MTSZ
MTSZ térképportál
Turista Magazin
TuristaShop
Kéktúra
Gerecse50
A kéktúrázás napja
recommended route
Long Distance Hiking
· Bulgaria
Open
ST7 Sultans Trail Section 7: Sofia-Plovdiv-Edirne
-
St. George's Rotunda in the Bulgarian capital SofiaPhoto: vili45, Adobe Stock
This route passes through Lozen, Novi Han, Ihtiman, Momin Prohod, Septemvri, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Mineralni Bani, Haskovo, Harmanli, Svilengrad, Kastanies, and Karaağaç before reaching Edirne.
Leaving Sofia, the trail crosses the Rhodope foothills and the Sredna Gora Mountain range east of the capital through Lozen, Novi Han, Ihtiman, and Momin Prohod before descending toward the Upper Thracian Plain near Septemvri and Pazardzhik. This fertile plain, enclosed by the Balkan Mountains to the north and the Rhodopes to the south, has been one of the principal agricultural and communication axes of the Balkans since antiquity.
The route continues to Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, known in Roman times as Philippopolis. Built upon several hills above the Maritsa River, the city preserves Roman theatres, Byzantine walls, Ottoman mosques, and nineteenth-century Balkan merchant houses. From Plovdiv, the trail proceeds through Asenovgrad and the foothills of the Rhodope before continuing across the warm lowlands of southern Bulgaria via Mineralni Bani, Haskovo, Harmanli, and Svilengrad.
For centuries, this was one of the principal Roman and Ottoman military and trade routes linking Constantinople with Central Europe. Caravanserais, bridges, mosques, and roadside settlements developed along the route followed by armies, merchants, pilgrims, and travellers.
After crossing into Greece near Svilengrad, the trail enters Turkish Thrace at Karaağaç, once an important railway station connected to the Orient Express. The section ends in Edirne, the former Ottoman capital before the conquest of Constantinople, which is dominated by the monumental Selimiye Mosque by Mimar Sinan.
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Central Market Hall Sofia (Tsentralni Hali)Safety information
This section does not require specific safety precautions.Tips and suggestions
The highlights of this stage are:Sofia Plain — A broad, high basin at 600 m, framed by Vitosha, Rila, and the Balkan Range, giving the section an open, airy start.
Iskar River crossing — The only river born in the Rila–Pirin that cuts through the Balkan Mountains to reach the Danube, marking a key watershed moment.
Rhodope foothills — Gentle, wooded slopes and long views south toward the massif, signalling the transition from the Sofia basin into Thrace.
Sredna Gora Mountains — A low, warm, oak‑covered range (max. 1,600 m) forming the divide between the Sofia Plain and the Maritsa Valley; the point where all waters begin flowing to the Mediterranean.
Maritsa Valley — A fertile, historic corridor leading toward Plovdiv, with wide agricultural plains and the river as a constant companion.
Plovdiv — One of Europe’s oldest cities: Roman theatre, Ottoman mosques, National Revival houses, and the atmospheric Old Town rising above the plain.
The Thracian Plain — Vast, sun‑drenched fields of orchards, vineyards, and grain, with distant views of the Rhodopes and Sredna Gora.
Haskovo region — Rolling Thracian landscapes, small villages, and the long descent toward the Arda basin.
Northern Greece and the three neighbouring landscapes with distinctly different rhythms, fields, and rural cultures.
Edirne—the former Ottoman capital: Selimiye Mosque, the Tunca bridges, the Beyazıt II Külliye, and the palace ruins, marking the end of the section.
Roadbook
Near Sofia, the trail crosses the Iskar River, the only river born in the Rila–Pirin Mountains that cuts through the Balkan Range to reach the Danube. The Sofia High Plain lies at roughly 600 m, while the Maritsa Valley spreads out some 300 m lower, creating a long, gentle descent into the heart of Thrace.
The Maritsa River—rising in the Rila Mountains—becomes a constant companion on the journey toward Plovdiv and Edirne. Its wide valley has been a corridor of movement since antiquity, carrying Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans across the plains. From here, the Sultans Trail follows the river through fertile agricultural lands, historic towns, and the cultural heartlands of Thrace, all the way to the former Ottoman capital of Edirne.
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
Central Market Hall Sofia (Tsentralni Hali)
Sofia Synagogue
National Archaeological Institute with Museum
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Banya Bashi Mosque
Selimiye Mosque and Complex
Holy Nedelya Church
Meric Bridge
Tundzha Bridge, Edirne
Kent Müzes, Edirne
Balkan Wars Museum, Edirne
Alipasha Bazaar, Edirne
Justice Tower (Adalet Kasrı), Edirne
Ekmekçizade Caravanserai, Edirne
Historical Rüstempaşa Caravanserai, Edirne
Saatli Medrese, Edirne
Faith Bridge, Edirne
Kanuni Bridge, Edirne
Saraçhane Bridge, Edirne
Yalnizgoz and Bayezid Bridges, Edirne
Gazi-Mihal Bridge, Edirne
Monastery “Saint Spas”, Lozen
Caravanserai, Novi Han
Roman Road, Novi Han
Historical Museum, Ihtiman
Fortress „Stenos“, Momin Prohod
Roman road station Bona Mancio
Roman bridge, Mokrishte
Ethnographical Museum, Pazardzhik
Clock Tower, Pazardzhik
Grand Synagogue, Pazardzhik
Regional History Museum, Plovdiv
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Clock Tower, Plovdiv
Dervish Monastery, Plovdiv
Great Basilica, Plovdiv
Small Basilica (5th-6th century), Plovdiv
Ancient Stadium of Philipopolis, Plovdiv
Roman aqueduct, Plovdiv
Chinarite - Ancient Plane Trees, Belastitsa
Monastery "St. George" (11th), Belashtitsa
History Museum, Asenovgrad
Ethnography Museum, Asenovgrad
Monastery "Saint Petka of Muldava", Muldava
Thracian Sharapana and Sundial, Bryastovo
Regional Museum of History, Haskovo
Eski Mosque, Haskovo
History Museum, Harmanli
Humpback bridge, Harmanli
Caravansarai, Harmanli
Historical Museum, Svilengrad
Mustafa Pasha Bridge, Svilengrad
Public transport
SofiaFly. The fastest and most common way to get to Sofia is to fly to Sofia Airport (SOF), then continue into the city by metro, bus, or taxi. If you’re travelling overland, Sofia is reachable by international buses and some rail routes, but 95% of travellers choose air travel.
Airlines flying to Sofia are: Wizz Air (many European cities), Ryanair, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Bulgaria Air
Bus. Sofia is a major Balkan bus hub. All long‑distance buses arrive at the Central Bus Station. Buses are often faster than trains in the Balkans.
Train to Sofia (limited but possible). International rail to Sofia exists but is slow and infrequent. Current workable routes:
- Belgrade → Sofia (seasonal / irregular; often replaced by bus)
- Istanbul → Sofia (night train, popular)
- Bucharest → Sofia (day train, slow but scenic)
The national Bulgarian train system works quite well internally.
Plovdiv
You reach Plovdiv easily from Sofia, by bus or train
Edirne
You can reach Edirne easily from Istanbul, Bulgaria, and Greece. The fastest and most reliable option is the intercity bus.
Directions
SofiaGetting from Sofia Airport to the city:
- Metro Line M4 (Terminal 2 → city centre), most reliable and avoids traffic.
- Bus 84 / 184 (Terminals 1 & 2 → Orlov Most / city)
- Taxi (OK Supertrans only)
National trains run from Sofia to: Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse.
Local busses are often operated by private companies, including privately operated minibuses.
Plovdiv
Train. The Sofia–Plovdiv trains run frequently throughout the day, are comfortable, predictable, and unaffected by traffic. The travel time: 2h10–2h40. Depart from Sofia Central Station and arrive at Plovdiv Railway Station
Buses leave from Sofia South Bus Station and Sofia Central Bus Station. Travel time: 2h00–2h20. Operators include Union Ivkoni, Karat‑S, and smaller regional lines. Arrive at Plovdiv South Bus Station or North Bus Station depending on company.
Edirne
Intercity bus (fastest & easiest). Buses run frequently from Istanbul’s major terminals to the Edirne Otogar.
- Typical travel time: 2.5–3 hours
- Frequent departures from Esenler and Alibeyköy terminals
- Major operators: Metro Turizm, Kale Seyahat, Nilüfer Turizm, Villa Seyahat
- Buses arrive at the Edirne Intercity Bus Terminal (Otogar), located in the 100. Yıl district.
Train (slower, scenic). There is no direct train from central Istanbul to Edirne. You must travel via Halkalı. Travel time: 5–7 hours depending on connections. Arrival at Edirne station (TCDD). The train is slower than the bus but preferred by travellers who enjoy rail travel.
From Bulgaria to Edirne
Edirne is a major cross‑border destination for Bulgarian visitors. Common routes: Sofia → Edirne, Plovdiv → Edirne, Haskovo → Edirne
Typical modes of transport: private cars, tour buses, shopping buses. Border crossing: Kapıkule, one of Turkey’s busiest international gates
There is no regularly scheduled public bus service from Sofia to Edirne, but many Bulgarian agencies operate shopping buses and tourist coaches.
From Greece to Edirne
Travellers from Greece typically arrive by private car or tour bus via the Pazarkule or Ipsala border crossings. Edirne is a popular destination for Greek day‑trippers and shoppers.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Martin Zinggl. Das ist kein Spaziergang. Auf dem Sultans Trail zu Fuß von Wien nach Istanbul. (München: Knesebeck Verlag, ISBN 978-3-95728-857-8)."Schneller als der Sultan – zu Fuß von Wien nach Istanbul. Martin Zinggl sucht einen Ausweg aus der Krise – und macht sich zu Fuß auf den Weg von Wien nach Istanbul. 2400 Kilometer, acht Länder, alte Pfade, neue Begegnungen. Der Balkan empfängt ihn mit berührender Gastfreundschaft und skeptischen Blicken; die Straßen erzählen Geschichten von Flucht. Hoffnung und Alltag. Eine Reiseerzählung mit Tempo und Tiefgang – über das Gehen, das Staunen und das Fremdsein."
Ivo Andrić. The Bridge over the River Drina. (ISBN 978-1-860-46058-6). A sweeping historical novel tracing four centuries of life in the Bosnian town of Višegrad, centred on the iconic Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge. The novel uses the bridge as a powerful symbol—of connection, division, endurance, and the passage of time—while portraying the intertwined destinies of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others living in the region.
Robert Dankoff & Sooyong Kim. An Ottoman Traveller. Selections from the Book of Travels of Evliya Çelebi. (ISBN 978-1906-07758-1). An Ottoman Traveller is a curated English-language selection from the Seyahatname, the vast ten‑volume travel narrative of Evliya Çelebi (1611–c.1685), the most celebrated traveller of the Ottoman Empire. Dankoff and Kim’s edition distils thousands of pages of lively, humorous, and richly detailed observations into an accessible volume that captures the spirit of a man who spent over forty years journeying across the empire and beyond.
Patrick Leigh Fermor trilogy. A Time of Gifts (ISBN 1-59017-165-9), Between the Woods and the Waters. (ISBN 0-14-009430-X). The Broken Road. From the Iron Gates to Mount Athos (ISBN 978-1-84854-754-4). Patrick Leigh Fermor’s trilogy is one of the great achievements of 20th‑century travel literature—a luminous reconstruction of the 18‑year‑old author’s 1933–34 walk across Europe toward Constantinople. Each volume captures a different stretch of the journey, blending youthful immediacy with the older Fermor’s erudition, humour, and reflective depth.
Equipment
This stage of the Sultans Trail requires standard long-distance hiking equipment. Weather protection is essential, including rain and cold gear, depending on the season. In late spring and early summer, mosquito deterrents are strongly recommended, while during the hot season, sun protection and a sufficient water supply are essential. Reliable offline navigation tools should be carried at all times.Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions