Plovdiv

"When will they finally learn how to roast beef?!" – if you have ever stared at a plate of Black Angus with the texture of a shoe sole, stop everything and book a table at Kasapi, or Butchers. This relatively new but ambitious restaurant in one of Plovdiv's most unremarkable districts – Komatevo – has the mission to show how perfect flavour can be when beef and pork come from special breeds, are properly cut, aged under optimal conditions, grilled over quality charcoal – and served with care.

Philippopolis Event House one of the most treasured Bulgarian Revival Period monuments in the heart of Old Plovdiv.

Built around 1865 by the wealthy merchant Hadzhi Aleko Tsvetkov, it was among the first representative houses in the Old Town. In 2003, it was restored to its full splendor by the family of Teodora and Stefan Maletsovi and reopened to once again welcome admirers of culture and beauty.

The Sun Ray Private Eco School builds upon this philosophical principle to nurture the confident, knowledgeable, and responsible individuals of the future. At Sun Ray, children discover the world – and their own talents – in a safe, encouraging environment filled with music, art, and engaging activities. The school’s founder, Mrs Maria Paeva, tells us more.

Because quality education is holistic, focusing on children’s emotional world and on humanity’s bond with nature?

Yet when I arrived at the Glamping Alliance, I discovered something beyond that: an experience of pure, elevated serenity.

Huddled near the Rhodope Mountains, just a leisurely drive from Plovdiv, this four-star retreat instantly captivated me with its promise of refined tranquillity. The only real challenge was choosing where to stay – a chic hotel room, one of the three bespoke houses or the serene camping area. Each offered its own distinct charm, yet all were designed to restore balance and awaken the senses.

The colourful houses lining the cobblestone streets of Old Plovdiv are arguably the city's most recognisable sight. The only thing that can distract from marvelling at their painted façades, projecting bay windows and verdant gardens is the pavement. Polished by the feet of generations of passers-by, it is slippery even when dry, as traveller and historian Konstantin Jireček noted as far back as the late 19th century.

The building stands on a centuries-old treasure, the architecture pays homage to one from past glorious times, the interior presents modern accents and features. Refined luxury is combined with modern amenities – find all this and more in the boutique hotel.

Good tea is something more than enchanting aroma and taste. It gives health to the body, food to the imagination and to ourselves – an opportunity to enjoy a couple of minutes of tranquillity and relaxation.

When you seek the best classical selections, exotic suggestions and solutions for a number of health conditions, you will find a trusted ally at Teahouse Plovdiv. Created by people dedicated to good tea, since 2005 it has offered to the Bulgarian consumer impressive teas from Asia, Africa, and Europe.

We are pleased to present you hotel Holiday Inn Plovdiv, part of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), strategically located right at the entrance of the city (3 km from highway A1), at the same time less than 15 minutes walk to the city center and the same distance to the International Fair Plovdiv.

The hotel has 67 comfortable rooms, 16 of which have separate beds. Each room is equipped with a comfortable relaxation area and a place to work with an ergonomic chair.

Plovdiv claims 7,000 years of uninterrupted history, starting from prehistoric times, but the earliest visible traces of this long past are much younger. They date back to the times when the city was called Philippopolis and was a major centre of government and commerce in the Roman province of Thrace.

If you have visited Plovdiv in the past couple of years, you might have noticed a grey, modern building in the city centre, right in front of the St Ludwig Roman Catholic Cathedral. This is The Bishop's Basilica of Philippopolis, a groundbreaking project for Bulgaria in more than one way.

Large and small, isolated or in groups, you will see mounds all over Bulgaria: atop rolling hills and amid farming fields, by old village graveyards and motorways, even on the outskirts of Sofia. The ancient Thracians who lived in the Bulgarian lands between the 1st millennium BC and the 6th century AD created most of them. They buried their dead there, interring noblemen and women with expensive personal possessions. In many cases the tombs were very impressive, such as those in Kazanlak, Aleksandrovo and Sboryanovo.

After centuries of oblivion, the Bishop's Basilica of Philippopolis got its first visitors. On 26 September diplomats, officials, journalists and members of the board of the America for Bulgaria Foundation were invited for a sneak preview of the archaeological site that was brought back to life in 2015-2019. The America for Bulgaria Foundation and Plovdiv Municipality support the restoration works.

"To the Small Basilica, please," we say to the taxi driver we hail in the centre of a warm, autumnal Plovdiv. Then we realise. The driver is very unlikely to know the whereabouts of Bulgaria's latest archaeological museum, only one day after the official opening.