Pleven Travel Guide, Bulgaria

Pleven Travel Guide – Location

The city is located in the central northern part of Bulgaria, in the Danubian Plains, only 170 miles away from the Varna and 170 km away from the capital city of the country, Sofia.

Pleven Travel Guide – Topography and Climate

The general aspect of the region in which Pleven is located is of a plain area surrounded by medium height limestone hills. Due to the area’s average elevation of only 116m and the immense surrounding landmass, the city has a temperate continental climate with four seasons. The summers are hot and scarce in rainfalls while winters are very cold and snowy. The best periods of the year to visit this city are autumn and spring when it is not too cold or too rainy.

The city is crossed by the small Tuchenitsa River, tributary to the Vit River that flows nearby Pleven.

Pleven, Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

The city has few indigenous plant and animal species due to intensive agriculture that is practiced here, Pleven being located in one of the most important agricultural regions of Bulgaria. Still, some steppe characteristic grass species are present, along with several poplar, alder and willow species mainly near the rivers. The most often seen animal species are hares, rodents and a few bird species both migratory and local. The waters of the Tuchenitsa River house several species of fish, frogs and the fresh water turtle.

Pleven, Travel Guide – Population

Pleven travel guide mentions about 122.000 inhabitants and still growing. The locals are mostly Bulgarians of Orthodox religion followed by the Roman Catholics and Muslims. Due to foreign investments made here the city has known a continuous growth since the nineteen nineties, most of the population working in the newly created light industry and tourism.

Pleven, Travel Guide – Culture and Arts

Pleven has an intense cultural life with new and interesting events every month. Painting exhibitions, book premieres, film festivals, theater shows and other festivities are very present in the locals’ life.

Exhibitions are usually held in the Historical Museum of Pleven, Art Clubs or Art Galleries and welcome many visitors every time. Numerous painters, sculptors, photographers and more fill up the art galleries from Pleven and from abroad with their works and are appreciated throughout the world.

Even if the city does not have an opera house, it has a philharmonic orchestra performing on every occasion with the same talent and devotion.

Pleven, Travel Guide – Transports

Just like any other important city in Bulgaria, Pleven is crossed by an important international road, railway and international airport. For getting here the easiest way is by plane arriving at Pleven International Airport or by car. The railway system is also quite developed here, being very popular among Bulgarians as a mean of transport within the country.

Within the city tourists can travel using the public transportation system, the bus or tram. Also very accessible and popular is the taxi and the rent a car companies offering great service.

Pleven, Travel Guide – Accommodation

Pleven offers a wide range of accommodation options for every type of vacation and tourist. For business trips the best option in town is the Balkan Hotel, a tourist facility offering conference rooms, self sufficient rooms, private parking, two restaurants with both European and international cuisine and more.

For a family vacation Milyana Family Hotel is the best choice. The hotels offer cozy apartments with all necessary facilities, even your own kitchen and sauna. The beautifully decorated rooms and the well known Bulgarian hospitality will help you enjoy your vacation like nowhere else.

Pleven, Travel Guide – Festivals

The city of Pleven houses every year several cultural events like theatre festivals, opera festivals and more. One of the most popular festivals here is the International Music Festival “Katya Popova” gathering numerous talented young people from all over Bulgaria and the world. Other such well known events are the National Competition for Bulgarian Drama ”Ivan Radoev”, National Festival of Photography “Fodar”, the National Festival for films “Artvision” and many other smaller events.