Omurtag is a town in Targovishte Province, at 525 m in the Slannik (Tozluk) area of the eastern Fore-Balkan. It has about 5,000 inhabitants (NSI, end of 2025) and is the seat of Omurtag municipality. The town sits on a crossroads: the Sofia–Varna road runs through it west to east, and the Ruse–Kotel Pass–Sliven and Yambol road north to south.
The first written records of the town date from the 17th century, when Ottoman tax registers list it as the seat of a kaza named Osman Pazar — a centre of crafts and trade. The Otets Paisiy community centre was founded in 1870. On 27 January 1878 the town was taken by the Russian 11th Infantry Division, after retreating Ottoman troops had set it on fire. After 1878 the Turkish population left, and Bulgarians from the Tran and Kyustendil areas settled in their place. In 1934 the town was renamed Omurtag after the Bulgarian khan.
Targovishte is about 24 km away, Shumen about 65 km and Veliko Tarnovo about 80 km. From Sofia the road is about 300 km, more than 4 hours by car.
Kotel, the Marinata Dupka cave (about 12 km), the Orlitsata reserve and Targovishte.
Targovishte region
11.8 km away
Targovishte region
20.3 km away
Sliven region
24.7 km away
Sliven region
25.6 km away
Omurtag is located in Targovishte, Bulgaria.
Omurtag 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.
Omurtag 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.
