Central Southern Bulgaria
The town of Karlovo (25 715 inhabitants, 520 metres above sea level) is situated in the valley of the same name, which is part of the famous Rose Valley, along the two banks of Stara Reka River, left feeder of Stryama River.
Accommodation & Transport
Accommodation: Hemus Hotel (3-star, 87, V. Levski Str.). Rosova Dolina Hotel (Rose Valley) (2- star, 1, 20th July Sq.). Besh-Bounar Hotel-Restaurant. Tourist hostel (500 metres north of the town centre, 23, Vodopad Str. There are interesting restaurants with original Bulgarian cuisine in Karlovo, too: Vodopad Tavern (Waterfall) (86, Vodopad Str.), Mazite Tavern (9, Verkovitch Str., working hours - 2 p.m.- 3 a.m.), etc.
Tourist information: available at the Tourist Information Centre – 4300 Karlovo, 35, Vodopad Str., tel.: 0335 5373, e-mail: inforcentre@mbox.digsys.bg; in the hotels, the tourist hostel, at Vassil Levski Tourist Association (1, Todor and Anna Pulevi Str., tel.: 0335 8560) and in the town-hall (1, Petko Sabev Str., tel.: 0335 3478, fax: 0335 3459).
Transport: Karlovo is a large transport centre. It is a main station of the main road and railroad lines Sofia-Karlovo-Bourgas. It provides regular bus lines (public and private) to Plovdiv, Kalofer, Sopot, Pazardzhik and other smaller villages in the area. The Central Bus Station is near the railway station, 77, Vassil Karaivanov Str., tel.: 0335 3155. There are also two private bus agencies: Roza-Express, whose bus station is at Sabota (Saturday) Marketplace and Private Transport Agency, its bus station is opposite the railway station. The railway station (2, Teofan Rainov Blvd., tel.: 0335 4641 and 4320) is in the southern part of the town. Besides being on the main Sofia-Plovdiv railroad, Karlovo is also the last station of the Plovdiv-Karlovo line. Public bus transport is also functioning.
