Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: Стара Загора) is a large city in South-Central Bulgaria, on the northern edge of the Upper Thracian Plain. It's notable for its ancient ruins and the role it played in the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.

Stara Zagora (STAH-rah zah-GOH-rah) is 80 km (50 mi) north-west of Plovdiv and 75 km (47 mi) almost directly south of Veliko Tarnovo. It lies under the southern slopes of the low mountain Sarnena Gora ("Roe Deer Mountain"), which is considered the eastern third of the mountain chain of Sredna Gora ("Middle Mountain"), which in turn runs parallel to the main Balkan range, forming a series of valleys between the two ranges (the Sub-Balkan Valleys).

With a population of slightly above 120,000 people (2021), Stara Zagora is tied with Ruse for being the smallest Bulgarian city over 100,000 inhabitants. It's the administrative centre of Stara Zagora Province (Oblast). The only other sizable city in the province is Kazanlak, and only two other towns clear the 10,000 mark - the much smaller Chirpan and Radnevo.

In the city limits of today Stara Zagora, the place has been continuously inhabited since the Neolithic era (over 8,000 years ago) through the times of the Thracians, to achieve its glory in the past during the Roman times. Then the city was called Augusta Traiana and it was one of the most prominent cities in the Roman Province of Thrace. Huge avenues, covered with marble slabs, lined with statues, and a large amount of archaeological artifacts remain from this period, including the Roman Walls and Gate of the city, mosaics and the Roman Forum.

During the centuries to follow, the city was called Beroe, Irinopolis, Eski Zagra and finally – Stara Zagora (old city behind the mountain). Just before the liberation from the Ottoman Empire, the city was burned 3 times in the late 1800s and there is not too much left to see from the medieval or Bulgarian National Revival buildings. The exceptions are the few churches and monasteries within the city limits, as well as a 15th-century Ottoman mosque with amazing frescoes, declared now a National Monument of Culture.

After its rebuilding in the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Stara Zagora became one of the few Bulgarian cities build on grid. This was also the time that the large boulevards and small streets were lined up with linden trees, giving the city the aroma of late spring perfume so enchanting in the beginning of June.

Stara Zagora was also called the city of “poets” since many Bulgarian poets were born, spend their lives and created amazing poetry here, in the inspiring surroundings of one of the most prominent cultural centers in Bulgaria. Stara Zagora also has the first Opera House built outside of Sofia, one of the oldest telephone communication systems and the first robotics plant in Bulgaria.

Now it continues to be the center for prosperous cultural life, and important industrial and agricultural center.

• Stara Zagora For You - the city's official tourist information website (direct link to the version in English).

Situated almost in the geographical center of Bulgaria, Stara Zagora is linked with major roads and railroads to the rest of the country and the neighboring Turkey, Greece, and Romania. In less than 4 hours' drive, you can get here from all three countries, via very decent roads.

The nearest airport is at Plovdiv, with regular services from London and Enfidha. There used to be a local airport in Stara Zagora, but it is abandoned.

Stara Zagora is a major railroad hub, linking all Danube countries and North Europe (Romania, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine) to the Mediterranean with the line Ruse - Svilengrad - Istanbul.

Additionally, the city is on the crossroads between east - west railroad line Burgas - Sofia.

• From Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, take the Trakia expressway.
• From Burgas, on the Black Sea Coast, take the Trakia expressway.
• From Istanbul, Turkey, take the highway via Edirne, and Svilengrad, which is a good highway.
• From Ruse, in North Bulgaria, take the highways crossing Shipka or Haimboise Passes.

Buslines link Stara Zagora with all cities in Bulgaria and almost all towns and some of the villages. Regular lines every hour or half an hour from/to Sofia, Plovdiv, Haskovo, Bourgas, Sliven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Varna, etc.

• 42.42638925.6277781 Regional Museum of History, 42 Ruski, Blvd. One of the richest museums in the Balkans, when it comes to number and significance of its artifacts. The largest and the most preserved Neolithic art collection, the collection of Roman glass, the collection of Thracian chariots, the antique bronze collection and the artifacts of the Roman city of Augusta Trajana give to the museum one of the most significant places among the European museums.
  With a history of more than eight millennia, the region of Stara Zagora continues to give to scientists and lovers of history the pleasure of new archaeological and historical finds. Unearthed almost on a daily basis, these artifacts are making the headlines around the world. Stara Zagora Regional Museum of History continues to be a scientific center for research and preservation of 130,000 precious objects from all periods of the human history in South Eastern Europe. The museum is also a center for enlightenment, entertainment, and enjoyment of the region’s rich cultural heritage for more than 100 years.  
• 42.424325.61012 Neolithic Dwellings Museum, Armeyska Street, 20, ☏ +359 42 622 109. Tue-Sat 09:00-12:00, 12:30-17:00. Created in 1979, the museum "Neolithic Dwellings" of Stara Zagora hosts one of the most important prehistoric art exhibitions in Europe. It was built around 2 Neolithic houses (dwellings) dating back to the 6th millennium BC.
  During the excavation of the Neolithic houses, 1826 artifacts were found. The houses are the best-preserved in Europe from this period. Kitchens, fireplaces, hand grain mills, and ceramic vessels comprise the richest inventory of VI Millennia prehistoric house life in Europe.
  The Prehistoric Art Exhibition hosts 333 of the most important finds from the Neolithic, Eneolithic, and Chalcolitic periods (6th millennium BC – 3rd millennium BC).  
• 42.433425.65313 Samarsko Zname Monument.  
• 42.42525.6288894 Museum of Religions (Eski Mosque). A former mosque converted into a museum.  (updated Sep 2021)
• State Puppet Theater - notable mostly for the small automaton clock on its facade, something unique for Bulgaria. Every hour, it shows a parade of puppets of fairy tale characters.
• Brewery Museum (The World of Zagorka) - on the premises of the Zagorka Brewery, offers guided tours of a small museum collection and the brewery itself (including a selfie opportunity in front of its chimney stack). As of 2026, tours in English are available (Saturdays, 16:00), but the website is in Bulgarian only, so you need online translation. Tickets need to be bought in advance online. Adults only (18+) due to the alcohol.

• Football: PFC Beroe play soccer in First League, the top tier. Their Stadion Beroe (capacity 12,000) is 2 km northwest of town centre.

• Beer festival - organised by the Zagorka brewery since 2015.

There are many shops in the central street of Stara Zagora. Buying rose water and rose oil would be a great idea. You can buy small handmade metal and wooden gifts and souvenirs.

There are plenty of options, from local restaurants to luxury restaurants around Zagorka Lake. Generally, restaurants offer Bulgarian-style food and international food.

One of the most popular beer brands in Bulgaria, Zagorka, is brewed in the city.

• Hotel Zheleznik (facing the bus station), ☏ +359 42 622 158. лв44 for a single or double room as of March 2010. 
• Hotel Деэин Тегра Тор (Desintegrator) (behind the Стаза petrol station; take to your left for some 200 m when exiting from the bus station). лв36 for a single or double room as of March 2010. 

Stara Zagora is a very safe city, even for late night walks, or coming back from a bar or a dance club.

Sofia ← Plovdiv ←	W  E	→ Yambol → Burgas
Veliko Tarnovo ← Kazanlak ←	N  S	→ Haskovo → Alexandroupolis