Across the Balkan range: Veliko Tarnovo, Shipka and Plovdiv
From the medieval capital of Veliko Tarnovo over the Shipka Pass to the Valley of the Roses, Thracian tombs and Roman Plovdiv.
- Distance
- 186 km (115 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 34 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Bulgaria
- Updated
- June 3, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 186 km (115 mi) with 9 stops, from Veliko Tarnovo to Plovdiv. About 2 h 34 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Bulgaria
Route description
Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, climbs the steep banks of the Yantra river in tiers of old houses. The Tsarevets fortress fills a hill in a loop of the river, with walls, gates and the patriarchal church on top; a sound-and-light show plays on some evenings. Just above the town, the village of Arbanasi has churches with rich frescoes behind plain walls.
Take road 5 south through Dryanovo to Gabrovo, about 45 km. Just south of the town, the Etar complex recreates a 19th-century craft street with water-powered mills and workshops. The road then climbs into the Balkan Mountains to the Shipka Pass, where a tower commemorates the battles of 1877–78; about 900 steps lead up to it from the road.
Near the pass, a side road climbs east to Buzludzha, the abandoned saucer-shaped Communist party monument. Entry is forbidden, but the exterior is striking against the bare summit. Descend south into the Valley of the Roses around Kazanlak, where rose oil is distilled and a Rose Festival takes place in early June. The Thracian tomb in the town park is a UNESCO site, visited in replica.
From Kazanlak, drive west through the valley and south to Plovdiv, about 110 km, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. The Roman theatre sits in the hillside of the old town, among Revival-era houses with painted facades. Bulgarian motorways and main roads need an e-vignette. The Shipka road has many bends but is fine for motorhomes; avoid it in snow.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Veliko Tarnovo
Bulgaria - 24 km
Tsarevets Fortress
HistoryVeliko Tarnovo, BulgariaThe fortified hill of the medieval Bulgarian capital, circled by the Yantra river, with walls, gates and a rebuilt patriarchal church on top. A sound-and-light show plays on some evenings.
- 33 km
Arbanasi
HistoryArbanasi, BulgariaA village of stone merchant houses on a plateau above Veliko Tarnovo, with churches whose plain exteriors hide rich 17th-century frescoes. The Church of the Nativity is the finest; one ticket covers several sites.
- 453 km
Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex
HistoryGabrovo, BulgariaAn open-air museum of a Revival-era craft street with water-powered mills, workshops and artisans at work. It lies in a wooded valley south of Gabrovo on the road to the Shipka Pass.
- 58 km
Shipka Monument
HistoryShipka, BulgariaA stone tower on a peak near the Shipka Pass, commemorating the battles of 1877–78 that led to Bulgarian independence. About 900 steps climb from the road; the tower top gives views over the Balkan range.
- 68 km
Buzludzha Monument
OdditiesKazanlak, BulgariaA saucer-shaped Communist party hall of 1981 on a bare summit, abandoned after 1989. Entering the building is prohibited; view the exterior from the road end, which is reached by a winding side road off the Shipka Pass.
- 715 km
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
HistoryKazanlak, BulgariaA 4th-century BC Thracian tomb with painted frescoes of a funeral feast, listed by UNESCO. The original is sealed for protection; an exact replica nearby is open, in the park on the north side of town.
- 894 km
Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv
HistoryPlovdiv, BulgariaA Roman theatre from the 1st century AD set into the hillside of Plovdiv’s old town, still used for summer performances. Walk from the pedestrian centre; the Revival houses of the old town are just above.
- 92 km
Plovdiv
Bulgaria
FAQs
How long is Across the Balkan range: Veliko Tarnovo, Shipka and Plovdiv?
4-day road trip of about 186 km (115 mi) with 9 stops, from Veliko Tarnovo to Plovdiv. About 2 h 34 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Across the Balkan range: Veliko Tarnovo, Shipka and Plovdiv?
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 34 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Across the Balkan range: Veliko Tarnovo, Shipka and Plovdiv start and end?
It starts in Veliko Tarnovo and ends in Plovdiv.
Which countries does Across the Balkan range: Veliko Tarnovo, Shipka and Plovdiv pass through?
Bulgaria.
