Hotels in Plovdiv

Plovdiv: Roman Ruins, Revival-Era Houses, and the Kapana Quarter

Plovdiv is one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with settlements dating back over 8,000 years. The Old Town (Staria Grad) sits across three of the city's six syenite hills, where National Revival-era mansions with overhanging upper floors line cobblestone lanes. The Ancient Roman Amphitheatre, built in the 2nd century AD under Emperor Trajan, seats 7,000 and still hosts live performances in summer. Below the hill, the Roman Stadium — partially excavated beneath Dzhumaya Square — held up to 30,000 spectators.

Where to Stay in Plovdiv

Most hotels cluster in three areas. The Old Town offers boutique guesthouses inside restored Revival houses — rates tend to be higher but the atmosphere is unmatched. Kapana, the creative quarter west of the pedestrian mall, suits travelers who want gallery-lined streets and craft coffee. The City Centre around Главна (Glavna) pedestrian street provides the widest range of mid-range hotels and is a 10-minute walk from the train station.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Plovdiv sits 150 km southeast of Sofia; trains run roughly every two hours (journey: ~2 hrs 15 min).
• Getting around: The Old Town is walkable but hilly; taxis are metered and inexpensive by EU standards.
• When to go: The Plovdiv Opera Open and Night of Museums both fall in June; the Kapana Fest runs quarterly.
• Currency: Bulgarian Lev (BGN); Bulgaria is not yet in the Eurozone.