Smolyan is a town in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria. It occupies the narrow gorge of the Cherna River in the East Rhodope Mountains, and has 34 000 residents. Once the Slavs' tribe of smolyani inhabited the area and gave the name of the settlement. The magnificent nature, mild climate, its closeness to the mountain and the Pamporovo resort attract tourists all year round. It became a town in 1960 after unifying three villages- Smolyan, Raykovo and Ustovo.
Get in
It lies 12 km from the Pamporovo resort, 45 km from Devin, 102 km from Plovdiv and 260 km from the capital Sofia.
Get around
See
Numerous houses and churches from 17th-19th centuries have been preserved up to the present day. Some of them are: "Pangalov’s house" (1860), "Sgurov’s house" (1866), "Alibeev’s town- hall" (1751), "Kelev’s house" (1860), etc.
The architectural and ethnographic reserve called Cheshitska mahala is located in the district of Raykovo.
- St. Visarion Smolenski. the second biggest bulgarian christian temple
- Stoyu Shishkov Regional History Museum, ☏ 359 30 162 770. Provides information about the history of the region.
- Town Art Gallery.
Do
There is a planetarium and a Drama Theater
- Rhodope Drama Theater.
Every year you can to visit International ETHNO-JAZZ festival "JULY JAZZ Smolyan " - in JULY. The festival meeting different art and crafts. Famous artists, young musicians and interpreters come to Smolyan to join in the festival.Work-shops: music, theatre, drama, dance, painting, crafts and iconography.CHILD ART CAMP - "Work-shop for little 'big' people" started in 2008 and art and social platform for discussion for young people.
www.julyjazzbg.com
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- Smolyan Hotel, 3, Bulgaria Bld, ☏ 359 88 293 3505. 3-star hotel
- [dead link]Ribkata Hotel, 33, ul. "Aleko Konstantinov", ☏ 359 30 169 367. 3-star hotel
- KIPARIS ALPHA Hotel, 3A, "Bulgaria" Boulevard, ☏ 359 301 64040, 359 888 790 619 (Mobile phone).
- Sportna17 Hotel, 17 Sportna Street, ☏ 359 89 996 7141, 359 301 868 92. Cheap accommodation in cozy rooms with private bathroom, TV, free parking and free Wi-Fi access.
- Hotel Complex Luxor, 51, Bulgaria Boulevard, ☏ 359 30 163 317, 359 301 64 572, 359 988 90 91 19.
- Spartak Hotel, 21, Spartak, ☏ 359 30 164 632. 14 rooms and 2 apartments equipped with heating system, TV with cable television, Internet access, telephone, balcony, hair-dryer.
- Kristal Hotel, ul. "Aleko Konstantinov" 5, ☏ 359 30 168 810, 359 889 609500 (Mobile phone).
- Eko Hotel Makrelov, 14, ул. Никола Филипов, ☏ 359 30 167 500, 359 885 433 838 (Mobile phone). 23 double rooms, 1 Apartment and 1 V.I.P. Apartment. All equipped with real-time control access, WI-Fi Internet, SAT TV, terraces,.
- Uzunski Hotel, 12 Peyo Yavorov Str., ☏ 359 88 875 7451.
- [dead link]Pearl lodge, ☏ 359 325 71000. 5-star hotel
- Spa Hotel Dikas, 47 Parvi may Str, ☏ 359 30 163 143.
- [dead link]Dafi Hotel, 16, ul. "Bacho Kiro", ☏ 359 87 933 3583, 359 896796967 (Mobile phone).
- [dead link]Petko Takov's House, Momchil Junak (Ustovo neighbourhood), ☏ 359 88 757 0998. 3-star hotel. 8 rooms
- Plaza Hotel , бул. България 69, ☏ 359 30 163 767, 359 888 802 351 (Mobile phone), 359 885 021 100 (Mobile phone).
- Smilen, 9 Shumkov Kamuk Str., ☏ 359 30 165 551. 3-star hotel. 16 double rooms and one apartment
- Moni Hotel, 6, ulitsa Perelik, ☏ 359 301 87 295, 359 888 267 379 (Mobile phone), 359 876 267 379 (Mobile phone). 67 rooms, 5 suites and 7 studios. All equipped with Satellite TV, wireless Internet, separate toilet and bathroom.
- 1 Mountain Lake Hotel, Smolyan Lake area, ☏ 359 30 168 848, 359 888 774 464 (Mobile phone), 359 887 001 650 (Mobile phone). Furnished apartments and studios equipped with satellite television, bathroom with shower, free wi-fi, mini-bar, telephone and hairdryer
Go next
Smolyan is a starting point for many mountain routes. The Smolyan lakes and the Smolyan waterfall are located not far from the town.