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Voykit pocket guide · Bulgaria
Veliko Tarnovo
Велико Търново
Give it 2 nights: one full day for Tsarevets and the Old Town, one for Arbanassi. Skip it if you only have 3 days in Bulgaria.
Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire from 1185 to 1396, and the Tsarevets fortress on its cliff above the Yantra river is the reason to come. The Old Town sits on three steep hills, the New Town spreads west on flatter ground, and a student population keeps prices low and bars open. Two nights covers the fortress, Samovodska Charshia and Arbanassi without rushing.
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Local name
- Велико Търново
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, crowded), Jan–Feb (ice on the Old Town steps)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Bulgaria adopted the euro (EUR) on 1 January 2026, replacing the lev (BGN) at 1.95583 lev to the euro; the lev stopped being legal tender after January 2026, but banks and the Bulgarian National Bank still exchange old notes — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget €35–55 excl. bed · Mid €55–95 excl. bed · High €95+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A1, Yettel and Vivacom sell prepaid SIMs; bring your passport to register.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance and fire 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: About 10%.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Guide or driver: €5–10 per person per day.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities; mountain spring taps are everywhere.
- Toilets
- Cafés and malls; public toilets usually cost €0.30–0.50.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1.50–3 |
| Banitsa or a pastry | €1–2.50 |
| Lunch, main dish | €6–12 |
| Dinner with a drink, mid-range | €15–25 |
| Beer: draught / shop can | €2–3.50 / €1–2 |
| City bus ticket | about €1.50 (check) |
| Taxi across the city | €2–4 |
| Tsarevets Fortress entry | about €6 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SOF · Sofia Airport
- Bus to Veliko Tarnovo about 3–3.5 h; the usual arrival point for most trips.
- VAR · Varna Airport
- Rail or coach via Gorna Oryahovitsa; longer and less frequent.
Typical fares
- Bus Sofia → Veliko Tarnovo
- about €13, roughly 3–3.5 h (check)
- Taxi Gorna Oryahovitsa station → centre
- about €4–7
- Taxi across the city
- €2–4
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the Old Town: the lanes are too narrow and winding for useful driving. Buses run 07:00–21:00 at 20–60 min intervals and tickets are bought from the conductor on board. Taxis are yellow and metered; a trip inside the city is short money. The rail station sits on the outskirts, so take a taxi or the bus from the stop just east of it.Walk the Old Town: the lanes are too narrow and winding for useful driving. Buses run 7:00 AM–9:00 PM at 20–60 min intervals and tickets are bought from the conductor on board. Taxis are yellow and metered; a trip inside the city is short money. The rail station sits on the outskirts, so take a taxi or the bus from the stop just east of it.
See and do
Known for
- Tsarevets Fortress
- Second Bulgarian Empire capital
- Samovodska Charshia craft street
- Arbanassi village
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arbanassi | Taxi or bus from the centre, 4 km (2.5 mi) uphillTaxi or bus from the centre, 2.5 mi (4 km) uphill | About 20 min |
| Preobrazhenie Monastery | Taxi or bike, about 5 km (3.1 mi) north-westTaxi or bike, about 3.1 mi (5 km) north-west | About 20 min |
| Gabrovo and Etar | Bus or car south-west over the Balkan Mountains | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Old Town (Tsarevets and Sveta Gora slopes)
- Walking distance to the fortress and Samovodska Charshia; steep lanes, few cars, best for a short stay.
- New Town centre (Mother Bulgaria square)
- Flatter, cheaper hotels, buses and taxis; 15–20 min walk or a short taxi to the fortress.
- Arbanassi
- Hilltop village 4 km (2.5 mi) away; quiet guesthouses with views, but you need a car or taxi for everything.Hilltop village 2.5 mi (4 km) away; quiet guesthouses with views, but you need a car or taxi for everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Здравейтеzdraveyte |
| Thank you | Благодаряblagodarya |
| How much is it? | Колко струва?kolko struva |
| Can I pay by card? | Мога ли да платя с карта?moga li da platya s karta |
| Where is the fortress? | Къде е крепостта?kade e krepostta |
| The bill, please | Сметката, моляsmetkata, molya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Yes and no: Say da or ne out loud; avoid: Relying on nods and head shakes
- Greeting: Handshake; three kisses between friends; avoid: Skipping hello in small shops
- Home visits: Bring flowers in odd numbers, wine or sweets; avoid: Even numbers of flowers
- Religion: Cover up in churches; light a candle if you wish; avoid: Photos during services
- Conversation: Food, wine, mountains, football; avoid: Lecturing on communism, the Ottomans or North Macedonia
Scams and watch-outs
- Old Town streets are steep and cobbled; wet leaves and winter ice make them slippery.
- Most taxis do not take cards: carry small notes.
- The rail station is outside the centre; allow time and take a taxi or bus, not a walk.
- International train tickets are sold only at the Railway Ticket Bureau on Stefan Stambolov Street, cash only, weekday office hours.
A safe student city; the real risks are steep wet cobbles, unlit lanes at night and taxis that do not take cards. Carry small notes and watch your step on the Old Town hills.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Veliko Tarnovo yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tsarevets Fortress
- Second Bulgarian Empire capital
- Samovodska Charshia craft street
- Arbanassi village
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Veliko Tarnovo municipality (official): www.veliko-tarnovo.bg/bg/
- Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ): www.bdz.bg/en
- Wikivoyage: Veliko Tarnovo, revision 5329702 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5329702
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Veliko TarnovoВелико Търново
До този адрес, моля
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance and fire112
No embassies in Veliko Tarnovo; most are in Sofia. US citizens: US Embassy in Sofia (check the address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/veliko-tarnovo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.