green trees near white and brown concrete buildings under white clouds during daytime
a town with trees and hills
a view of a city from a hill
a city with many buildings
Painted buildings adorn a historic town scene.

Holiday in Veliko Tarnovo

City in bulgarien — tips, highlights & best time to visit

Country

bulgarien

Type

City

Best time to travel

May to October (warm, light show running)

Budget/day

50-80€: Boutique hotel, restaurants, tours

Getting there from Germany

Flight to Sofia (about 2.5h), then 3h bus/car to Veliko Tarnovo.

About Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo is the most spectacular city in Bulgaria — the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire dramatically sits on three hills above the bends of the Jantra River. The Tsarevets Fortress with its reconstructed walls and the evening sound-and-light show is one of the most impressive monuments in the Balkans. The picturesque old town with its artisan streets and the vibrant student scene make Veliko Tarnovo an underrated gem.

Culture
90
Safety
80
Food
65
Romance
65
Nature
55

Top 4 highlights in Veliko Tarnovo

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Tsarevets Fortress

The medieval fortress on the hill offers panoramic views and a spectacular light show on summer evenings.

2

Samovodska Charshia

The historic artisan street with traditional workshops, art galleries, and cozy cafés.

3

Asenov Quarter

The picturesque district by the riverside with the Church of the Holy 40 Martyrs and old mills.

4

Arbanasi

The museum village (4 km away) with richly painted churches and Ottoman merchant houses.

Hotels in Veliko Tarnovo

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

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Reise-SIM für Veliko Tarnovo

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Veliko Tarnovo

Recommended travel time

May to October (warm, light show running)

Summer

Warm, 25-33°C, occasional thunderstorms

Winter

Cold, -2 to 8°C, snow possible, atmospheric

How much does a holiday in Veliko Tarnovo cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

25-40€: Guesthouse, Bulgarian cuisine, buses

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

50-80€: Boutique hotel, restaurants, tours

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

120€+: Heritage hotel, private tours, wine tasting

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

Book a package holiday to Veliko Tarnovo

Compare thousands of package holidays to Veliko Tarnovo and find the best deals with flight & hotel.

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4 travel tips for Veliko Tarnovo

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

The sound-and-light show at Tsarevets only takes place in summer — check dates in advance!

Bulgaria is extremely cheap — a dinner rarely costs more than 10€

The best view of the city is from the Monument of the Asen Dynasty

From here, a day trip to the rock churches of Ivanovo (UNESCO) is worthwhile

Food & drink in Veliko Tarnovo

These specialties you must try!

Shopska Salata — The Bulgarian national salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and grated Sirene cheese
Kavarma — Hearty stew with pork, vegetables, and spices in a clay pot
Banitsa — Puff pastry filled with Sirene cheese, the traditional breakfast
Rakia — Bulgarian fruit brandy (mostly grape or plum), consumed on every occasion
Suitable for:CultureHistoryFortressBalkansBudgetBulgariaMedieval

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