Arbanasi
Arbanasi, Bulgaria
A 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.
Arbanasi (also Arbanassi) is a village in northern Bulgaria, about 4 km from Veliko Tarnovo on a plateau at roughly 400 m. The village is easy to explore on foot, and the hike from Veliko Tarnovo is considered especially scenic. In the centre stands an information board with a map; taxis wait on the central square, and the bus runs only rarely.
Several churches and house museums can be visited. Most impressive is the Nativity Church, the oldest surviving church in the village. It has five chambers, and its interior is completely covered in frescoes painted between 1632 and 1649. They show numerous saints and scenes of Mary and Christ; the lower walls depict hell and damnation. Look out, too, for the carved wooden iconostasis, the work of craftsmen of the Tryavna school.
- Nearest town
- Arbanasi, Bulgaria
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 43.1000, 25.6660
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Bulgaria: Vignette needed for motorways. Buy the e-vignette online before you drive on motorways. Motorway limit for cars: 140 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Trinity Rocks FarmCampsite6 km from Arbanasi
- Camping Veliko TarnovoCampsite8 km from Arbanasi
- Motorhome stopover · Veliko TarnovoMotorhome stopover15 km from ArbanasiMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Палаткова зонаCampsite15 km from ArbanasiTentsCaravans
- Къмпинг "Къпиновски манастир"Campsite15 km from Arbanasi
All campsites in Bulgaria · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Arbanasi?
Arbanasi is in Arbanasi, Bulgaria, at GPS 43.1000, 25.6660. It is about 5 km from Veliko Tarnovo.
Can you camp near Arbanasi?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Trinity Rocks Farm, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 5 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Arbanasi?
Arbanasi is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Across the Balkan range: Veliko Tarnovo, Shipka and Plovdiv and Woodcarvers, rose oil and tsars’ fortresses – by camper through the heart of Bulgaria to the travertine cascades.
What is there to see near Arbanasi?
Places worth a stop nearby: Tsarevets Fortress (2 km), Tryavna Old Town (29 km), Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex (42 km) and Buzludzha Monument (46 km).
When is the best time to visit Arbanasi?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)