Free tourist map of Veliko Tarnovo

The map works directly through Google Maps and can easily be opened and used from your phone while walking around the city.

The map is designed to help you plan your day in Veliko Tarnovo more easily and conveniently.

It includes:

• landmarks of Veliko Tarnovo
• convenient parking areas in the medieval capital
• panoramic viewpoints
• photo spots
• restaurants and cafés
• walking routes and other useful information

You can combine the map with a self-guided walk or with an Audio Guide that will tell you the history of the different sites during your visit.

• Veliko Tarnovo has a well-developed public bus network. Don’t overlook this convenient way of getting around the city, especially if you want to travel from the center to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul or to Bishop’s Bridge. Tickets can be purchased directly on the bus.
• When visiting Tsarevets Fortress during the summer, we recommend bringing a hat and water. The site is quite large, and water is sold only in one location within the fortress area.
• Wear comfortable shoes, as much of the old town is covered with cobblestones and steep streets.
• The old town is not convenient for parking, so it is better to use a pre-selected parking area.
• Distances in Veliko Tarnovo may appear short on the map, but due to the hilly terrain, getting around can take more time than expected.

If you only have a few hours in Veliko Tarnovo, that is still enough time to experience the atmosphere of the city and visit some of its most iconic landmarks.

A visit to Tsarevets Fortress usually takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes if you walk at a relaxed pace and do not spend too much time at each individual site.

After visiting the fortress, you will still have around 45 minutes left to enjoy the old part of the city. We recommend visiting the Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and the Constituent Assembly and then walking down one of the most beautiful streets in Veliko Tarnovo — Gurko Street, where the famous Sarafkina House is also located.

The walk naturally continues to Samovodska Charshia — the old artisan and trading street filled with workshops, small shops, and the atmosphere of old Tarnovo.

At the end of the pedestrian street, you will find two large panoramic viewpoints offering beautiful views of the Asenevtsi Monument, the Art Gallery, and Stambolov Bridge.

In rainy weather, we do not recommend starting your visit with Tsarevets Fortress.

Much of the route there is covered with small cobblestones, which become very slippery after rain, and some sections are steep and not particularly comfortable for walking.

On a rainy day, it is better to focus on the city’s museums. Excellent choices include the Museum of the Constituent Assembly, the Prison Museum, and the Multimedia Visitor Centre with wax figures.

We intentionally do not include the churches of Saints Peter and Paul and the Holy Forty Martyrs in this route. Although both churches are definitely worth visiting, they are located at the foot of Tsarevets in the lower part of the city, and the uphill walk back in rainy weather can be tiring and less enjoyable.

One of the most beautiful places for a walk and photography in Veliko Tarnovo is located in the old part of the city, around Bishop’s Bridge. Even during winter, this area has an incredibly atmospheric charm.

From the bridge, you can continue along the road toward Arbanasi and visit the place known as the “Cradle of Love”, which offers one of the most stunning panoramic views of Veliko Tarnovo.

Another wonderful spot for walking and taking photos is Gurko Street, where the old houses built along the hillside create one of the city’s most recognizable views.

On the map, we have also marked a lesser-known panoramic viewpoint, almost hidden between the buildings of old Tarnovo. This spot feels as if it is suspended above the city gorge, and from there you can see the houses of Veliko Tarnovo so closely that they seem to stand right in front of you. It is one of the city’s most impressive and underrated panoramic viewpoints.

Even with just one day in Veliko Tarnovo, you can comfortably explore most of the city’s important historical and cultural landmarks.

You will have enough time to visit:
Tsarevets Fortress, Samovodska Charshia, Gurko Street, the panoramic viewpoints, and some of the museums.

If you would also like to explore Arbanasi at a relaxed pace, we recommend setting aside an additional day. The area truly deserves a slower visit so you can fully enjoy its atmosphere, old houses, churches, and beautiful panoramic views.

If you are visiting Veliko Tarnovo with children, we highly recommend starting your walk at the Tsarevgrad Tarnov Multimedia Visitor Centre, located next to Tsarevets Fortress. This modern museum features wax figures and impressive multi-level exhibitions that help children easily imagine what medieval Tarnovgrad looked like and how people lived during that period.

After visiting the center, exploring Tsarevets Fortress itself becomes much more engaging and emotional, as the remains of the fortress walls, houses, and streets begin to truly come alive in children’s imagination.

Another interesting place to visit with children is the Prison Museum, which impresses visitors with its unique atmosphere and unusual exhibition.