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.
21 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeBulgariaBlagoevgrad
Yakoruda
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria · Europe
About Yakoruda
Yakoruda is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Belitsa, 21km from Rila National Park.
Yakoruda is in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, with about 6,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Belitsa, about 13 km away.
Yakoruda (Bulgarian: Якоруда [jɐkoˈrudɐ]) is a Bulgarian town located in the southwestern part of the country. A part of the Blagoevgrad Province, it is the seat of Yakuroda Municipality which is the north-easternmost in the province. The town lies in the Rhodope Mountains, along the Mesta River, 26 km west of theRead more
town of Velingrad. Yakoruda was proclaimed a town on 9 September 1964, having previously been officially classified as a village.
A plurality of the residents are Muslim Bulgarians (Pomaks), the rest being for the most part Eastern Orthodox.
Notable natives are Survivor BG season one runner-up Ahmed Shuganov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Emiliya Maslarova, and Dr. Anna Petrova-Mayor, Professor of Physics at California State University Chico.
Where to Stay in Yakoruda
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Yakoruda.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Yakoruda.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Yakoruda?
Within an hour or so of Yakoruda: Rila National Park (21 km), Rila Monastery (31 km), Pirin National Park (36 km), Seven Rila Lakes (36 km).
Are there any good drives near Yakoruda?
The nearest famous roads are Trigrad Gorge, Troyan Pass (Beklemeto) and Iskar Gorge.
Where is Yakoruda?
Yakoruda is in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, about 13 km from Belitsa.
Road trip
Drive to Yakoruda
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Yakoruda. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 6,008
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Region
- Blagoevgrad
- Timezone
- Europe/Sofia
- Coordinates
- 42.0253, 23.6842
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for BulgariaTags
Worth the detour from Yakoruda
4 notable places within an hour's 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.
31 km · about 35 min drive
national park
Pirin National Park
Rugged Balkan mountain scenery with marble peaks, glacial lakes, and ancient Bosnian pines in Bulgaria.
36 km · about 40 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.
36 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Yakoruda
4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 73 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.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Yakoruda.
Plan a trip around Yakoruda
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Yakoruda.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.