A perfect weekend in Plovdiv from Sofia

Plovdiv is just under two hours from Sofia, making it the easiest weekend escape in Bulgaria. Trains leave Sofia Central roughly every two hours; buses are faster and more frequent.

Day one: drop your bags, walk Main Street to the Roman Stadium, then climb into the Old Town for the house museums and the Roman Theatre. Finish with sunset on Nebet Tepe and dinner in Kapana.

Day two: coffee in Kichuk Parizh, the Archaeological Museum if it's hot, and a half-day trip to Bachkovo Monastery before the evening train home.