Plovdiv has all the right ingredients for Plovdiv has all the right ingredients for a city break: a cobblestoned Old Town, impressive ancient ruins, and a lively drinking and dining scene. As Bulgaria’s second-largest city gears up for its tenure as a European Capital of Culture for 2019, its historic centre and cafe-lined neighbourhoods have never looked better. The mood is exuberant, prices are still low, and the crowds haven’t yet arrived – it’s the ideal time to explore picturesque Plovdiv.