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Not long ago this was an area of car parks and run-down buildings, but since the mid-2010s it has been transformed into a lively quarter of cafés, bars and small independent shops.",{"type":283,"attrs":383,"content":384},{"textAlign":143},[385],{"text":386,"type":281},"Wander the colourful streets and you will find everything from wooden crafts and clothes to local delicacies. Chili Hills, a shop dedicated to Bulgarian chilli products, is a fun stop for anyone who likes it hot.",[],{"_uid":389,"image":390,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":266,"caption_text":395,"caption_title":396,"image_caption":14},"68f736dd-9028-4bef-bc21-b617c653b769",{"id":14,"alt":391,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":14,"width":259,"height":260,"source":14,"filename":392,"copyright":14,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":393,"public_id":394,"aspect_ratio":264,"is_external_url":146},"Small shop selling local products in Plovdiv","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1699280215\u002FPicolo\u002FCountry\u002FBulgaria\u002FGamlebyen\u002FBulgaria_Gamlebyen_sofia_plovdiv_things_To_do_oldtown.jpg",{"alt":391},"Picolo\u002FCountry\u002FBulgaria\u002FGamlebyen\u002FBulgaria_Gamlebyen_sofia_plovdiv_things_To_do_oldtown","Small independent shops sell local food, crafts and souvenirs.","Local shops",{"_uid":398,"body":399,"card":433,"layout":305,"component":306,"article_rounded":146},"c1405751-551f-4c07-86d7-6a0627aef584",{"type":272,"content":400},[401,406,411],{"type":275,"attrs":402,"content":403},{"level":277,"textAlign":143},[404],{"text":405,"type":281},"Things to do in Plovdiv's city centre",{"type":283,"attrs":407,"content":408},{"textAlign":143},[409],{"text":410,"type":281},"Down in the modern centre, history appears again. Below the main shopping street lie the remains of the Philippopolis stadium, where up to 30,000 spectators once watched games and contests. Only part of it is visible today, but it is worth a look.",{"type":283,"attrs":412,"content":413},{"textAlign":143},[414,416,423,425,432],{"text":415,"type":281},"The pedestrian street above it, Knyaz Alexander I, is said to be one of the longest in Europe. It is lined with shops, restaurants and cafés, and leads you past the historic Dzhumaya Mosque. Plovdiv is about two hours from ",{"text":417,"type":281,"marks":418},"Sofia",[419],{"type":297,"attrs":420},{"href":421,"uuid":422,"anchor":143,"target":301,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fbulgaria\u002Fsofia\u002F","900bc3fe-8dcd-49cd-8cb7-ec058e9249b5",{"text":424,"type":281}," by road or rail, so it combines easily with the capital. Find more ideas in our guide to ",{"text":426,"type":281,"marks":427},"Bulgaria holidays",[428],{"type":297,"attrs":429},{"href":430,"uuid":431,"anchor":143,"target":301,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fbulgaria\u002F","1ccf2b96-aa4b-4b1b-b0a3-4835ca2748c0",{"text":303,"type":281},[],{"_uid":435,"body":436,"card":448,"layout":305,"component":306,"article_rounded":146},"a8a13c5d-5279-485c-ab29-dd72a6c71121",{"type":272,"content":437},[438,443],{"type":275,"attrs":439,"content":440},{"level":277,"textAlign":143},[441],{"text":442,"type":281},"When is the best time to visit Plovdiv?",{"type":283,"attrs":444,"content":445},{"textAlign":143},[446],{"text":447,"type":281},"Spring and early autumn are the best times to visit Plovdiv, with mild weather that is ideal for walking the hilly old town. Summer is hot, but it is also the season for performances in the Roman theatre and long evenings in Kapana. Winter is quiet and cool, good for museums and cosy cafés.",[],{"_uid":450,"body":451,"card":499,"layout":305,"component":306,"article_rounded":146},"28894351-1335-403f-b1df-3bdfde396b55",{"type":272,"content":452},[453,458,464,469,474,479,484,489,494],{"type":275,"attrs":454,"content":455},{"level":277,"textAlign":143},[456],{"text":457,"type":281},"Plovdiv: frequently asked questions",{"type":275,"attrs":459,"content":461},{"level":460,"textAlign":143},3,[462],{"text":463,"type":281},"Is Plovdiv worth visiting?",{"type":283,"attrs":465,"content":466},{"textAlign":143},[467],{"text":468,"type":281},"Yes, Plovdiv is well worth visiting. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a beautifully preserved old town, a Roman theatre still used for concerts and a lively creative district in Kapana. It is compact, walkable and relaxed, and it rewards a slow pace with long lunches and evening walks.",{"type":275,"attrs":470,"content":471},{"level":460,"textAlign":143},[472],{"text":473,"type":281},"How do you get from Sofia to Plovdiv?",{"type":283,"attrs":475,"content":476},{"textAlign":143},[477],{"text":478,"type":281},"You can get from Sofia to Plovdiv by bus, train or car, and the journey takes roughly two hours. Buses run frequently throughout the day, and the train is a scenic and relaxed alternative. Plovdiv also has its own airport, although most international visitors fly into Sofia.",{"type":275,"attrs":480,"content":481},{"level":460,"textAlign":143},[482],{"text":483,"type":281},"How many days do you need in Plovdiv?",{"type":283,"attrs":485,"content":486},{"textAlign":143},[487],{"text":488,"type":281},"Two days is a good amount of time in Plovdiv. That lets you explore the old town and its museums at a gentle pace, see the Roman theatre and stadium, and spend an evening in Kapana. With a third day, you can take a trip into the nearby Rhodope mountains or visit local wineries.",{"type":275,"attrs":490,"content":491},{"level":460,"textAlign":143},[492],{"text":493,"type":281},"What is Plovdiv famous for?",{"type":283,"attrs":495,"content":496},{"textAlign":143},[497],{"text":498,"type":281},"Plovdiv is famous for being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is known for its colourful old town with painted merchant houses, the Roman theatre of Philippopolis and the Kapana arts district. The city was also a European Capital of Culture in 2019.",[],{"_uid":501,"card_type":14,"component":502,"filter_by":503},"d719ca05-b47f-4296-94d8-9d3f9107fc57","PaginatedArticles",{"_uid":504,"plugin":505,"values":506},"66113fc5-d5da-473f-8c00-2f4f73d4ecf8","storyblok-tags-select",[507],"plovdiv","ArticleIndex",{"id":14,"alt":510,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":14,"width":259,"height":260,"source":14,"filename":243,"copyright":261,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":511,"public_id":263,"aspect_ratio":264,"content_type":265,"is_external_url":146},"A colourful traditional house with a blue facade and bay windows in the old town of Plovdiv",{"alt":510},"en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fbulgaria\u002Fplovdiv\u002F",-330,[],178501655651390,"4ffdf352-148a-4a7c-94c3-cf870be7fecd",[]]