Plovdiv Full-Day Tour from Sofia with Asen's Fortress or Thermal Spa

Plovdiv Old Town

Plovdiv has been inhabited for thousands of years, and its Old Town sits on three rocky hills above the Maritsa River. Its streets are lined with richly painted houses from the 19th-century Bulgarian National Revival, when merchants built homes with curved facades, overhanging upper floors and bright interiors decorated with carved ceilings. Many are now museums, galleries and guesthouses, and the area is protected as an architectural reserve.

On this Plovdiv day trip from Sofia your guide leads you through the cobbled lanes, explains how Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans shaped the city, and takes you inside one of the Revival-period houses to see how a wealthy family lived. The walking is on uneven stones and some slopes, so wear comfortable shoes. Museum entrance fees are paid on site, and a combined ticket covers several sites including the Roman Theatre.

The Roman Theatre of Plovdiv

The Roman Theatre of ancient Philippopolis was built in the early 2nd century AD and seated several thousand spectators in tiers of white marble cut into the slope between two of the city's hills. It lay hidden for centuries until a landslide in the 1960s revealed part of it, and careful excavation and restoration followed. Today it is one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the Balkans and still hosts concerts and opera on summer evenings.

Your guided walk stops at the theatre, where you can look down from above at no cost or enter with a ticket to sit on the marble rows and see the columned stage building up close. The view stretches over the modern city to the Rhodope Mountains on clear days. Plan around 20 to 30 minutes inside if you buy a ticket; the morning light is best for photos.

The Roman Stadium and the main pedestrian street

Beneath the pedestrian heart of Plovdiv lie the remains of a huge Roman stadium from the 2nd century AD, which once held tens of thousands of spectators for athletic contests. Most of it is still buried under shops and houses, but its curved northern end has been uncovered below Dzhumaya Square, next to the Ottoman Dzhumaya Mosque, so you can walk right up to the stone seats.

From here the main pedestrian street, one of the longest in Europe, runs south past elegant 19th- and early 20th-century buildings, cafés and shops. Close by is Kapana, a former craftsmen's quarter turned into a lively creative district of small galleries and eateries. The tour gives you two hours of free time here for lunch and coffee, so you can choose a traditional Bulgarian restaurant, browse local crafts or simply people-watch.

Asen's Fortress

Asen's Fortress stands on a steep rock about 30 minutes' drive south of Plovdiv, just above the town of Asenovgrad and the gorge of the Asenitsa River. A fortress existed here in antiquity, and it was rebuilt in the 13th century by the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II, after whom it is named. The best-preserved part is the Church of the Holy Mother of God, with its tall brick and stone bell tower and remains of wall paintings.

In the default option you spend about 30 minutes here, learning the fortress history from your guide and climbing to the viewpoints for sweeping views over the forested Rhodope slopes and the valley below. The entrance fee is small and paid on site. The paths are rocky and steep in places, so sturdy shoes help. It is a dramatic end to the day before the drive back to Sofia.

The outdoor thermal spa option

Bulgaria is rich in mineral springs, and the region around Plovdiv has a long bathing tradition. If you choose the spa option, after Plovdiv your van and guide take you to an outdoor thermal spa complex instead of the fortress. There you have about two relaxing hours in warm and hot mineral pools, with water slides that make it a fun stop for children too.

This option suits travellers who prefer a slower afternoon after the walking in Plovdiv, and it is especially pleasant on cool autumn and winter days, when steam rises from the warm water. The spa entrance fee is paid on site and is not included. Bring swimwear, a towel and flip-flops, and a small bag to keep your things dry. You return to Sofia at the same time as the fortress option, around 18:00 to 18:30.