The city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria is one of the country’s finest cultural centres and Europe’s oldest continually inhabited city known for its collection of historical landmarks, beautiful buildings and cultural events held each year. Although the city is best known for its Old Town and its unique range of historic sites, Plovdiv is also a thriving modern centre of culture.
Plovdiv is famous as one of, if not the oldest city in Europe, boasting many historic buildings and monuments. Some of the best-known sites to visit in the city include its Roman Theatre dating back nearly 2,000 years and the St. Marina Church with its charming wooden tower. There is much to see and do for culture lovers, including the Plovdiv Jazz Nights International Festival, while the city also boasts various theatres and performing arts centres. Plovdiv is also popular for its bustling nightlife scene and eclectic range of restaurants and cafes.
The nearest airport to Plovdiv is International Plovdiv Airport, situated 15 kilometres from the centre of the city. The airport is only a 20-minute drive from Plovdiv for those with a car, while those without can hop in a taxi or use the public shuttle bus service. Those wishing to explore the centre of Plovdiv will find much of it is a pedestrianised zone and getting around the wider city area is possible by taxi or bus.
Known as Europe’s oldest city believed to have been inhabited for over 8,000 years, Plovdiv was originally known as Philippopolis and has been under the rule of many different empires and nations over the centuries. The city was awarded the honour of being the European Capital of Culture in 2019, due to its vast collection of important historic sites and lively modern cultural scene.