Smolyan is a town in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria. It occupies the narrow gorge of the Cherna River in the East Rhodope Mountains, and has 34 000 residents. Once the Slavs' tribe of smolyani inhabited the area and gave the name of the settlement. The magnificent nature, mild climate, its closeness to the mountain and the Pamporovo resort attract tourists all year round. It became a town in 1960 after unifying three villages- Smolyan, Raykovo and Ustovo.

Get in

The 300-year-old chinar (plane tree) in Smolyan

It lies 12 km from the Pamporovo resort, 45 km from Devin, 102 km from Plovdiv and 260 km from the capital Sofia.

See

Numerous houses and churches from 17th-19th centuries have been preserved up to the present day. Some of them are: "Pangalov’s house" (1860), "Sgurov’s house" (1866), "Alibeev’s town- hall" (1751), "Kelev’s house" (1860), etc.

The architectural and ethnographic reserve called Cheshitska mahala is located in the district of Raykovo.

• St. Visarion Smolenski. The second biggest Bulgarian Christian temple. (updated Feb 2016)
• Stoyu Shishkov Regional History Museum, ☏ +359 30 162 770. Provides information about the history of the region. (updated Feb 2016)
• Town Art Gallery. (updated Feb 2016)

Do

There is a planetarium and a Drama Theater

• Rhodope Drama Theater. (updated Feb 2016)

Sleep

• Smolyan Hotel, 3, Bulgaria Bld, ☏ +359 88 293 3505. 3-star hotel (updated Feb 2016)
• Ribkata Hotel, 33, ul. "Aleko Konstantinov", ☏ +359 30 169 367. 3-star hotel (updated Feb 2016)
• KIPARIS ALPHA Hotel, 3A, "Bulgaria" Boulevard, ☏ +359 301 64040, +359 888 790 619 (Mobile phone). (updated Feb 2016)
• Sportna17 Hotel, 17 Sportna Street, ☏ +359 89 996 7141, +359 301 868 92. Cheap accommodation in cozy rooms with private bathroom, TV, free parking and free Wi-Fi access. (updated Feb 2016)
• Hotel Complex Luxor, 51, Bulgaria Boulevard, ☏ +359 30 163 317, +359 301 64 572, +359 988 90 91 19. (updated Feb 2016)
• Spartak Hotel, 21, Spartak, ☏ +359 30 164 632. 14 rooms and 2 apartments equipped with heating system, TV with cable television, Internet access, telephone, balcony, hair-dryer. (updated Feb 2016)
• Kristal Hotel, ul. "Aleko Konstantinov" 5, ☏ +359 30 168 810, +359 889 609500 (Mobile phone). (updated Feb 2016)
• Eko Hotel Makrelov, 14, ул. Никола Филипов, ☏ +359 30 167 500, +359 885 433 838 (Mobile phone). 23 double rooms, 1 Apartment and 1 V.I.P. Apartment. All equipped with real-time control access, WI-Fi Internet, SAT TV, terraces,. (updated Feb 2016)
• Uzunski Hotel, 12 Peyo Yavorov Str., ☏ +359 88 875 7451. (updated Feb 2016)
• Pearl lodge, ☏ +359 325 71000. 5-star hotel (updated Feb 2016)
• Spa Hotel Dikas, 47 Parvi may Str, ☏ +359 30 163 143. (updated Feb 2016)
• Dafi Hotel, 16, ul. "Bacho Kiro", ☏ +359 87 933 3583, +359 896796967 (Mobile phone). (updated Feb 2016)
• Petko Takov's House, Momchil Junak (Ustovo neighbourhood), ☏ +359 88 757 0998. 3-star hotel. 8 rooms (updated Feb 2016)
• Plaza Hotel  , бул. България 69, ☏ +359 30 163 767, +359 888 802 351 (Mobile phone), +359 885 021 100 (Mobile phone). (updated Feb 2016)
• Smilen, 9 Shumkov Kamuk Str., ☏ +359 30 165 551. 3-star hotel. 16 double rooms and one apartment (updated Feb 2016)
• Moni Hotel, 6, ulitsa Perelik, ☏ +359 301 87 295, +359 888 267 379 (Mobile phone), +359 876 267 379 (Mobile phone). 67 rooms, 5 suites and 7 studios. All equipped with Satellite TV, wireless Internet, separate toilet and bathroom. (updated Feb 2016)
• 1 Mountain Lake Hotel, Smolyan Lake area, ☏ +359 30 168 848, +359 888 774 464 (Mobile phone), +359 887 001 650 (Mobile phone). Furnished apartments and studios equipped with satellite television, bathroom with shower, free wi-fi, mini-bar, telephone and hairdryer (updated Feb 2016)

Go next

Smolyan is a starting point for many mountain routes. The Smolyan lakes and the Smolyan waterfall are located not far from the town.