How To Visit The Buzludzha Monument
If you want to visit Buzludzha for yourself, there are multiple ways to get here. As public transport doesn’t reach the monument, you might find that hiring your own car is the easiest approach—but there are also a number of tour operators in Bulgaria who offer trips to the Buzludzha monument.
This page is offered as a guide to help you plan your own visit to Buzludzha.
Please note: It is currently not possible for visitors to go inside the Buzludzha monument and none of the tour providers below will be able to guarantee interior access.
Current Tours
INTERNATIONAL VISITS
ATLAS OBSCURA
FROM SOFIA
COMMUNISM TOURS
BUZLUDZHA TOUR
FROM VELIKO TÂRNOVO
HOSTEL MOSTEL
FROM PLOVDIV
ABANDONED BULGARIA
SKYLAR GUESTHOUSE
Drive To Buzludzha
The monument is clearly marked on Google Maps, and can be reached from Sofia in roughly 3-4 hours, depending on road and weather conditions.
There are north and south approaches to the mountain peak. The north road can be accessed from the Shipka Pass, just near the Monument to Freedom, while the south road begins near the village of Kran, on the road between Kazanlâk and Shipka town, and is marked with a monument to Dimitâr Blagoev. Do not attempt the north road in winter, as it is often buried in deep snow. However, the south road is usually kept open all year round.
Take Public Transport
To Buzludzha
STEP 1:
TRAIN OR BUS STATION
Getting to Buzludzha with public transport is possible, but not ideal. The first step is to reach one of the larger nearby cities—Veliko Târnovo, Gabrovo or Stara Zagora.
The trains are slow, but often offer beautiful views. Tickets and timetables are available through the official Bulgarian National Rail website (БДЖ) where tickets need to be purchased a day in advance. Alternatively, you can check the timetables online and then buy your tickets in the station. Aside from national holidays, trains don’t usually sell out.
Buses are much easier to use in Bulgaria, and arrive at their destinations faster. There are multiple companies serving these routes, but the BusExpress website will give a good overview of all routes and prices.
Step 2:
BUS TO THE MOUNTAIN
Next, you’ll need to get from the city you’ve arrived in to the mountain itself. The towns of Shipka and Kazanlâk will be the most helpful. Local bus companies operate routes from Veliko Târnovo and Gabrovo in the north, to Shipka; and from Stara Zagora in the south, to Kazanlâk. These local companies don’t always post their itineraries online, so your best approach is to ask for details in the local bus station.
Step 3:
TAXI, HITCH OR HIKE TO THE MONUMENT
From Shipka or Kazanlâk, you’ll be roughly 20km (12 miles) from the Buzludzha monument. The easiest way to complete this last leg is by taxi. The drive will take around 30 minutes, and you should expect to pay something in the region of 20 levs (about €10) each way. Drivers might charge you more for the difficult roads, and they will probably charge an extra fee for waiting while you visit the monument. It can vary, so just be sure to agree on a price before you get in.
Some people hitchhike the last leg up to the monument. Especially in summer there can be a lot of cars going up and down the mountain, and we’ve heard positive reports from people who’ve successfully hitched a ride. Bulgaria is generally a safe place to hitchhike – but naturally, if you choose this approach then you do so at your own risk.
Finally, it’s not impossible to hike to the top. Some of the locals do this, and a few adventurous tourists have been known to walk to Buzludzha too. It’s a beautiful hike in summer, though be prepared to spend your entire day walking, so pack accordingly. It should go without saying, but unless you’re an experienced mountain hiker, DO NOT attempt to walk to Buzludzha in winter… unless you want future visitors to see a memorial to you.
OUR ADVICE…
Getting to Buzludzha with public transport can be a real adventure. If you have time and patience, it can be a rewarding trip with plenty of adventures to be had along the way. However, if you simply want to see the Buzludzha Memorial House, then we suggest you do yourself a favour, and simply hire a car, or use one of the tour operators listed above.
What Is There To See
For many years visitors continued to gain access inside the Buzludzha monument through broken doors and windows, even after entry was officially prohibited. Now however, these entry points have been sealed and a guard watches over the site 24/7. For a discussion of why this is a good thing, please see this news post.
Buzludzha is still very much worth visiting, however. The monument’s exterior design is unique, while its mountainous surroundings are both beautiful, and densely packed with cultural attractions—so that a trip to Buzludzha can easily become part of a larger cultural tour of the region.
The following interactive map details some other local attractions, including monuments, restaurants, historical sites and accommodation options. Just click on any point to see a description.
Monuments
- 1. Monument to Hadzhi Dimitâr
- 2. Two Epochs: Shipka-Buzludzha (“Fists”)
- 3. Monument to the Bulgarian Workers’ Social Democratic Party
- 4. Monument to the Partisans
- 5. Monument to Dimitâr Blagoev
- 6. Monument to the September Uprising
- 7. Shipka Monument to Liberty
- 8. Shipka Russian Memorial
- 9. Monument to Georgi Dimitrov
- 10. Buzludzha Memorial House
Attractions
- 1. Koprinka Reservoir
- 2. Souvenir Stall
- 3. Buzludzha Meadow
- 4. Shipka Memorial Church
- 5. Water Fountain
- 6. Thracian Tomb of Kazanlâk
Food and Hotels
- 1. Buzludzha Cabin
- 2. New Buzludzha Cabin
- 3. Krânsko Hanche
- 4. Shipka IT Hotel
- 5. Shipka Hotel and Restaurant
- 6. Hotel Edelweiss
