Bulgaria
Things to do in Veliko Tarnovo
13 places12 stories2 routes
Sightlore has 13 places to explore in Veliko Tarnovo, and 12 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Veliko Tarnovo's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Nicopolis ad Istrum
Nicopolis ad Istrum or Nicopolis ad Iatrum was a Roman and Early Byzantine town. Its ruins are located at the village of Nikyup, 20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria.
- 2
Mother Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo
Monument in the centre of Veliko Tarnovo, on the park square of the same name, dedicated to those who died in five wars, including the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and the Balkan Wars.
- 3
Tsarevets
Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. Tsarevets is 206 metres (676 ft) above sea level.
Read its story → - 4
Church of the Nativity of Christ in Arbanasi
Church museum in Arbanasi, Bulgaria, the centre of a church complex that includes the chapel of St John the Baptist; it also serves as a residence of the Veliko Tarnovo Metropolis.
- 5
Holy Forty Martyrs Church
The Holy Forty Martyrs Church is a medieval Eastern Orthodox church constructed in 1230 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
- 6
Samovodska Charshia
Architectural and ethnographic complex with National Revival architecture in Veliko Tarnovo, along Georgi Rakovski and Kapitan Georgi Mamarchev streets.
- 7
The House with the Monkey
National Revival house in the centre of Veliko Tarnovo, built in 1849 by Usta Kolyo Ficheto; it is named after the monkey sculpture above the ground floor.
- 8
Arbanasi
Arbanasi is a village in Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Province of central northern Bulgaria, set on a high plateau between the larger towns of Veliko Tarnovo (four kilometres away) and Gorna Oryahovitsa.
- 9
Asenevtsi memorial
Monumental memorial in Veliko Tarnovo, also known as "The Horsemen", dedicated to the Bulgarian tsars Asen, Peter, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II.
- 10
Trapezitsa
Trapezitsa is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria.
Discovery routes in Veliko Tarnovo
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Veliko Tarnovo: Tsarevets and Trapezitsa
From the Asen Monument and Mother Bulgaria to the House with the Monkey and the Samovodska Charshia, past the churches of Sts Peter and Paul, the Forty Martyrs and St. Demetrius to the hill fortresses of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa.
Arbanasi and Nicopolis ad Istrum
From the village of Arbanasi near Veliko Tarnovo and its Church of the Nativity to the ruins of the Roman town of Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Samovodska Charshia
Architectural and ethnographic complex with National Revival architecture in Veliko Tarnovo, along Georgi Rakovski and Kapitan Georgi Mamarchev streets.
Tsarevets
Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. Tsarevets is 206 metres (676 ft) above sea level.
Trapezitsa
Trapezitsa is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria.
Arbanasi
Arbanasi is a village in Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Province of central northern Bulgaria, set on a high plateau between the larger towns of Veliko Tarnovo (four kilometres away) and Gorna Oryahovitsa.
Nicopolis ad Istrum
Nicopolis ad Istrum or Nicopolis ad Iatrum was a Roman and Early Byzantine town. Its ruins are located at the village of Nikyup, 20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria.
Devingrad
Momina krepost also called Devingrad is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria.
Museums
The House with the Monkey
National Revival house in the centre of Veliko Tarnovo, built in 1849 by Usta Kolyo Ficheto; it is named after the monkey sculpture above the ground floor.
Holy Forty Martyrs Church
The Holy Forty Martyrs Church is a medieval Eastern Orthodox church constructed in 1230 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Church of the Nativity of Christ in Arbanasi
Church museum in Arbanasi, Bulgaria, the centre of a church complex that includes the chapel of St John the Baptist; it also serves as a residence of the Veliko Tarnovo Metropolis.
Places of worship
Church of Saints Peter and Paul
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in central northern Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Church of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Veliko Tarnovo
The Church of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in central northern Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Monuments
Asenevtsi memorial
Monumental memorial in Veliko Tarnovo, also known as "The Horsemen", dedicated to the Bulgarian tsars Asen, Peter, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II.
Mother Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo
Monument in the centre of Veliko Tarnovo, on the park square of the same name, dedicated to those who died in five wars, including the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and the Balkan Wars.
Explore Veliko Tarnovo with your camera
Hear the stories on the spot, complete routes, collect badges. Sightlore is coming soon to the App Store.