Plovdiv is a perfect base: in 30–120 minutes, you can go from Roman gates and wine country to marble gorges, cave cathedrals, and Thracian sanctuaries. Below you’ll find why to go, the best season, distance (km), typical driving time, elevation, and quick road notes for each stop.
Asen’s Fortress (Asenova krepost)
Why go: A tiny cliff‑top stronghold with a 13th‑century stone church perched high above a river bend—spectacular views with minimal walking. Learn more about the Asen’s Fortres.
Best season: Year‑round; clearest light in spring/autumn.
Distance / time / altitude: ≈23 km from Plovdiv, ~22–30 min drive; fortress ridge ≈279 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Easy run on the Plovdiv–Asenovgrad road; the last ~2 km climb is narrow but paved (go early in summer to avoid heat & parking squeeze).
Bachkovo Monastery
Why go: Bulgaria’s second‑largest monastery (11th c.) set in a green valley; famous icon of the Virgin and excellent riverside mehanas (taverns). Learn more about Bachkovo Monastery, and Bachkovskimanastir.com
Best season: Spring–autumn; foliage is gorgeous in May–June and October.
Distance / time / altitude: ~28–30 km, ~40–45 min; village/monastery area ~440 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Same road as Asen’s Fortress, then follow signs “Бачково”; weekend traffic can be slow through Asenovgrad.
The Wonderful Bridges (Chudnite mostove) – natural marble arches
Why go: Two giant stone “bridges” carved by a vanished river—Rhodope forest, picnic spots, easy paths under cathedral‑like vaults.
Best season: Late spring to early autumn; winter is beautiful but icy.
Distance / time / altitude: ~73 km, ~1 h 30 min; site ~1,450 m a.s.l.
Road notes: The final 15–17 km from Zabardo are narrow, mountainous tarmac; expect bends and occasional rockfall.
Belintash Thracian sanctuary
Why go: A wind‑scrubbed rock plateau dotted with ritual niches and views rolling to infinity—mystique of the ancient Thracians without a long hike.
Best season: May–October (snow possible Nov–Apr).
Distance / time / altitude: ~52–59 km, ~1 h; ~1,225 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Last stretch is rural; park by the track and walk ~20 min up a forest path.
Hisarya – mineral spa town & Roman walls
Why go: Soak in mineral pools, then wander some of the best‑preserved Roman fortifications in the Balkans.
Best season: Year‑round (spa weather is “always”).
Distance / time / altitude: ~46–50 km, ~50–60 min; town ~346 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Flat, easy driving across the Upper Thracian Plain; plenty of fuel/food stops.
Starosel Thracian temple complex
Why go: The famous Chetinyova tumulus with a circular krepis wall and stairway—an accessible window into Thracian ritual architecture.
Best season: April–October.
Distance / time / altitude: ~48–52 km, ~50–57 min; village ~358 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Combine with Hisarya; the last kilometers are minor rural roads with signage to “Thracian complex”.
Perperikon (near Kardzhali)
Why go: A sprawling rock acropolis and sanctuaries believed to span millennia—one of Bulgaria’s most evocative archaeological landscapes. Learn more about Perperikon.
Best season: Spring & autumn (summer can be hot and exposed).
Distance / time / altitude: ~95–98 km, ~1 h 40–2 h; hilltop ~470 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Straightforward highways and secondary roads; carry water—shade is limited on the site.
Trigrad Gorge & Devil’s Throat Cave (Dyavolsko garlo)
Why go: Drive a marble canyon, then enter the cave with the largest underground waterfall in the Balkans—a setting tied to the Orpheus myth. Learn more about the Trigrad Gorge and the Dyavolskoto Garlo Cave.
Best season: Late spring–early autumn (winter possible but expect ice).
Distance / time / altitude: ~110–113 km, ~2 h 15–2 h 30; gorge area ~1,450 m a.s.l.; Trigrad village ~1,240 m a.s.l.
Road notes: The gorge road is narrow, cliff‑hugging, with short tunnels—yield often and drive defensively.
Yagodina Cave & “Eagle’s Eye” platform
Why go: A long, beautifully lit show cave with delicate formations; nearby Eagle’s Eye viewpoint hangs above Buynovo Gorge. Learn more about Yagodina Cave.
Best season: May–October (cave is 6–9°C year‑round).
Distance / time / altitude: ~175 km, ~2 h 55 min; cave entrance ~930 m a.s.l.; platform ~1,563 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Same scenic road network as Trigrad; hire local jeeps for the steep track to Eagle’s Eye.
Shiroka Laka (architecture reserve) & the high Rhodopes
Why go: Cobbled lanes of Revival‑era houses in a bagpiper’s (gaida) village; cool alpine air and meadows above.
Best season: All seasons; folklore festival in March, green summers.
Distance / time / altitude: ~95 km, ~1 h 40 min; village ~1,276 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Good but winding mountain road; winter tires essential in season (see driving tips below).
Vacha Reservoir (the “fjord road” from Krichim toward Devin)
Why go: A glassy, deep lake hemmed by forested slopes and floating houses—perfect for photos and lunch with a view. Learn more about Vacha Reservoir.
Best season: April–October.
Distance / time / altitude: ~51–53 km, ~50–75 min; dam/reservoir ~680 m a.s.l.
Road notes: The scenic lakeside road is narrow with bends and occasional slow traffic; leave time for photo stops.
Wine road to Brestovitsa (Rubin country)
Why go: The village dubbed “wine capital” near Plovdiv—cellars pour local Rubin and Mavrud; easy half‑day tastings.
Best season: Year‑round; harvest buzz in Sept–Oct.
Distance / time / altitude: ~21 km, ~27 min; village ~297 m a.s.l.
Road notes: Straightforward local driving; many wineries require prior booking.
Also worth a (long) day from Plovdiv — places we’ve written about before
- Koprivshtitsa (museum‑town): ~119 km, ~1 h 49 min, altitude ~1,030 m — pastel houses, stone bridges and 19th‑century history in Sredna Gora.
- Rila Monastery (UNESCO): ~210 km, ~3 h 20 min, altitude ~1,147 m — Bulgaria’s spiritual heart in a deep mountain valley. (A long but doable day if you start early.)
- Prohodna “Eyes of God” Cave: ~188 km by road; allow ~2 h 45–3 h. A through‑cave with two eye‑shaped skylights and easy access near Karlukovo; cave altitude is roughly ~250 m.
Practical driving tips (Bulgaria)
- E‑vignette is mandatory on motorways and most national roads—buy online before you roll.
- Headlights (or DRLs) must be on at all times—day and night. See more driving tips for Bulgaria.
- Winter equipment: from Nov 15–Mar 1, tires with winter tread or with a minimum 4 mm tread are legally required; chains may be compulsory on signed mountain passes.
- Mountain driving: expect narrow shoulders, occasional rockfall, and livestock; fuel up in Asenovgrad/Devin/Kardzhali before heading onto minor roads, and add buffer time for the Wonderful Bridges and Trigrad areas (most scenic = most bendy).
1‑Day sample itineraries from Plovdiv
- Fortress & Monastery Combo (easy): Asen’s Fortress → Bachkovo Monastery → riverside lunch → back to Plovdiv for Old Town sunset. (Total driving ≈60–70 km.)
- Rhodope “Wow” (active): Wonderful Bridges in the morning → lunch at the site → continue to Trigrad Gorge & Devil’s Throat → return via Devin/Vacha Reservoir for golden‑hour photos. (Long day, but unforgettable.)
- Thracian Heritage & Spa: Hisarya’s Roman gates → Starosel Thracian complex → tasting in Brestovitsa on the way back.
