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Plovdiv Guided Day Trip from Sofia with Lunch

Sofia, BulgariaAbout 9 hoursGuided in English

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv for a guided walk through its Roman theatre, painted old-town houses and the lively Kapana quarter, with lunch included.

About 9 hoursExplore at your own pace
Small groupKeeps the experience personal
EnglishLive guide or host
CancellationNon-refundable: tickets are issued for your chosen date and time

Highlights

  • A guided walk through Plovdiv's old town
  • The Roman theatre on the hillside
  • The Roman stadium beneath the main street
  • Free time in the Kapana creative district
  • A Bulgarian lunch

Full description

Plovdiv is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, and its layers of history are easy to read on foot. After a drive of about two hours across the Thracian plain from Sofia, your guide leads you up into the old town, a hilltop of cobbled lanes and colourful 19th-century merchants’ houses with jutting upper floors, many now museums and galleries.

Along the way you look down into the Roman theatre, cut into the hillside and still used for summer concerts, and see the remains of the Roman stadium under the main shopping street. Lunch of Bulgarian dishes is included, and there is free time to explore Kapana, the creative district of small bars, studios and street art, before the drive back to Sofia.

Itinerary

  1. Leave Sofia

    Morning departure from central Sofia; about two hours to Plovdiv.

  2. Old town walk

    Explore the hilltop lanes and revival-era houses with your guide.

  3. Roman Plovdiv

    See the Roman theatre and the stadium under the main street.

  4. Lunch and Kapana

    Lunch, then free time in the Kapana district.

  5. Return

    Drive back to Sofia in the early evening.

Included

  • Return transport from Sofia
  • Live guide
  • Guided walking tour of Plovdiv
  • Lunch

Not included

  • Entry fees to museums and houses inside Plovdiv (if you choose to visit)
  • Drinks
  • Tips (optional)

Meeting point

Central Sofia (the exact meeting point and time are confirmed with your booking)The exact spot and your host's details arrive with your confirmation.

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Know before you go

  • The old town is hilly and cobbled; wear comfortable shoes
  • Tell us about dietary needs when you enquire so we can check the lunch options
  • The order of stops can change on the day
  • Opening hours of sites in Plovdiv can change; we confirm them with your quote

Frequently asked questions

Can we go inside the Roman theatre?

Usually yes, for a small fee paid on the spot, unless it is closed for a performance or event; the best view of it is from the old town above anyway.

Is Plovdiv suitable for a day trip?

Yes. The centre is compact and the drive is about two hours each way, so you have a good half-day in town.

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