Youth Hill — Attraction in Plovdiv

My local hill/park for a daily walk, it's tip-top! It's one of the larger green areas in Plovdiv, with plenty of trees and little paths to wander along. It's less manicured than Tsar Simeon Garden (in the centre), but I like that, and so does the wildlife.

Very nice (no cars) path all the way to the top (about 2km long) for walkers and bikers. It's only 300m high (it's not Everest), but this is one of the highest points in the city, so the views are good across town, and towards the Rhodopes in the south.

This path starts at bul. "Koprivshtitsa", but there are several entry points to the park (the most popular is at the dental university where there is parking).

This is an easy-to-follow route that winds to the top. It's quite gentle, and it's paved (cobbles), well-lit, and has several benches where you can take a break. There are a couple of unmarked, more challenging, routes that go straighter up on the steeper side.

Nice green area at the base with the Children's Railway (the toilets are next to the station), and a great picnic area with proper tables under the trees (next to the playground).

A new addition is Plovdiv Stage Park with multiple sound stages and a bazaar and food/drink area. There are also renovated tennis courts (Tennis Club Plovdiv), a restaurant (Central Park) with children's play area, and two small outdoor gyms (one at the top, one at the base at Plovdiv...

The Youth Hill is located in the southwest part of Plovdiv. It has the status of a national landmark with the aim of preservation the natural habitat of rare plant species, such as Bulgarian and Balkan relict endemic tutsan, Astragalus physocalux, Genista rumelica. The hill has been inhabited since 3 000 B.C., and some archaeological sites from the periods have been found, such as statue of Apollo from Late Antiquity and a three-nave basilica from early-Christian times. The children Railway is located on the foot of the Youth Hill. It was founded in 1979 and since then it has been a real attraction for the children and their parents, both citizens and visitors of Plovdiv. Thousands of kids from the region keep the memory of their very first travelling by train on the Youth Hill. The train, which consists of an engine and three carriages, starts its journey from the Peoneer Station, which has a platform, two lines, as well as traffic lights. The duration of the trip is about 25 minutes per direction. The train is closed on Monday and Tuesday. A number of cultural activities regularly take place on the foot...

Youth Hill is the tallest of the famous five hills of Plovdiv. On the top is a strange combination of an old swimming pool and old communications towers. The walk up the hill and other things make this worthwhile site, but first a word of caution. The swimming pool is empty, deep, and not fenced off. So, watch you children don’t get to close or curious. The walk to the top of the hill is on a long winding cobblestone road with a fairly easy grade for walking or biking. We walked and it took about 30 minutes. The views are beautiful and in spring flowering trees are everywhere. The hill can be approached from several directions. Use Google Maps to find the one you want. For young children under 10 there is a Children’s Railroad that is a lot of fun. Parents can take a 15 minute ride part way up the hill and enjoy a view of the city from this little narrow gauge railway. From the end you can ride back or continue up the hill. There is parking on the West side of the hill where the railroad...