Lavender Fields in Bulgaria: A Day Trip from Bucharest
Last Updated on November 19, 2024 by Ingrid
My friends know that I have a new obsession with lavender fields. After I explored many fields in Romania, I began looking for lavender fields in Bulgaria.
You heard me right. Forget France! The lavender fields in Bulgaria, one of the cheapest European destinations, should be your next stop. They are way more affordable, not crowded, and authentic.
But together with friends, we decided to jump in the car, head to Veliko Tarnovo – a beautiful medieval town in the heart of Bulgaria, surrounded by mountains – and drive to Kazanlak, where all the lavender fields were supposed to be.
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Table of Contents
Veliko Tarnovo and Lavander Fields in Bulgaria
Getting to Veliko Tarnovo
If you travel from Bucharest like me, you might want to rent a car and hit the road. Read all the tips and tricks and be well-informed about traveling in Bulgaria by car.
Veliko Tarnovo is 170 km from Bucharest. Since the bridge over the Danube River is usually crowded, the drive might take up to 3 hours.
Please note that you must pay a bridge tax at Ruse (~5 EUR) and the vignette (road tax) for using Bulgaria’s roads (~8 EUR).
If you are flying in from further away, you are better served if you land at Bucharest Airport in Romania rather than in Sofia. Bulgaria’s capital is 230 km from Veliko Tarnovo.
However, flights from Sofia to Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport, 10 km from Veliko Tarnovo, might be available.
Eating in Veliko Tarnovo
When we reached Veliko Tarnovo, it was raining, and the clouds were heavy over the mountain town. The temperature was rather cold for a late June day.
Since it was almost lunchtime and the weather wasn’t cooperating, we decided to head to town and grab a bite.
But let me tell you one thing: When you are in Bulgaria, you don’t just grab something to eat. Bulgarian portions are huge and delicious, and you won’t be able to stop just after one bite. Get ready for a foodie weekend!
We decided to try something else to share the food and see what we liked most. The Bulgarian menu includes a lot of meat and oven-cooked dishes topped with cheese. My mouth is watering even as I’m talking about this.
Most restaurants in Veliko Tarnovo come with a view, and we stopped at Ego Pizza & Grill for lunch, but I would also recommend the restaurant just next to it, Shtastliveca.
Looking for another Bulgaria gem? Visit Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019
We chose another beautiful place next to the Tsarevets fortress for dinner—”Restaurant Ivan Asen.” It serves traditional Bulgarian food at the right price and with excellent service.
Please don’t leave without trying the authentic dessert they serve here. We almost made this mistake, and I’m happy the guys there insisted we try it.
Finding the lavender fields of Bulgaria
Once we replenished our energy, we decided to head toward Kazanlak.
After running around for a few hours, stopping by whenever we saw lavender fields in the distance only to understand that we could not reach them, have tried to reach one on foot only to find a great lake created by the heavy rain, we decided to give up.
Kazanlak was another disappointment, but I guess the town was beautiful during the Rose Festival, which had taken place one week before our visit.
On our way back towards Veliko Tarnovo, we found a small, barren lavender field, stopped, took pictures, and headed back.
Needless to say, I was disappointed. I had been dreaming about lavish lavender fields, strolling among them and taking countless pictures. But let’s kill that dream, shall we?
Even so, the views in this area are beautiful, and the wind bringing the pleasant lavender smell toward you makes you want to stay forever in such a field.
Impressed by Veliko Tarnovo
All in all, even though the lavender fields in Bulgaria were not what I expected them to be (wait for the surprise towards the end of our trip), the small town of Veliko Tarnovo managed to steal my heart. It would easily make it on any list of what to do in Bulgaria.
The small streets, traditional colorful houses, hundreds of cats running around on the most hidden alleys, the beautiful mountain view, and the Tsarevets Fortress are only a few reasons to give this town a chance.
Climb the walls of the fortress, take the elevator to the church’s top, and admire the beautiful view that will fold right beneath your eyes. Hills, greenery, and mountains will surround you.
Stay after dinner in town, and don’t miss out on the beautiful lights game on the Tsarevets fortress. We asked around and found out there isn’t a specific time when the show starts, but you will know as soon as the public lightning gets turned off.
Don’t leave Veliko Tarnovo without savoring a delicious glass of Bulgarian wine or famous rose water. As you might know, I love a good glass of wine, and the one in Bulgaria is particularly good and surprisingly affordable.
What else to do in the area?
Head to Arbanassi—only 3 km from Veliko Tarnovo, this rustic, quiet town offers the best views.
Take a 15-km detour from Veliko Tarnovo to Hotnitsa waterfall to enjoy the clear blue water and a walk in the canyon. The stairs here are very steep but worth climbing, so you must come prepared with good climbing shoes.
The best lavender fields in Bulgaria
Like everything in life, all the good things come when you least expect them and maybe when you have already lost hope and have forgotten them.
That’s what happened to us and our quest for lavender fields. Heading home from Hotnitsa waterfall, the GPS took us on a different road, and after stopping at the most beautiful sunflower field, this gorgeous thing opened before our eyes.
We were so happy to see it, and you won’t imagine the smell of these flowers—pure love.
Don’t step on the flowers; they are very precious to their owners. Also, stop by only to take pictures; don’t take any.
Most of the fields have security, so you might want to talk to the people and ask them if it is possible to take pictures only.
But I’ve learned from this trip that you cannot force things, and everything requires patience.
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Hello,
Seems you’ve missed the Rose festival by one week, and it’s true that the lavender (or rose fields) near the main roads can be quite hard to access, or not that picturesque, but if you stray a bit from the main roads you’ll find hidden gems of rose fields during May/June.
Hope you’ll visit the rose festival some time soon, it is held every year on the first weekend of June!
Greetings from Kazanlak,
Ivan
Hi Ivan! I would surely love to visit the area also during the Rose festival, because I have read so much about this and I think it would be an incredible experience. Where would you suggest going for it?