5 Days In Bulgaria: Why Plovdiv Became My Favourite Bulgarian City

Why I Decided to Fly To Bulgaria

Yes, it was to annoy the Gremlins. I can’t dispute that but of course, once again I can definitely blame the alcohol – I got drunk, found out the date and booked my flight all within about 20 minutes. Our friend who told me definitely opened a can of worms here.

I didn’t hesitate at all and as much as it was made pretty clear to me that if I turned up it would be a problem I just thought I would show them (again) – they can’t tell me where I can and can’t go – even if it is the same place they are going to be lol

Although, I think the main thing what really persuaded me to book this flight to Burgas was the price of ticket, the time it left Luton (my local airport) and the £8 a night hostel.

This was kind of no longer about them but about me finding a good deal – and I’m so glad I pulled the trigger on this.

The flight back was a bit of a problem because it involved flying back from Sophia with a stopover in Wroclaw but I fortunately took my time with this and decided that I could spend 2 days in Burgas 3 in Sophia, and I could do it so I wouldn’t be cramping the gremlins style too much.

I mean I actually felt a bit bad doing this but I thought maybe if I just keep it short and sweet then it would be less of a problem. As after all 1 day is better than 5 lol for both me and them.

Thoughts On The Hug Center Hostel in Burgas

It was a bit of a strange place I thought. Quite run down, and as there was no answer at the door I had to let myself in. I’m not sure how long I’d have been waiting outside otherwise but main thing was I was in here and it wasn’t long before I was greeted by one of the people here.

I wont say too much about them. I’m guessing they wouldn’t have been to everyones taste. I definitely felt a bit nervous around them but at the same time I was very grateful for them showing me round, making my bed for me and taking my booking.

I was worried at first because it was just a room with four single beds in a row.

These beds were not too close next to each other but I have to say when staying in hostels I like there to be curtains to give me some degree of privacy. I can sometimes deal with bunk beds with no curtains but if I see beds like this in the pictures I will usually always pay extra for somewhere else that I feel is more comfortable.

I think I must have booked this drunk without checking because when I went to book a place to stay here I went on the app and see I had booked this already. Convenient but when I got here I wasn’t so sure.

I didn’t actually even remember booking it. Why I should not drink lol. Although, I will say it didn’t actually turn out to be that bad a place and I think I actually would come back to stay here again.

The staff here were very helpful and friendly and one other thing was the bed I slept in here was so comfortable. Especially the big pillow they give me – I slept like a baby.

Meeting The Gremlins In Sunny Beach Bulgaria

That morning whilst talking to the guy from the hostel – other than Plovdiv he said to check out Burgas Central Beach. Only 0.60 euro cents on the bus to get here and he said about walking back to the hostel through the park.

I mean I thought maybe this would be where I’d find the gremlins for a minute but actually I also heard some people on the shuttle bus after arriving in Bulgaria talking about Sunny Beach.

I then realized this was a different place in the Nessebar Municiplality and I would have to embark on a bit of a mission to get here.

7 hours on foot, 2 hours on the bus and 45 mins in a taxi Google Maps was saying. I was a bit tempted to just give it a miss but ultimately I got myself to the right bus stop and there was a bus here literally just about to leave.

An hour and a half later and I was actually here. At Sunny Beach coach station and ready to go and find the gremlins. I am sure they was deliberately ignoring me messages but just as I was about to give up there they were walking past.

My Thoughts On Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach is the largest beach resort in Bulgaria. I see the reviews online are a bit of a mixed bag. Reading Nomadic Matts blog he does make some fair points about how its just full of drunks and how the place has kind of lost its soul to tourists.

I thought it seemed OK. For basically what I came here for, to get drunk with the gremlins it was a good spot. It actually does look amazing looking over at the beach and the sea although I didn’t actually spend enough time here to notice anything bad.

From what I could tell is that it’s quite cheap to stay here and if you like drinking and beach parties you will probably like it here.

I mean I think maybe the mayhem isn’t for everyone but honestly, this seems to me like a good affordable option.

I know one place I could have stayed here was £60 a night all inclusive so definitely good value but maybe not great if the drinking culture is not for you

I only spent about 5 1/2 hours in Sunny Beach. Maybe 4 hours with meeting the gremlins but it was short and sweet and it was also nice to show them I could behave myself for a change. I never honestly, hear the end of it but anyway.

The Atmosphere After Arriving In Plovdiv

Well, one thing I did see was something that said that Plovdiv is the European Capital of Culture. It is quite magical really – the park I had to walk through to get here just alone was quite captivating.

The waterfall pools and the bright blue colour next to the rose bushes looked so beautiful. This is just such a perfect place to sit down and chill. The whole place was packed full of people it was actually just so good to see.

Although one thing I did think was a shame is that you can’t swim in this main pool. It says “do not swim in here because the water is treated with chemicals” but I think you could bet these chemicals are the same that are used in any swimming pool you go to. Its probably just too much trouble to hire life guards etc. so they make out its something else that is not safe to swim in.

Otherwise though – the main street (Glavnata, also known as Dzhumaya Street) you will see itself is quite special. Street musicians constantly playing music, the opera house echoing from outside the building and just so many places to eat and drink.

There is even a mini shopping center here about half way down this street with more roman ruins inside. Discovered in 2004 this is known as the Eastern Sector of Roman Stadium of Phillopolis.

I am definitely leaving here with a lot of questions but this is not even really the half of it because I’m sure this is so much I have likely missed. Giving me reason to almost definitely come back here in the future.

*Also, keep in mind that when you get to the top of this main street here is one of several places you can enter the cobbled part of Plovdiv old town.

Safety and Getting Around Plovdiv

Whether it is safe here. I can only go by my own experience. It seems very safe I think and in my view around the main city center its fairly easy to find your way around.

Fun Fact: Plovdiv’s Main Pedestrian Street, known locally as Glavnata, is widely recognized as the longest pedestrian street in Europe.

I’d definitely say it seems safer and cheaper than many other places I been to. Wroclaw for example where I came after this didn’t seem so safe at all.

People werent just getting drunk here they were getting shit-faced. They had rave music playing outside my hostel on a Monday night playing till 5AM in the morning. I personally had no problems here but I just felt the place seemed like it could be troublesome.

Tourism in Plovdiv

There is so many places to see in Provdiv. Of course all the historic ruins but also you have mueseums, art gallerys and 40 plus Religous buildings such as churches, mosques and Synagogues. You really are spoilt for choice and some of these buildings are truly amazing.

Personally, the one thing I liked were the hiking trails. One is the 36-foot Alyosha monument – I spotted this pretty much as soon as I got into Plovdiv square and I was pretty keen to make my way up here.

From a distance It looks like its quite a hard place to get to but what I found out is it really isn’t. This put me off the first night when I got to the bottom steps – I instead decided to watch He-Man at the cinema on this night but I went the next day and I was up here in maybe only 25 minutes. or so.

One surprise getting up here was there was a group of people working here. For any festival-goers reading this – once a year they have the “Lost In The Hills Festival” up here. I thought this was being set up but after looking online I see this was being packed away from the previous weekend.

Other than this the second up hill trail I walked up – I can’t even remember how I even found it but if you head to the right from Glavnata – going through one of the streets and across the main road there are stairs that you can find leading up to Nebet Tepe Hill.

I’m sure actually there are several different stairs that lead up to this part of the City but the route I took on my first day – this was leading me to all sorts.

There was the roman theatre, old 18th century houses, and some of these churches I went inside of were just Incredible.

All the gold and paintings in these places must be worth a fortune. For how poor some people are in Bulgaria now you can definitely tell that this wasn’t the case in the past.

I was even a bit shocked seeing the gold chain that one of the priests was wearing here. It was proper solid gold. I couldn’t help but think the guy in Burgas was right – you probably could come here to Plovdiv and find Gold in the ground here because they must have had mines here back in the day.

Final thoughts

Now, if you don’t know – Bulgaria is a whole lot more than Sophia. Plovdiv actually feels like it should be the capital instead. No disrespect to Sophia I was only in the City for a few hours – so hardly see very much of it but still I hope people reading this will actually have a look and find out what Plovdiv is all about.

Here is something I copied from a Facebook post that came up on my feed whilst I was here in Plovdiv:

The Bulgarian part of the historic region of Thrace. Referred to as the City of the Seven Hills. The first Neolithic settlements were established around the 6th Millenium BC and was once known as Pulpudeva.

Through its time this area was conquered and ruled by groups including the Persians, Ancient Macedonians, Celts, Romans, Byzantines, Thraco-Romans, Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Slavs, Crusaders and Ottoman Turks.

It was known during the Ancient Macedonian age as Philippopolis, named after Philip the Great – Father of Alexander the Great.