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Шумен, БългарияKlearchos Kapoutsis · CC BY 2.0
City guide

Shumen

Шумен

Fortress hills and the monumental story of Bulgarian statehood

4 What to seeUp to 48 gallery photosStays · Shumen →Shumen Province →ЕКАТТЕ 83510 →
01

City guide

ШуменKlearchos Kapoutsis · CC BY 2.0
What makes it special?

Shumen combines a lived-in regional centre with a powerful historic landscape: an ancient and medieval fortress, the vast Founders monument, Ottoman religious architecture and routes to Bulgaria's earliest capitals.

The city sits below a plateau where history and nature meet. Its central cultural institutions explain the region, while the high monuments and fortress require more time, elevation and planning.

  • Founders monument
  • Shumen Fortress
  • First Bulgarian capitals
Шумен — пешеходен маршрутFerad Zyulkyarov · CC BY 3.0
Walking route

Walking route

Explore the centre and regional museum, visit Tombul Mosque respectfully, then choose the Founders monument or Shumen Fortress on the plateau. Add Madara or Pliska on a separate day.

Map →
02

What to see

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

Томбул джамия, ШуменANUBIS76 · CC BY-SA 4.0
03

Tombul Mosque

Томбул джамия

One of Bulgaria's most important Ottoman religious complexes remains an active place of worship.

Регионален исторически музей, ШуменСпасимир · CC BY-SA 3.0
04

Regional Historical Museum

Регионален исторически музей

Large archaeological and historical collections prepare visitors for Pliska, Preslav, Madara and the fortress.

03

A day in the city

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13:00 · Local lunch

Local lunch

Shumen beer tradition, Osmar pelin wine, banitsa. Check menus, opening hours and prices before your visit; availability varies by season.

Bulgarian food

Local food

Local food →

Shumen beer tradition · Osmar pelin wine · banitsa · roast meats

Shumen beer traditionOsmar pelin winebanitsaBiso · CC BY 3.0banitsaroast meats
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.
Bulgarian moussakaJeroen Kransen · CC BY-SA 2.0
Baked main · home cooking

Bulgarian moussaka

Unlike the aubergine-led Greek version, Bulgarian moussaka layers diced potatoes and minced meat under a tangy yogurt topping.

What's in it Potatoes, minced meat, onion, tomato, paprika, savory and an egg-yogurt topping.
LukankaWikimedia Commons contributors
Dry-cured sausage

Lukanka

A flattened, air-dried sausage with a dense texture and warm spice, sliced thin as a meze.

What's in it Pork and beef, salt, black pepper, cumin and curing cultures in a natural casing.
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.
TaratorSumit Surai / Wikimedia Commons
Cold soup · vegetarian

Tarator

A cooling yogurt and cucumber soup served cold—simple, fresh and especially popular in summer.

What's in it Yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, walnuts, water and a little oil.
KavarmaJeroen Kransen / Wikimedia Commons
Slow-cooked main

Kavarma

Rich meat and vegetables slowly cooked with paprika and savory, often arriving sizzling in a clay pot.

What's in it Pork or chicken, onion, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and spices.
NEARBY

Public transport

Шумен

Bus / metro BDZ train times

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

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Public transport

Arrival

Arrival

A2 and Routes 2/7 serve Shumen; the first-capitals circuit is easy by car on signed roads.

Public transport

Buses and trains

Shumen is a rail and bus hub. Regional trains serve Kaspichan/Pliska area; buses reach Preslav and Madara village.

Official sourcesTourist Information Centre Shumen — Ministry of TourismCheck menus, opening hours and prices before your visit; availability varies by season. →Railway timetableБДЖ / BDZOfficial sources →Public transportMapDirections →
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Explore the province

Explore the province: Shumen Province.

Шуменска крепостFerad Zyulkyarov · CC BY 3.0Shumen

Shumen Fortress

Шуменска крепост

Layered Thracian, Roman and medieval walls occupy the wooded plateau above Shumen.

Read the guide Създатели на българската държаваNo machine-readable author provided. Tourbillon assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 3.0Shumen Plateau

Founders of the Bulgarian State

Създатели на българската държава

Monumental concrete figures tell the story of early Bulgarian rulers from high above the city.

Read the guide Мадарски конникNo machine-readable author provided. Dom2002 assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domainMadara

Madara Rider

Мадарски конник

A unique early-medieval rock relief, protected by UNESCO, is carved high into a cliff.

Read the guide Национален резерват ПлискаKlearchos Kapoutsis from Paleo Faliro, Athens, Greece · CC BY 2.0Pliska

Pliska National Reserve

Национален резерват Плиска

The immense first Bulgarian capital spreads across fields around palace ruins and the Great Basilica.

Read the guide Резерват Велики ПреславIzvora · Public domainVeliki Preslav

Veliki Preslav Reserve

Резерват Велики Преслав

Palace foundations, the Round Church and a strong museum evoke Bulgaria's literary Golden Age.

Read the guide Осмарски скални манастириDilianakiryakova · CC BY-SA 4.0Osmar

Osmar rock monasteries

Осмарски скални манастири

Medieval cells, chapels and tombs were cut into pale cliffs above vineyards on the Shumen Plateau.

Read the guide
Province guide · Shumen Province →
Map

Directions

OpenStreetMap →Google Maps · Directions →