Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping & Eating
GUESTHOUSE
Hotel IT Shipka $
( 0896 755 090;
www.shipkaithotel.com
; ul Kolyo Adjara 12; s/d/apt40/50/70 lv;
)
In a quiet residential area 500m east of the square, this friendly, family-run guest-
house has attractive, modern rooms with great views of either the Valley of Roses, or up
to the mountain and the gleaming domes of the Russian-style church. The hotel's little res-
taurant serves home-cooked Bulgarian fare, and there's a small outdoor swimming pool
and infrared sauna and steamroom.
Ring ahead and English-speaking owner Ivan will collect you from the bus stop on the
main square. He can also arrange local hiking and other outdoor activities.
Hotel-Restaurant Shipka $
( 2730; Shipka Pass; r 50 lv)
The best bet for those wishing to stay atop the pass, the
hotel features well-furnished rooms, some quite large. It's 50m up from the car park at the
top of the pass.
HOTEL
Getting There & Away
Bus 6 runs half-hourly between the local bus stop near the Kazanlâk bus station and Ship-
ka village (1 lv, 25 minutes). Alternatively, the hourly bus between Kazanlâk and Gabrovo
stops at the village, and Shipka Pass, as do buses to Veliko Târnovo.
Stara Zagora
042 / POP 137,416
Stara Zagora (literally 'old behind the mountain') is a businessy city, and an important na-
tional road and rail connection point. However, it also boasts one of Bulgaria's nicest
central parks and is a surprisingly stylish place filled with beautiful young people luxuriat-
ing in cafes along the pedestrian malls.
