Bulgaria’s old capital dramatically rises and falls with the hills it’s built on. The medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo overlooks two converging rivers surrounding the Tsarevets Fortress, where Bulgarian tsars once ruled. It’s regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Book one of these hotels for your next stay.
The warm, yellow facade of Alegro Hotel practically welcomes you inside this lovingly restored old town house with 14 rooms overlooking a park or pedestrian street. Both outside and in, the space is bursting with fresh flowers. Don’t miss a meal in the elegant, white tablecloth garden restaurant.
Find calm among nature at the Park-Hotel Raya Garden, nestled in the Sveta Gora Park outside of Veliko Tarnovo. The hotel lobby and rooms feature floor-to-ceiling art of flamingos, peacocks, and lush landscapes. While you’re not on the hook to take advantage of it, your stay comes with a free day of fishing at the onsite lake.
The family-owned Hotel Varusha is perfectly positioned on a narrow cobblestone street, just steps from the city’s main drag. At the end of the street is the Samovodska Charshia Market, where you can buy beautiful handmade crafts. This homey spot welcomes you with a plant-filled window and cosy chambers.
Feel as sumptuous as ancient Bulgrian royalty in Yantra Grand Hotel’s red-and-gold rooms. Named for the river it overlooks, expect plush rooms and great dining. Have an authentic Bulgarian medieval meal on the panorama terrace, or indulge in cakes and other sweets made fresh at its Vienna Cafe. It even offers confectionery-themed massages at the spa – choose from chocolate or honey.
On one of the city’s quieter cobblestone streets, the family hotel Slavianska Dusha lives up to its name, which means ‘Slavic soul’. Most of the affordable rooms have their own terrace, and the restaurant provides traditional food in a quintessentially Bulgarian setting. During the winter months, there’s a fireplace that enhances the familial atmosphere.
For the price of dinner, you can have a room with a balcony at the centrally located Stambolov Hotel. Vistas at this casual family-owned guest house look out on the red-tile rooftops, and the simple rooms are the perfect place to crash after exploring all the historic sites within walking distance.
True to its name, the Panorama Hotel looks out of Veliko Tarnovo’s ancient fortress and converging rivers. Its central location means you can walk to all the main attractions in the winding city — go far enough and you’ll understand why locals say there are only three directions in the city: uphill, downhill, and taking the stairs.
Styled in the manner of Bulgarian national revival architecture of wood, stone, and red tile, the Park Hotel Sevastokrator complex will take you back in time. From the hotel in Arbanasi, you can see plenty of the historical homes its style derives from. You’re also well-positioned for quick trips to nearby monasteries and churches.
Sandwiched on land between one of the Yantra River’s looping bends, this restored 1891 building is in the centre of Veliko Tarnovo’s old town with views of the nearby Sveta Gora Park. The spacious, tastefully decorated rooms come at a reasonable price, plus there’s a spa area and sauna for unwinding at the end of the day.
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