What to do in Veliko Tarnovo!

VELIKO TARNOVO is located approximately 230 km from the capital city of Sofia, It is a very nice city that shows more of the interesting Bulgarian culture, if you do not like the big tourist crowds then visiting from the end of August into the fall and winter is the best time to explore it at your own pace in a more quiet setup, yet you can still find cultural tours operating at this time like the City Walking Tour, similar to the one in Sofia, this one operates everyday and starts at 11:00 hrs, it goes for about 2.5 to 3 hours, after you can eat some lunch at one of the restaurants along the way, the meeting point it the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER in the heart of town.

 

Tsarevets or Fortress is the main attraction in Veliko Tarnovo, this structure is located at 206 meters above sea level and served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's main fortress and strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393, the entire stronghold is girdled by thick walls more than 3 meters tall, you can do a guided tour or just pay your entry ticket which costs 6 Levas and explore it on your own. There is also a light and sound show organised sporadically which is very nice to see, check with the tourist information center or the receptionist at your place to find out when the next one is during your stay for you to enjoy!

  

The main Cathedral is another spot that you definitely want to explore, it has very peculiar and strange paintings inside worth taking some photos of. It was originally decorated with some very nice frescos, mosaic floors, multi-colored marble and precious gem stones like sapphire. However, time took its toll on the Church until it was finally reconstructed and decorated in the 20th century, during this reconstruction the Church got a very unusual remake with new paintings depicting Bulgarian history in a somewhat creepy style.

  

Check out the Asenevsti Monument which is one of the main symbols of Veliko Tarnovo. It was built in 1985 in celebration of the 800 year anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from the Byzantine Empire, the uprising was orchestrated by brothers Asen and Petar whom after the revolt became rulers of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

Take a day trip to the town of Arbanazi which is located a few kilometers away from Veliko Tarnovo, you can go on an organized tour or you can make your way and explore on your own, a taxi ride will cost about 5 levas each way, there is also a bus that takes you there. The monastery is one of the mos beautiful in Bulgaria and it is of great importance because it displays the National Revival architecture as well as the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in communist history or just history in general, look at my full page post on the Day trip to Buzludzha and read all the details there. 

If you are looking for a place to stay, my personal recommendation is HOSTEL MOSTEL, located very near the city centre but in a very quiet section of town, you will really enjoy your stay there, it counts with mixed dorms and private rooms, full kitchen, laundry service, all you can eat breakfast and one dish dinner with a beer for a minimal fee, definitely a great place to stay and relax after your daily activities, you can book directly on their website just by clicking HERE!

Please contact me by filling out the contact form below if you have specific questions and I will gladly address them for you, also don't forget to subscribe and stay tuned for more fresh posts about Bulgaria coming soon!