national park
Rila National Park
Bulgaria's largest national park encompassing the highest peak in the Balkans (Musala, 2,925m) with alpine lakes, glacial valleys, and dense pine forests.
40 km · about 45 min drive
EuropeBulgariaPazardzhik
Velingrad
Pazardzhik, Bulgaria · Europe
About Velingrad
Velingrad sits on the route: 15 minutes from Rakitovo, 40km from Rila National Park.
Velingrad is in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, with about 20,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Rakitovo, about 9 km away.
Velingrad (Bulgarian: Велинград [ˈvɛlinɡrat]) is a town in Pazardzhik Province, Southern Bulgaria, located at the western end of Chepino Valley, part of the Rhodope Mountains. It is the administrative center of the homonymous Velingrad Municipality and one of the most popular Bulgarian balneological resorts. The townRead more
has a population of 22,602 inhabitants according to the 2011 census of Velingrad.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Velingrad?
Within an hour or so of Velingrad: Rila National Park (40 km), Pirin National Park (54 km), Wonderful Bridges (54 km), Rila Monastery (55 km).
Are there any good drives near Velingrad?
The nearest famous roads are Trigrad Gorge, Troyan Pass (Beklemeto) and Iskar Gorge.
Where is Velingrad?
Velingrad is in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, about 9 km from Rakitovo.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 20,286
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Region
- Pazardzhik
- Timezone
- Europe/Sofia
- Coordinates
- 42.0275, 23.9916
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for BulgariaTags
Worth the detour from Velingrad
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Pirin National Park
Rugged Balkan mountain scenery with marble peaks, glacial lakes, and ancient Bosnian pines in Bulgaria.
54 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Wonderful Bridges
Two natural marble rock arches formed by a collapsed cave in the Rhodope mountains, reached by a paved road with a car park.
54 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's most important UNESCO-listed monastery, a stunning 10th-century complex adorned with vivid frescoes nestled in the Rila Mountains.
55 km · about 65 min drive
famous road
Trigrad Gorge
Narrow Rhodope canyon road squeezing between 250 m marble cliffs to the Devil's Throat Cave, where a river thunders underground: one of Bulgaria's most dramatic drives.
56 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Devil's Throat Cave
A cave in the Trigrad gorge where a river plunges into an underground hall, visited via a tunnel entrance with roadside parking.
56 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Seven Rila Lakes
A chain of seven stunning glacial lakes stacked at different elevations in the Rila Mountains, each named for its distinctive shape.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Velingrad
5 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 56 kmTrigrad GorgeNarrow Rhodope canyon road squeezing between 250 m marble cliffs to the Devil's Throat Cave, where a river thunders underground: one of Bulgaria's most dramatic drives.
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