Also a student city, Tarnovo has plenty of stylish accommodations to choose from, as well as excellent restaurants and lively bars.

BBC: Bulgarian road trip: Sofia to the City of the Tsars

Tarnovo is one of Bulgaria's most-visited destinations, and with its classic architecture, churches and castle it is not hard to see why.

BBC: Bulgarian road trip: Sofia to the City of the Tsars

Some 57km over the mountains from Shipka lies yet another historic settlement - Veliko Tarnovo, the "City of the Tsars" - famous for being the medieval seat of Bulgarian power.

BBC: Bulgarian road trip: Sofia to the City of the Tsars