Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria – A City to Live in: Advantages and Features of Living
The city of Veliko Tarnovo was once the capital Bulgaria. I wonder if it's good to live in the ancient capital? I'll tell you about this city, its pros and cons. And you'll decide for yourself whether this city is right for you.
We'll also rate the city based on all key criteria. You can also participate in our assessment of the resort by leaving your rating at the end of the article.
Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of Bulgaria for over 200 years. In modern times, the city has won several awards in the following categories: historical city, cultural and beautiful city, and most beautiful city.
Photos of Veliko Tarnovo
A charming Bulgarian city where you can experience both ancient times and modern-day life, as well as fashionable boutiques and shops selling handmade souvenirs. The city has a population of 65,793.
Location
The city of Veliko Tarnovo is located in northern Bulgaria, roughly in the center of the country. It sits on the rocky slopes of the winding Yantra River valley.
The old part of the city is located on three hills: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Svyatogora, rising among the rays of Yantra.
The city's location has some advantages. It's far from the capital, Sofia, and Varna. Burgas 220 km each. Bucharest is even closer, and the Pamporovo ski resort is nearby.
The city's main districts are the old center, the new center, the wider center, and residential neighborhoods. The city is very picturesque and beautiful, attracting many tourists from all over the world.
Climate in Veliko Tarnovo
The climate is temperate continental. The warmest month in Veliko Tarnovo is July, with an average temperature of 21.2 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold.
Due to the geographical position, westerly, northwesterly and northeasterly winds prevail.
Transportation
You can get to Veliko Tarnovo by bus or train. Buy the cheapest bus tickets. You can do it here. Trains depart from both the capital and Varna и Burgas. The price of a standard city bus ticket is 0.75 euros per trip.
Parking zones are equipped with taximeters that allow you to pay for parking. The minimum fare is €0.25 for 30 minutes, and €0.50 for an hour. The maximum parking time is 6 hours.
Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo hotels on the map
What about housing in Veliko Tarnovo? What are the prices? Rents for a one-bedroom apartment start at €150 per month. Here's an option we found at that price.
This is the option we found at this price.
Rental prices for a two-room apartment also start from 150 euros per month.
We found this option for 179 euros right in the city center.
We randomly checked several of these listings, contacted the sellers, and found that almost all of them were current. The apartments are available for occupancy, and the prices are exactly as advertised. It's worth noting that these prices are for long-term rentals. This means you need to sign a lease for one year or more. For shorter rental periods, many people calculate the daily rental price multiplied by the number of days rented, resulting in a significantly higher price. You can see what a typical apartment building in Veliko Tarnovo looks like on the secondary market in the photo gallery.
Apartment prices start from 28 thousand euros.
A furnished one-room apartment like this one can be purchased for 28 thousand euros.
And this new two-room apartment costs 43,500 euros, but it’s not in the center.
Economy. Salaries and Standard of Living
According to the most recent data, the average monthly salary before taxes and fees is €661, compared to €1,216 in Sofia and €787 in Varna. The unemployment rate in Veliko Tarnovo is 3.71%, in Sofia 2.71%, and in Varna 1.61%. As we can see, in terms of salary, the city significantly lags behind the previous cities in the best cities to live category.
Crime
The rate of crimes against persons and property per thousand people in Veliko Tarnovo in 2021 was 10.4, compared to 10.4 in Sofia and 11.8 in Varna. Active police patrols on the city's central streets were noticeable.
Medicine
According to the latest data, the ratio of people per doctor in medical institutions is 304 people: 184 in Sofia and 197 in Varna. The higher this ratio, the more overburdened the healthcare system is.
Infrastructure
Municipal expenditure per person living in the city is 632 euros, in Sofia such expenditure is 625 euros and in Varna 588 euros.
Education
Veliko Tarnovo has two universities, more than a dozen schools and gymnasiums, and two colleges.
Culture and attractions
The jewel of the ancient city is the Tsarevets architectural reserve. It is the most striking and popular landmark of the old capital. The fortress itself is located on the continuation of a hill, which in turn is located between two others—Holy Mountain and Trapezitsa. The fortress is a reconstruction of the medieval period, containing a reconstructed royal palace.
The city is home to 18 places of worship, including many famous churches, and the surrounding area also contains numerous medieval monasteries, some of which have been rebuilt.
There are 27 monuments bearing his name throughout the city. The city also boasts a drama theater, an operetta theater, a symphony orchestra, and an art gallery.
The city is home to 15 museums. A few kilometers outside the city is the popular village of Arbanasi, known for its incredible ethnographic atmosphere. Veliko Tarnovo also boasts a new attraction: the Mini Bulgaria park. Around Veliko Tarnovo are about 50 caves and stone niches. For shopping enthusiasts, there's a real shopping center, Mall Veliko Tarnovo.
Pros
- The city has a convenient location, for example, close to the capital and the Black Sea.
- There is a «heart of the city» in the form of the Old Town with churches and fortresses.
- Bulgarian streets and alleys in the characteristic style of Bulgarian traditions, panoramic terraces, theaters, numerous museums – everything for lovers of cultural recreation.
- Almost all chain stores are present in the city, there are even Metro and Praktiker.
- The city is small, so there are practically no traffic jams.
Cons
- The city is built on hills, so there are significant elevation changes. Some believe the city was deliberately designed this way to make it as difficult as possible for enemies to capture.
- Also, rental prices are higher than in larger cities.
Conclusions
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most amazing, beautiful, and picturesque cities in Bulgaria. It's a small town, but it's also a regional center with all the necessary infrastructure. The city has an indescribable atmosphere and personality of its own. This small town will appeal to those seeking a more peaceful atmosphere and a dislike for big cities.
Veliko Tarnovo's list of attractions is simply impressive. They attract countless tourists from all over the world. However, there is one drawback: the large elevation changes. Regardless, even if you don't plan to stay in Veliko Tarnovo, we highly recommend visiting. I hope you found this article helpful. Please leave a comment.
Veliko Tarnovo weather today
VELIKO TARNOVO WEATHERVideo version of the article:
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