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Стара Загора, БългарияKhan Omurtag · CC0
City guide

Stara Zagora

Стара Загора

Neolithic homes, Roman Augusta Traiana and a city of straight streets

4 What to seeUp to 48 gallery photosStays · Stara Zagora →Stara Zagora Province →ЕКАТТЕ 68850 →
01

City guide

Стара ЗагораKhan Omurtag · CC0
What makes it special?

Stara Zagora combines rare prehistoric remains, a Roman street plan and forum, strong museums and broad parks within a modern city rebuilt on an ordered grid.

Few Bulgarian cities show such a long urban sequence so clearly: Neolithic dwellings, Roman Augusta Traiana, medieval remains and the planned post-1877 city. The surrounding region adds Thracian tombs, roses, wine and mineral springs.

  • Neolithic dwellings
  • Augusta Traiana
  • Ayazmoto and city parks
Стара Загора — пешеходен маршрутLZ1ALT · CC BY-SA 4.0
Walking route

Walking route

Begin at the Regional History Museum and Roman forum, visit the Neolithic Dwellings Museum on a timed schedule, then climb through Ayazmoto Park for views and a slower local rhythm.

Map →
02

What to see

Check menus, opening hours and prices before your visit; availability varies by season.

Музей „Неолитни жилища“, Стара ЗагораSvik at Bulgarian Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
01

Neolithic Dwellings Museum

Музей „Неолитни жилища“

Two exceptionally preserved early-Neolithic houses are protected in place with household features and finds.

Античен форум „Августа Траяна“, Стара ЗагораLZ1ALT · CC BY-SA 4.0
02

Augusta Traiana Forum

Античен форум „Августа Траяна“

The Roman civic centre and street remains reveal the planned scale of the ancient city.

Регионален исторически музей, Стара ЗагораAsen01 · Public domain
03

Regional Historical Museum

Регионален исторически музей

The museum integrates archaeology and urban history above visible remains of an ancient street.

Парк „Аязмото“, Стара ЗагораNenko Lazarov · CC BY 2.5
04

Ayazmoto Park

Парк „Аязмото“

The wooded hillside park is a beloved local landscape of paths, viewpoints and cultural landmarks.

03

A day in the city

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13:00 · Local lunch

Local lunch

rose jam, Thracian wine, lamb dishes. Check menus, opening hours and prices before your visit; availability varies by season.

Стара Загора следобедNenko Lazarov · CC BY 2.5
16:00 · Afternoon

Ayazmoto Park

Leave time for a park, a neighbourhood street or a view.

Bulgarian food

Local food

Local food →

rose jam · Thracian wine · lamb dishes · chirpan-style meatballs

rose jamСпасимир (Spasimir Pilev) · CC BY-SA 4.0rose jamThracian winelamb disheschirpan-style meatballs
Rose petal jamWikimedia Commons contributors
Floral preserve · regional

Rose petal jam

A fragrant preserve that captures the Damask rose harvest in translucent syrup.

What's in it Edible rose petals, sugar, water and citric acid or lemon juice.
GyuvechМарина1972 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Clay-pot stew

Gyuvech

A slow clay-pot bake in which meat, seasonal vegetables and rice exchange flavours for hours.

What's in it Pork, lamb or beef, peppers, aubergine, okra, tomato, potato or rice, depending on season.
TutmanikMpb eu / Wikimedia Commons · public domain
Cheese bread · breakfast

Tutmanik

A soft, pull-apart yeast bread layered or rolled with white brined cheese and butter.

What's in it Flour, yeast, milk or yogurt, eggs, butter and sirene cheese.
KyufteWikimedia Commons contributors
Grilled meatball

Kyufte

A flattened grilled meatball, juicy inside and fragrant with cumin, pepper and onion.

What's in it Minced pork or mixed meat, onion, cumin, pepper, salt and sometimes parsley.
Shopska saladViktorija N. Ivanov / Wikimedia Commons
Salad · vegetarian

Shopska salad

The classic first order: tomatoes, cucumber and peppers under a generous snowy layer of white brined cheese.

What's in it Tomatoes, cucumber, roasted or fresh pepper, onion, parsley and sirene cheese.
BanitsaBiso / Wikimedia Commons
Breakfast · pastry

Banitsa

Crisp filo layers wrapped around eggs, yogurt and white cheese—a warm Bulgarian breakfast staple.

What's in it Filo pastry, eggs, yogurt, sirene cheese and butter or oil.
NEARBY

Public transport

Стара Загора

Bus / metro BDZ train times

© OpenStreetMap contributors · Open Database License · availability depends on local mapping

04

Public transport

Arrival

Arrival

A1 and Routes 5/6 serve the province; Shipka Pass and Buzludzha access require winter and weather checks.

Public transport

Buses and trains

Stara Zagora is a major rail/bus hub; frequent trains and buses reach Kazanlak. Mountain monuments need bus-plus-taxi planning.

Official sourcesStara Zagora — official tourism portalCheck menus, opening hours and prices before your visit; availability varies by season. →Railway timetableБДЖ / BDZOfficial sources →Public transportMapDirections →
05

Explore the province

Explore the province: Stara Zagora Province.

Осемте хилядолетия на Стара ЗагораKhan Omurtag · CC0Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora's eight millennia

Осемте хилядолетия на Стара Загора

Neolithic dwellings, Roman Augusta Traiana and a planned modern grid reveal repeated lives of the city.

Read the guide Казанлъшка тракийска гробницаKmrakmra · CC BY-SA 3.0Kazanlak

Kazanlak Thracian Tomb

Казанлъшка тракийска гробница

A UNESCO tomb is known for extraordinary painted scenes; visitors usually enter a precise nearby replica.

Read the guide Паметникът на ШипкаVislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0Shipka Pass

Shipka Monument

Паметникът на Шипка

A monumental tower above the Balkan pass commemorates decisive battles of the Russo-Turkish War.

Read the guide Паметник БузлуджаAnnboeva · CC BY-SA 4.0Buzludzha Peak

Buzludzha Monument

Паметник Бузлуджа

A vast late-socialist monument dominates a windswept peak and is viewed primarily from its exterior.

Read the guide Старозагорски минерални баниZlatan.Zlatanov · Public domainStara Zagora Mineral Baths

Stara Zagora Mineral Baths

Старозагорски минерални бани

A small spa settlement and forested archaeological area provide a quiet break west of the city.

Read the guide Язовир Жребчево и потопената църкваCvdr · CC BY-SA 4.0Zapalnya and Nikolaevo

Zhrebchevo Reservoir and submerged church

Язовир Жребчево и потопената църква

A large Tundzha reservoir is famous for the surviving church of the flooded village of Zapalnya, visible beside changing water levels.

Read the guide
Province guide · Stara Zagora Province →
Map

Directions

OpenStreetMap →Google Maps · Directions →