houses with courtyards and city views. | €110-200 |
Getting around
The centre is compact and mostly pedestrian: Dzhumaya Square to the Antique Theatre is about 10 minutes on foot, the main street to the train station about 20. City buses and taxis are cheap; most taxi rides in the centre cost a few euros. Trains and buses link Plovdiv with Sofia in about 1.5-2.5 hours; buses are usually faster. Plovdiv Airport has a few flights, mostly seasonal; most travellers fly into Sofia. For Bachkovo, buses leave from the Rhodope bus station south of the railway, or rent a car.
What to eat in Plovdiv
Bulgarian food is generous and cheap. Start with shopska salad (tomato, cucumber, peppers and white cheese) and a glass of rakia, then order kavarma, a slow-cooked meat and vegetable stew in a clay pot, or grilled kebapche and kyufte. For breakfast, a banitsa, flaky pastry with cheese, with boza or ayran. A full dinner with wine is about €15-25 per person. The Thracian plain grows Mavrud and Rubin reds; ask for wines from local estates.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October, with highs of 18-28°C. July and August are hot, often 33-37°C, but the Antique Theatre hosts summer festivals. Winter is cold, around 0-6°C, with fewer visitors and occasional snow. September brings wine festivals and city events.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Food & drink | €15 | €28 | €50 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €12 | €25 |
| Local transport | €2 | €6 | €20 |
| Total per person, per day | about €42 | about €86 | about €175 |
Approximate 2026 prices in euros, which Bulgaria adopted in January 2026. Plovdiv charges a small tourist tax per person per night, usually included in the hotel price.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Plovdiv worth visiting from Sofia?
Yes, and it deserves more than a day trip. Plovdiv is smaller, more walkable and more atmospheric than Sofia, with Roman sites in the middle of the city and a hilltop quarter of painted houses. A day trip works in a rush, but staying overnight lets you see the Old Town quiet in the evening and visit Bachkovo.
Can I go inside the Roman stadium?
Only a small section is visible, the curved northern end at Dzhumaya Square, which you can walk down into. The rest of the stadium lies under the buildings of the main street. Displays and a short film explain how large it was. The Antique Theatre, in contrast, is complete and open to visitors.
How do I get to Bachkovo Monastery?
Buses run from Plovdiv's Rhodope bus station towards Smolyan and stop at the turn for the monastery, a 10-minute walk away, in about 40 minutes. Check timetables, as services vary by day. By car it is about 30 km. Many visitors combine it with Asen's Fortress near Asenovgrad on a half-day tour.
Is Plovdiv cheap?
Yes, by EU standards. A coffee costs about €1.50-2.50, a restaurant dinner with wine about €15-25 per person, and a good central hotel €60-110 a night. Sights cost a few euros each. Prices in the Old Town are slightly higher than in the rest of the centre, but still low.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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