Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria. Known as the ‘City of Seven Hills’, Plovdiv is also in a fertile region on the banks of the Maritsa River. Plovdiv is an increasingly popular visitor destination, for its culture, and numerous ancient ruins. There’s a nice variety of running in Plovdiv, with 3-4 excellent routes located in the same general area, so they can be mixed in different ways.
A good way to start is running a section of the ~6 km of paths along the Maritsa River, mainly along the south bank. At the western end of the Maritsa paths, the 4.8 km loop around the Rowing Canal is one of the most popular places to run in Plovdiv. We’ve also put together two routes incorporating Plovdiv’s history & hills (which can be combined!): combining Bunardzhika Hill/Youth Hill & Rozarium Park; and our 5k ‘Runseeing‘ tour which combines Old Town Plovdiv, Roman sites, Danov Hill, and the Kapana District. For some nice, shaded running on a hot day, head to Lauta Park, 3 km east of the city center.
Runner Notes: Many of the streets in the historic center are cobblestone — not easy for running! Also, Plovdiv can be hot and humid in the summer.
