The 8 Best Day Trips From Plovdiv: Monasteries, Mountains, and Thracian Treasure
Bulgaria's second city is the perfect base for the Rhodopes, the Rose Valley, and some of the country's most dramatic ruins. Here are eight day trips worth setting an alarm for.
Last updated June 25, 2026
Capture of a Byzantine-style church in Nesebar, showcasing ancient architecture. · Valeria Drozdova
Plovdiv rewards slow wandering through its Roman theatre and the painted houses of the Old Town, but its real trump card is location. Sit at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains and within easy reach of the Balkan range, the city puts monasteries, gorges, Thracian tombs, and rose fields all within a comfortable day's return.
These eight trips range from a 30-minute hop to a full-day push north, and most can be done by car, bus, or an organized tour with hotel pickup. We have ordered them roughly best-first, balancing how special the place is against how easy it is to reach.
Rent a car if you want flexibility in the mountains, where bus schedules thin out, but several of these (Bachkovo, the Wonderful Bridges, Buzludzha) are far simpler with a driver who knows the switchbacks. Pick one or two and build a real day around them rather than rushing.
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1
Bachkovo Monastery & Asen's FortressAbout 30-40 minutes south of Plovdiv, near Asenovgrad Google
This is the classic Plovdiv day out, and for good reason: two of Bulgaria's most atmospheric sights sit minutes apart in the northern Rhodopes. Bachkovo Monastery, founded in 1083, is the country's second largest, with a candle-smoked main church covered in frescoes and a courtyard where pilgrims queue to see the miracle-working icon of the Virgin. A short drive away, Asen's Fortress clings to a rock spur above the Asenitsa River gorge, its lone 13th-century church of the Holy Mother of God standing against a huge drop. Stop in Asenovgrad for grilled fish or a plate of the local nuts and honey on the way back.
- The frescoed refectory and main church at Bachkovo
- The clifftop church of Asen's Fortress and its gorge views
- Roadside stalls selling Rhodope honey, jam, and rakia
Best for: First-timers and anyone short on time
Getting there: 30-40 min drive or a bus from Plovdiv toward Smolyan; tours include both stops with pickup
2
The Wonderful Bridges (Chudnite Mostove)About 1.5-2 hours south of Plovdiv, in the Western Rhodopes Google
These twin rock arches were carved by an ancient river that hollowed out a marble cave until the roof collapsed, leaving two natural bridges spanning a forest gorge. The larger arch rises around 45 meters and you can walk beneath and over it, with the Erkyupriya stream still running through. The drive up through the Bachkovo area and into the pines is half the pleasure, and the cool air is a relief in midsummer. Pair it with a long lunch of Rhodope specialties like patatnik (grated potato cake) and cheverme at one of the mountain inns nearby.
- Walking under the great limestone arch
- Rhodope mountain cuisine: patatnik and slow-grilled lamb
- The scenic drive through pine forest and alpine meadows
Best for: Nature lovers and easy walkers
Getting there: 1.5-2 hr drive via Asenovgrad and Hvoyna; easiest as a guided day tour
3
Kazanlak, the Rose Valley & the Valley of the Thracian KingsAbout 1.5 hours north of Plovdiv, over the Sredna Gora Google
Tucked between two mountain ranges, Kazanlak sits in the valley that produces a large share of the world's rose oil, the essence behind countless perfumes. Visit the Museum of Roses to understand the harvest and the distillation, then go underground at the UNESCO-listed Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (you see a precise replica to protect the originals), famous for its 4th-century BC murals. The surrounding plain is dotted with burial mounds known as the Valley of the Thracian Kings, including the richly decorated Tomb of Seuthes III. Time it for late May or early June if you want to catch the rose fields in bloom and the annual Rose Festival.
- The Museum of Roses and rose-oil tasting
- The frescoed Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (UNESCO)
- The Tomb of Seuthes III in the Valley of the Thracian Kings
Best for: History buffs and spring visitors
Getting there: 1.5 hr drive over the Shipka pass; buses run from Plovdiv but a tour links the sites efficiently
4
Buzludzha MonumentAbout 2 hours north of Plovdiv, in the Balkan range Google
Bulgaria's most surreal building is a flying-saucer-shaped concrete hall built in 1981 as a Communist Party congress hall and abandoned after 1989. Stranded on a 1,400-meter ridge, its decaying mosaics and slogans have made it a pilgrimage for fans of brutalist and Soviet-era architecture. The interior is fenced off for safety, but the exterior, the views over the Valley of Roses, and the sheer strangeness of the thing make the trip worthwhile. Combine it with the nearby Shipka Memorial Church and the Shipka Pass battlefield for a fuller day of 19th and 20th-century history.
- The UFO silhouette and crumbling interior mosaics (viewed from outside)
- The golden-domed Shipka Memorial Church nearby
- Sweeping ridge-top views over the Balkan mountains
Best for: Photographers and modern-history enthusiasts
Getting there: 2 hr drive; no public transport to the summit, so a car or guided tour is essential
5
Devil's Throat Cave & the Trigrad GorgeAbout 2.5 hours south of Plovdiv, deep in the Western Rhodopes Google
One of Bulgaria's most dramatic caves, the Devil's Throat swallows the Trigrad River in a thundering underground waterfall, the tallest in the country. You descend into the cavern, hear the roar of the falls, and climb back out via a steep tunnel of more than 300 steps cut for the hydro project. The cave sits inside the sheer-walled Trigrad Gorge, a haven for wallcreepers and a magnet for rock climbers, and local legend ties it to the myth of Orpheus descending to the underworld. Many trips add the Eagle's Eye platform above Buynovo for a vertigo-inducing panorama over the peaks.
- The underground waterfall inside Devil's Throat Cave
- The narrow walls of the Trigrad Gorge
- The Eagle's Eye viewing platform high above the valley
Best for: Active travelers and adventure seekers
Getting there: 2.5 hr drive via Devin; remote enough that a tour or car is the practical option
6
Veliko Tarnovo & ArbanassiAbout 2.5-3 hours north of Plovdiv Google
The medieval capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire is a long but rewarding day out, with houses stacked up the cliffs above a loop of the Yantra River. The star is Tsarevets Fortress, a sprawling hilltop citadel you can explore in full, crowned by a patriarchal church with bold modern frescoes. Wander the craft shops of Samovodska Charshia, then drive a few minutes up to Arbanassi, a village of stone-walled merchant houses and the gorgeously painted Church of the Nativity. It is the most demanding trip on this list, so leave early and consider going with a driver to make the distance worthwhile.
- Tsarevets Fortress and its panoramic ramparts
- The Samovodska Charshia craft street
- The frescoed Nativity Church in Arbanassi
Best for: History lovers happy to commit to a long day
Getting there: 2.5-3 hr drive each way; best as a full-day private tour
7
Hisarya (Hisar)About 45 minutes north of Plovdiv Google
A Roman spa town then and now, Hisarya is where Bulgarians come to drink and bathe in mineral water that flows from more than 20 hot springs. The big draw is the remarkably preserved Roman walls and the Camel Gate, a hulking brick gateway that has stood since the town was the fortified Diocletianopolis. You can wander the archaeological park, sip from public fountains tapping the warm springs, and unwind at one of the modern spa hotels. It makes an easy, low-effort half-day for anyone who wants antiquity without a mountain drive.
- The Roman Camel Gate and fortress walls
- Drinking from the mineral spring fountains
- A soak at one of the spa hotels
Best for: A relaxed half-day and spa fans
Getting there: 45 min drive or a direct bus from Plovdiv's north bus station
8
Starosel Thracian Temple & Wine CountryAbout 1 hour northwest of Plovdiv, in the Sredna Gora foothills Google
Near the village of Starosel lies one of the largest Thracian cult complexes ever found, a stone temple buried within a burial mound that you can walk into, complete with a colonnaded chamber and ceremonial staircase dating to the 5th-4th century BC. The surrounding hills are planted with vines, and the area has become a quiet weekend escape built around its wineries. Tour the temple in the morning, then settle in for a tasting of Bulgarian reds like Mavrud and Rubin, often paired with a long countryside lunch. It is an unhurried day that mixes ancient ritual with very modern pleasures.
- Entering the Thracian temple inside the Chetinyova Mound
- Tasting local Mavrud and Rubin wines
- Lazy lunches in the Sredna Gora vineyards
Best for: Wine lovers and curious history fans
Getting there: 1 hr drive northwest; a car is easiest as bus links are limited
Good to Know
Getting around A rental car gives you the most freedom for the mountain trips, where bus schedules are sparse and indirect. For Buzludzha, the Wonderful Bridges, and Devil's Throat, a guided tour with pickup saves you the stress of narrow switchback roads.
When to go May to early June is ideal for the Rose Valley and the wildflower meadows; the Rhodope caves and gorges are pleasant all summer and a cool break from Plovdiv's heat. Some mountain roads and sites are harder to reach in deep winter snow.
What to book ahead Popular day tours from Plovdiv sell out in peak season, so reserve a few days in advance. Bring cash in smaller notes for monastery donations, cave tickets, and roadside food stalls, which often do not take cards.
Etiquette Bachkovo and other monasteries expect covered shoulders and knees, and photography is sometimes restricted inside churches. Carry a light layer for caves and high-altitude sites, where temperatures drop sharply.
From candlelit monasteries to a derelict spaceship on a Balkan ridge, the country around Plovdiv packs an astonishing range into a short drive. Base yourself in the Old Town, pick the trips that match your appetite for history, nature, or wine, and let Bulgaria's second city show you just how much it has within reach.