Ihtiman is a town in Sofia province with 12,537 inhabitants (NSI, end of 2025), the centre of its municipality. It lies in the Ihtiman basin at about 650 m, ringed by the Ihtiman Sredna Gora, 54 km from Sofia and 90 km from Plovdiv on the motorway.
On the Trakia motorway. The Sofia – Plovdiv railway passes about 2 km from town, where the station is.
The settlement began in the 1st century as Helice, a station on the Roman Via Diagonalis. In late antiquity it was fortified and supported the defences in the nearby Trajan's Gate pass; it was then called Stoponion. The Ottomans took it in 1371, and the name Ihtiman is first recorded in 1515. From the 18th century Bulgarians from the surrounding villages settled here.
Todorovden (the "horses' Easter") with a parade and a horse contest, the town feast around 15 August, and the Saturday market from 7:00 to 13:00.
Pazardzhik region
17.7 km away
Sofia region
23.8 km away
Ihtiman is located in Sofia Province, Bulgaria.
Ihtiman is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Ihtiman can be visited year-round, but late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the most pleasant weather and fewer tourists. Summer is the busiest season; winter is the quietest, with shorter daylight and possible cold weather.
Bulgarian settlements typically reward unhurried walking — historic centres, churches and monasteries, local markets, and family-run restaurants serving regional dishes. Larger towns often have museums and seasonal cultural events. The local tourist information centre is a good first stop for current opening hours and what's on.
