Old Town (Stariyat Grad)

The most historic part of Plovdiv with colorful architecture, museums, and Roman ruins. Go during the day to see the sights, but it gets dark and empty at night so head elsewhere for dinner.

The Old Town sits on a hillside with cobblestone streets running between 19th-century houses painted in pink, blue, and yellow. During the day you'll see tour groups, people photographing the Roman walls, and small galleries selling crafts. The Ancient Theatre hosts summer concerts with good views over the city. Tourist police patrol during the day and speak some English. The atmosphere changes completely after sunset around 5:30-6:00 PM - tour groups leave, shops close, and the narrow streets get dark and empty. Even locals avoid walking here late at night. Spend your mornings and afternoons here seeing the museums and Roman ruins, then go to Kapana or the main street for dinner.