By rail
Veliko Tarnovo, regional trains
Europe · Bulgaria
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
The old royal capital on cliffs above a winding river
Getting there
By air
Sofia Airport (SOF), ~3 h by road
Best time to visit
April to June or September to October — mild and green
Don't miss
Tsarevets
Samovodska Charshia
Arbanasi
Asenevtsi Monument
Things to do
Exploring the fortress
Browsing craft workshops
Visiting nearby villages and monasteries
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: MrPanyGoff · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes, light jacket
A quieter corner
Preobrazhenski Monastery, set against cliffs a short drive north of town
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Veliko Tarnovo?
April to June or September to October — mild and green. What to pack: Comfortable shoes, light jacket.
How do I get to Veliko Tarnovo?
Fly into Sofia Airport (SOF), ~3 h by road.
What is there to do in Veliko Tarnovo?
Exploring the fortress, browsing craft workshops, visiting nearby villages and monasteries. A quieter find: Preobrazhenski Monastery, set against cliffs a short drive north of town.
What should I eat in Veliko Tarnovo?
Kavarma cooked in clay pots, banitsa, grilled meats, local wines.
About Veliko Tarnovo
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
Veliko Tarnovo sits on steep hills above loops of the Yantra River in north-central Bulgaria.
History
Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire from the late 12th century until it fell to the Ottomans in 1393. The fortress of Tsarevets held the royal palace and the patriarch's church. In 1879 Bulgaria's first constitution was adopted in the town.
People
Bulgarian is spoken in Veliko Tarnovo, a university town with many students, and craftspeople still work in small workshops along its old streets.
Known for
- The Tsarevets fortress
- Houses stacked on cliffs
- Traditional craft workshops
- The Yantra River's loops
Did you know?
Bulgaria's first constitution, the Tarnovo Constitution, was adopted in the town in 1879.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.