The oldest city in Europe is a hidden gem where hotel rooms cost just £26
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Bulgaria is known for its budget-friendly ski resorts and fairytale seaside towns, but it’s also home to the oldest city in Europe. Ancient ruins, charming architecture and a thriving arts and culture scene are just some of the reasons why the historic location of Plovdiv should be on your list of destinations to visit in 2025.
Founded in 6000 BC, history buffs can marvel at the remnants of the city’s past, including the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, which dates back to Roman times, and the cobbled streets of the Old Town, which mix medieval and 19th Century architecture.
![[Plovdiv, Bulgaria. May 24, 2024. View of the wooden steeple of St. Marina completed in 1870]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235155912-c402.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
But there’s much more to Plovdiv than its historical sites, the city is a cultural hub in Bulgaria and has been the European Capital of Culture twice, most recently in 2019. As of January 1, 2025, Bulgaria is part of the Schengen free-travel zone, along with neighbouring country Romania, and now that border controls have been simplified for EU citizens, Plovdiv may well become a new tourist hotspot.
![[Plovdiv, Bulgaria - September 24, 2023: Evening view of the Ancient Roman Theater of Philippopolis, with visitors, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235155914-3874.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Plovdiv is located in the south-central region of Bulgaria and can be reached by a three to four hour flight from the UK, depending on your departure airport. Ryanair flies direct to Plovdiv from London Stanstead, Birmingham Airport or Manchester Airport from as little as £30 for a round trip.
![[Singing Fountains at Garden of Tsar Simeon in Plovdiv, Bulgaria]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235155925-a4bd.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Meanwhile, Plovdiv can be reached in under two hours by car from the Bulgarian capital Sofia. It’s possible to fly directly to Sofia from London Stanstead, Birmingham Airport, Manchester Airport, Bristol Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
![[Photo taken in Plovdiv, Bulgaria]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235155913-cfe3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
