Weekend Getaways from Plovdiv: 8 Autumn & Winter Escapes
In this guide▾
Plovdiv is a perfect starting point for a weekend: the Rhodopes lie to the south, Sredna Gora and the Balkan to the north, and in between there is more mineral water than anywhere else in Bulgaria. Here are 8 weekend getaways with an overnight stay, all within about 3 hours of the city, grouped by what the weekend is for — warm water, the Rhodopes, or the Balkan.
If you only have a day, see our day trips from Plovdiv. This guide is about the places worth at least one night — especially from October to December.
🗺️ At a glance
| Place | Distance | By car | Without a car? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hisarya | ~45 km | ~1 h | Yes — bus, train with a change | Mineral water, Roman walls |
| Chepelare | ~75 km | ~1 h 30 | Yes — Smolyan bus | Skiing, a cheaper base |
| Pavel Banya | ~90 km | ~1 h 30 | Bus; train + minibus | Spa hotels, the Rose Valley |
| Devin | ~90 km | ~2 h | Few buses | Spa and an eco-trail |
| Velingrad | ~94 km | ~1 h 30 | Yes — bus | The spa capital |
| Smolyan & Shiroka Laka | ~100 km | ~2 h | Yes — bus to Smolyan | Rhodope villages, lakes |
| Trigrad & Yagodina | ~110 km | ~2 h | No — you need a car | Caves |
| Troyan, Oreshak, Apriltsi | ~125 km | ~2 h 10 | Bus to Troyan | Crafts, guest houses, the Balkan |
Winter tyres are mandatory from 15 November to 1 March — the rules are in our driving in Bulgaria guide.
♨️ Warm water: the spa towns
Autumn and winter are when mineral water makes most sense. One thing to know: most outdoor municipal pools run only in summer. From October to May the water is in hotel pools and spas. For a comparison of the spa towns, see our spa and thermal springs guide.
1. Hisarya — the closest spa weekend
Hisarya is about 45 km to the north — around an hour by car, with regular buses and a train with a change at Dolna Mahala. The town sits inside Roman fortress walls, and the mineral water is drunk straight from the fountains in the park. It is a pleasant walk between two pools even in November. Everything for the weekend — tickets, the museum, parking — is in our Hisarya and Pavel Banya guide.
2. Velingrad — the spa capital
Velingrad is about 94 km away — around an hour and a half via Pazardzhik, with direct buses from Plovdiv. It has more than 80 mineral springs and over 60 hotels. The big outdoor municipal pool closes on 1 October, so in November and December choose a hotel with a working outdoor pool. The public baths, Lepenitsa cave and Kleptuza are in our Velingrad guide.
3. Pavel Banya — spa hotels in the Rose Valley
Pavel Banya is about 90 km away — around an hour and a half. You come here for the hotel spa; it is the point of the weekend. Kazanlak, its Thracian tombs and Shipka are close by for day two. Details in our Hisarya and Pavel Banya guide.
4. Devin and Zlatograd — spa in the Rhodopes
Devin is about 90 km away, around 2 hours through the Vacha gorge. It is a small, quiet town with spa hotels and the Struilitsa eco-trail, which starts next to the pools. Zlatograd is about 150 km away (around 3 hours) — Bulgaria's southernmost town, with spa hotels and an old quarter of working craftsmen. The two towns are 2 h 20 apart, so don't combine them in one night. Everything is in our Devin and Zlatograd guide.
🏔️ The Rhodopes
5. Smolyan and Shiroka Laka
Smolyan is about 100 km away, around 2 hours up the Chepelare valley, with regular buses. The Smolyan lakes, the Canyon of Waterfalls and the planetarium all work in autumn. The planetarium is closed on Sundays and Mondays — plan it for Saturday. On the way is Shiroka Laka, a protected Rhodope village with guest houses and one of the most atmospheric places to sleep in the mountains. More in our Smolyan guide.
6. Chepelare — skiing and a cheaper base
Chepelare is about 75 km away, around an hour and a half via Asenovgrad, and the Smolyan buses stop in the centre. Its own ski area, Mechi Chal, is smaller and quieter than Pamporovo, 10 km further up the road. The ski season usually runs from late December to mid-March, and rooms in Chepelare are cheaper than in the resort. Everything is in our Chepelare guide.
7. Trigrad and Yagodina — the caves
The Trigrad Gorge is about 110 km away, around 2 hours, and practically unreachable without a car. The Devil's Throat and Yagodina Cave are open year-round with hourly tours — it is 6–8 °C inside at any time of year, so the caves work in November too. Stay in Trigrad or Yagodina for the silence, or in Devin for a spa evening. Details in our Trigrad and Yagodina guide.
🏘️ Below the Balkan
Karlovo and Kalofer are under an hour away and easy to see in a day — they are in our day trips from Plovdiv. For a weekend with a night below the Balkan, carry on to Troyan.
8. Troyan, Oreshak and Apriltsi
Troyan is about 125 km away — around 2 h 10 via Karlovo and the Troyan Pass. The road crosses high over the Balkan, and in winter there is often snow and fog up there — check before you set off. Troyan pottery and plum rakia, the crafts exhibition at Oreshak next to Troyan Monastery, and Apriltsi as a base for the Central Balkan — with guest houses in demand especially for New Year. Everything is in our Troyan and Apriltsi guide.
🗓️ November or December?
- November is the month for a weekend for two: the spa towns are quiet, the Rhodope villages are misty, and the guest houses have their fires lit. It is also when New Year bookings fill up — if you want Shiroka Laka, Apriltsi or a spa hotel for 31 December, book now.
- December brings the first snow to Chepelare and Pamporovo, usually towards the end of the month. The high roads — the Troyan Pass, the road to Trigrad, the climb to Smolyan — can be icy in the mornings, so leave after sunrise and drive slowly.
- Either month, the warm water and the museums work. Outdoor walks are best at midday, when the fog lifts.
🧭 How to choose
- Warm water and quiet: Hisarya for the shortest drive, Velingrad for the widest choice, Devin for mountains around the pool.
- No car: Hisarya, Velingrad or Smolyan.
- Snow and skiing: Chepelare, or Pamporovo with a bed in Chepelare.
- A weekend for two in a guest house: Shiroka Laka or Apriltsi.
- With children: Yagodina Cave, Hisarya's flat paths along the walls, or the Smolyan planetarium.
🚗 Just going for the day?
The classic same-day trips have their own guide: day trips from Plovdiv — with Bachkovo Monastery, Asen's Fortress, Kazanlak, Buzludzha, Karlovo and Kalofer. In December add the Christmas markets, and for the whole season see things to do in Bulgaria in winter. Leaving from Sofia instead? See our weekend getaways near Sofia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go for a spa weekend near Plovdiv?▾
The closest is Hisarya — about 45 km, around an hour by car. For a bigger choice of spa hotels, try Velingrad (about 94 km) or Pavel Banya (about 90 km). In the Rhodopes, Devin (about 90 km, around 2 hours) and Zlatograd (about 150 km).
Which weekend getaways from Plovdiv work without a car?▾
Hisarya has regular buses and a train with a change at Dolna Mahala. Velingrad, Smolyan and Chepelare have direct buses, and Troyan has a bus. Devin, Trigrad and Apriltsi are much easier by car.
Where can I ski near Plovdiv?▾
The closest is Chepelare — about 75 km, around an hour and a half, with the Mechi Chal ski area. Pamporovo is another 10 km up the same road. The ski season usually runs from late December to mid-March.
What is open near Plovdiv in November?▾
Spa hotels run year-round, so November is a good month for Hisarya, Velingrad, Pavel Banya and Devin. The museums in Smolyan keep winter hours, and the Yagodina and Devil's Throat caves run hourly tours. Outdoor municipal pools are usually closed.
How is this different from day trips from Plovdiv?▾
This guide is about places worth at least one night. For same-day trips — Bachkovo Monastery, Asen's Fortress, Kazanlak, Buzludzha, Karlovo and Kalofer — see our guide to day trips from Plovdiv.
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