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The city of Veliko Tarnovo is located in the central part of Northern Bulgaria. The beautiful scenery of Veliko Tarnovo Hills and Yantra River which curves through the city are some of the reasons that helped Veliko Tarnovo to become famous tourist center. The unique amphitheatrically situation of the city on four hills is a picture you will never forget.

Veliko Tarnovo at present days

Nowadays the city of Veliko Tarnovo is significant, administrative, cultural and historical centre of Bulgaria. It is also a centre of one of the 28 administrative districts of the country.

The district of Veliko Tarnovo is 4662 sq. km. in size and includes the following 10 municipalities: Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Elena, Zlataritsa, Lyaskovets, Pavlikeni, Polski Trambesh, Svishtov, Strazhitsa, Suhindol, 14 towns/cities and 322 villages. The population is about 295 000 people.

The territorial balance of the region shows that 23.1% of its total area is occupied by forests, 1.8%- by water areas, 69.0%- by agricultural areas, 4.4%- by urbanized areas, 1.0%- by infrastructure, and 0.7% by mining areas.

The second biggest university in the country-“St St Cyril and Methodius” is located in Veliko Tarnovo and together with the students of “Vasil Levski” National Military University  the city population reach 77 000 people.

High spirits of young people is everywhere, on the streets, in shops, restaurants and cafes where mostly work students. At night you can enjoy their company in variety of taverns, clubs and discos.

Veliko Tarnovo is an important landmark for Bulgaria due to its location, good climate, natural resources, historical heritage, preserved architecture and traditional arts and crafts. The city and Veliko Tarnovo Region are in the top ten of the most visited tourist destinations in Eastern Europe.   

Landmarks

If you are first time in Veliko Tarnovo here are some very interesting places you should include in your visitors list:

• The emblem of the glorious history of the city during The Middle Ages- the fortress “Tsarevets” which is protected on three sides by Yantra River. In the evenings don’t miss the incredible and unique audio-visual show performed on the fortress “Tsarevgrad Tarnov Sound And Light”.

• “Trapezitsa” hill where archeologists discovered 17 church foundations. Тhe nobility used to lived there and built their own family churches.

• The Cathedral church “The Birth of the Holy Virgin” – the biggest active church in the city.

• The museum of the Bulgarian Revival and the Constituent Assembly, located at the old “Konak” (Turkish municipal building), build by the unsurpassed master Nikola Fichev.

• The archeological museum which keeps numerous founds and remains of the ancient history of these lands.

• “Samovodska Charshia”- the old trade street which sheltered skilful craftsmen through the Revival Period and even today many of the houses and the workshops are fully restored.

• The “House with the monkey” and “Mother Bulgaria” monument- both on the main street, you can’t miss to see them.

•  “Gurko” street- a unique illustration of Bulgarian Revival architectural style where you can visit “Sarafkina house”, the church of “St. Constantine and Elena” and enjoy the gorgeous view of the Yantra River and the Asens’ Monument.

• The church “St. Forty Martyrs”-built in 1230 on the order of Tzar Ivan Asen II, which preserved some of the Bulgarian Empire's most significant historical records, written columns from Bulgarian кhans including Omurtag's Column, Asen's Column and the Border Column from Rodosto and the time of Khan Krum.

Surrounding area

The region is popular with its beautiful monasteries from the Medieval Period.

1. The “Preobrazhenski” (Transfiguration) Monastery is situated at the distance of 3.5 miles north of Veliko Tarnovo. It was built in 14^th century but repeatedly ruined by fire during the period of Ottoman Rule and finally rebuild in the beginning of 19^th century. It is one of the most remarkable monuments of Bulgarian Revival Period architecture and iconography where masters from Tryavna have made their finest wood carved iconostasis and icons. A bell tower with a clock built in 1860 by master Kolyu Ficheto(Nikola Fitchev) rises in the yard of the monastery.

2. Оn the right bank of Yantra River opposite the “Preobrazhenski” Monastery is located one of the oldest monasteries around Veliko Tarnovo-“ Sveta Troitsa” (The Holy Trinity) Monastery. It originated about the year 1070 and initially it was a small cave formed in the rocky massif above the present-day monastery. The monastery is known in Bulgarian history for becoming the first school of Literature in Bulgaria.

3. The Lyaskovets Monastery is situated at the distance of 3.5 miles northwest of Veliko Tarnovo and 2 miles southwest of the town of Lyaskovets on a high inaccessible rock on the Arbanassi Hill. The monastery is famous for providing shelter to the revolutionaries during the preparation of the April Uprising.

4. The Kilifarevo Monastery is at the distance of 10 miles south of Veliko Tarnovo. It is of great significance in the history of Bulgarian culture. Built during 1348 - 1350 by Theodosii Tarnovski with the help of Tsar Ivan Alexander the monastery and its famous school had 460 scholars in 1360.

5. In the north part of the Balkan Mountains, only 11 miles south of Veliko Tarnovo lays "St. Prophet Ilya" Monastery of Plakovo. Remains of the old monastery church built during the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen have been preserved up to the present. The monastery was an important spiritual and cultural center at the time of Ottoman yoke and played an important role in the liberation of Bulgaria.   

 Very interesting place to visit is the village of Voneshta Voda situated 18 miles away from Veliko Tarnovo. It is popular for its thermal springs; the mineral water is used for medical treatment by drinking and balneological baths. The village offers excellent conditions for medical tourism and balneotherapy.

Popular not only amongst Bulgarian tourists is the village of Arbanasi located only 2.5 miles away from the old medieval capital. It is a proof for architectural genius of Bulgarian masters dating back to 15^th century. The village has preserved its revival outlook and atmosphere providing visitors with the incredible chance to learn about Bulgarian history surrounded with unique sensation.  

Places for entertainment

The city of Veliko Tarnovo offers variety of options to spend your free time. Here are some of the restaurants, cafes and night clubs most of them are open 7 days a week:

Restaurant “The Happy Man” (pronounced in Bulgarian as “Shtastliveca”)

Address: 79, “Stefan Stambolov “Str. 

Restaurant “The Happy Man” 2(located in Hotel Concord)

Address: 14, “C. Cerkovski” Str.

Reservations on: 062 606 053 

Restaurant “Studio” (Bulgarian, French and Italian cuisine)

Address: 4, “Todor Lefterov” Str.

Restaurant “Ethno”

Address: 29 b, “Bulgaria” Blvd.

Reservations on: (+ 359 62) 606 670; 0896 722 732 

Restaurant “St. George”

Address: 14, “Georgi Mamarchev” Str. 

Pizza and Grill “Ego”

Address: 17, “Nezavisimost” Str. 

Pizza “Tempo”

Address: 3, “Slaveykov” Sqr.

Reservations on: (+ 359 62) 623 787

 “City Pub” (food and drink)

Address: 15, “Hristo Botev” Str.

Reservations on: (+ 359 62) 637 824 

“Dublin Irish Pub”

Address: 2, “Maika Bulgaria” Sqr. 

Pizza “La Scala”

Address: 14, “Hristo Botev” Str. 

Café “Stratilat”

 Address: “Rakovski” Str. 

Café “Geronimo”

Address: 1, “Vasil Levski” Str. 

Disco “Bally”

Address: 2, “Hristo Botev” Str. 

Club “Spider”

Address:  “Hristo Botev” Str.