Best day trips from Plovdiv, by drive time

Updated: October 29, 2026

From Plovdiv, the closest day trips are Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery, 25 to 40 minutes away. Within about an hour you reach Hisarya and Starosel; within two hours Kazanlak, Shipka, Perperikon and the Wonderful Bridges; and at around three hours, Devil’s Throat Cave. Choose by drive time first, then by interest.

The list, by drive time

Times below are approximate one-way drive times from central Plovdiv in normal conditions. Mountain roads in the Rhodopes are slower than the distance suggests, and winter can add a good deal.

Destination	One way, about	Best for	Day length
Asen’s Fortress	25 min	Views, medieval church	Half-day
Bachkovo Monastery	40 min	Monastery, frescoes, river lunch	Half-day
Hisarya	50 min	Roman walls, mineral springs	Half-day
Starosel	1 h	Thracian temple, wine	Half or full day
Koprivshtitsa	1 h 30 min	19th-century houses	Full day
Kazanlak and Shipka	1 h 45 min	Thracian tombs, roses, Shipka Pass	Full day
Buzludzha	2 h	Communist-era monument, summit views	Full day with Shipka
Wonderful Bridges	2 h	Rock arches, mountain forest	Full day
Perperikon	2 h	Rock-cut Thracian city	Full day
Devil’s Throat Cave	3 h	Underground waterfall, gorge	Long full day

Use the booking form above to send your route and date. Asenovgrad is pre-filled because it is the gateway to the nearest trips; change the destination to whichever place you choose.

If you have half a day

Stay within an hour of the city. The obvious pairing is Bachkovo Monastery with Asen’s Fortress, both on the road south. North of Plovdiv, Hisarya is quiet, flat and easy for anyone who does not want to climb. Either can be done in a morning, leaving the afternoon for Plovdiv’s Old Town.

If you have a full day

History

Kazanlak and Shipka give you Thracian tombs, the Rose Museum and the Shipka Pass in one route. Perperikon offers a rock-cut sanctuary and a citadel on a hilltop. Both take about two hours each way.

Landscape

The Wonderful Bridges and Shiroka Laka mix rock arches, pine forest and a traditional village. The roads are narrow but the scenery is the point.

Wine

Plovdiv sits in one of Bulgaria’s main wine regions. Starosel, Asenovgrad and the villages south of the city all have cellars that receive visitors. See wineries near Plovdiv for an overview.

If you want a long day

Devil’s Throat Cave and the Trigrad Gorge take about three hours each way, but few places in Bulgaria feel as remote. Veliko Tarnovo is also reachable in under three hours, though it deserves a night.

Avoid combining two long trips on consecutive days. A short half-day between them, such as Bachkovo, keeps the week relaxed.

Matching trips to travellers

You are	Good choice	Why
A family with young children	Hisarya or Bachkovo	Short drive, flat or easy walks, places to eat
History enthusiasts	Kazanlak and Shipka, Perperikon	Thracian, Roman and modern history in one day
Walkers	Wonderful Bridges	Forest paths and mountain air
Photographers	Buzludzha, Perperikon	Strong shapes and wide views
Wine lovers	Starosel, Asenovgrad area	Several cellars within an hour

Planning a week

If you are based in Plovdiv for several days, a good rhythm is one long trip, one short trip and a day in the city. For example: Kazanlak and Shipka on day one, Bachkovo and Asen’s Fortress on day two, the Old Town on day three, and Perperikon or the Rhodopes on day four. That keeps the driving to a reasonable total and leaves time to enjoy the evenings in Kapana.

Vehicle choice

For a couple or a family of up to four, a Sedan is enough. A Minivan takes up to 6 passengers and a Van up to 8. Add child or booster seats in the booking form if you need them.