# Things to see in Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria): 18 places and when to go

> Veliko Tarnovo is a town in Bulgaria with around 53,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 18 places in and around it, mainly Temples (7), History (5), Museums and art (3). The best known are Tsarevets, Nicopolis ad Istrum and Bacho Kiro Cave. The best time to come is May to October; also possible: November to April. In June there are 15 h 10 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 50. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/veliko-tarnovo/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** Bulgaria · 43.0862, 25.6555
- **Population:** About 53,000
- **Places:** 18 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/espiritual/) (7) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/historia/) (5) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/museos/) (3) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/naturaleza/) (1) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/fauna/) (1) · [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/senderismo/) (1)
- **Best time:** May to October.
- **Also possible:** November to April.
- **Nearest airport:** BOJ Burgas, 162 km as the crow flies

## What to see in Veliko Tarnovo

The places in and around Veliko Tarnovo, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Tsarevets](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/tsarevets/): Medieval stronghold in northern Bulgaria · 503 m
- [Nicopolis ad Istrum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/nikopolis-ad-istrum/): Ancient Roman city in Bulgaria · 15 km
- [Bacho Kiro Cave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/bacho-kiro/): Cave in Bulgaria · 24 km
- [Holy Forty Martyrs Church, Veliko Tarnovo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/iglesia-de-los-cuarenta-martires/): Church in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria · 491 m
- [E3 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/ruta-europea-caminar-e3/): Walking path · 22 km
- [Trapezitsa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/trapezitza/): History · 765 m
- [Dryanovo Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/dryanovo-monastery/): Monastery in Bulgaria · 24 km
- [Transfiguration Monastery, Bulgaria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/transfiguration-monastery/): Monastery in Bulgaria · 5.2 km
- [Devingrad](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/devingrad/): Medieval Fortress · 643 m
- [Church of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Veliko Tarnovo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/iglesia-de-san-demetrio-veliko-tarnovo/): Church in Bulgaria · 615 m
- [Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Veliko Tarnovo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/church-of-saints-peter-and-paul/): Church in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria · 407 m
- [Kilifarevo Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/kilifarevo-monastery/): Temples · 15 km
- [Saint Michael church](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/archangel-michael/): Church in Tryavna, Bulgaria · 28 km
- [Daskalolivnitsa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/daskalolivnitsa/): The first grade school in Bulgaria · 25 km
- [House museum Hilarion of Makariopolis](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/kushta-muzei-ilarion-makariopolski/): Museum in Elena · 25 km
- [Old School, Tryavna](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/shkoloto-school-museum/): Museum in Bulgaria · 28 km
- [Clock Tower of Tryavna](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/tryavna-clock-tower/): Clock Tower of Tryavna, Bulgaria · 28 km
- [Mini Bulgaria Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/mini-bulgaria-park/): With kids · 765 m

## When to go to Veliko Tarnovo

The best time to visit Veliko Tarnovo is **May to October**; also possible: November to April. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 09 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 18 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 39 |
| April | Possible | 13 h 11 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 28 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 10 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 53 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 46 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 17 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 47 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 28 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 50 |

In June there are 15 h 10 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 50. In May, 18 of the 18 places are at their best.

When to go to Bulgaria in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Veliko Tarnovo

The nearest main airport is Burgas Airport (BOJ, Burgas), 162 km as the crow flies. How to get around Bulgaria (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=43.0862%2C25.6555)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.0862%2C25.6555)

## Other towns nearby

- [Sliven](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/sliven/): 18 places · 71 km
- [Stara Zagora](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/stara-zagora/): 6 places · 74 km
- [Lovech](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/lovech/): 6 places · 76 km
- [Ruse, Bulgaria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/ruse/): 11 places · 89 km
- [Shumen](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/shumen/): 11 places · 105 km
- [Plovdiv](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/plovdiv/): 25 places · 127 km

And all of Bulgaria, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Veliko Tarnovo?

The best known: [Tsarevets](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/tsarevets/), [Nicopolis ad Istrum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/nikopolis-ad-istrum/), [Bacho Kiro Cave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/bacho-kiro/), [Holy Forty Martyrs Church, Veliko Tarnovo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/iglesia-de-los-cuarenta-martires/), [E3 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/ruta-europea-caminar-e3/). In all, 18 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Veliko Tarnovo?

May to October; also possible: November to April. In June there are 15 h 10 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 50.

### How do you get to Veliko Tarnovo?

The nearest main airport is Burgas Airport (BOJ), 162 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.0862%2C25.6555) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Veliko Tarnovo as the destination and these 18 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).