It isn’t in Spain or Italy: This European city is for people who want to relax and take it easy
This underrated European gem is quickly gaining a lot of popularity.
While you may think of Paris, Barcelona or London as the ideal summer getaway, the hustle and bustle might just be too much.
That’s when you need the word aylyak. This word means relaxation, but not in the traditional sense. It is a practice of chilling, strolling around with a coffee and escaping the hectic pace of modern life - treating idleness as a virtue rather than a vice.
So the logical question is: where can I get some?
The oldest city in Europe - Plovdiv, Bulgaria pic.twitter.com/upJJE2CWXi
— Eliana Dakielah (@aadoraam) June 14, 2025
Tucked in the heart of Bulgaria, far from the typical clichés of sangría and salami piazzas, lies a city that may just be Europe’s ultimate destination for slowing down: Plovdiv.
Located in the south-central part of the country, on both banks of the Maritsa River, Plovdiv is a major cultural centre and precisely where aylyak is practiced: up and down the cobbled streets and in and out of the tiny bars, cafeterias and handmade goods shops; it is a way of life, something to be cherished, not avoided.
But don’t think Plovdiv is a tiny village that can be seen in a day, Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second-largest city, and is home to around 340,000 residents.
It’s not just Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, having been called home to people for 8,000 years, it’s one of the oldest in the world.
Built around seven hills, Plovdiv has its own 2nd-century AD Roman theatre, which was constructed during the reign of Emperor Trajan. Curiously, it wasn’t discovered until it was uncovered in the aftermath of a freak landslide in 1972.
Best things to do in Plovdiv:
- Visiting the Roman Amphitheatre of Plovdiv
- Exploring the Old Town
- Visiting the Dzhumaya Mosque
- Attending a performance at the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis
- Visiting the Ethnographic Museum
- Sampling the local cuisine at one of the many restaurants in the city
- Taking a day trip to one of the nearby wineries
Source: visitmybulgaria.com
📍Plovdiv / Filibe, Bulgaristan 🇧🇬 pic.twitter.com/3D36mtxFJr
— BG & Balkans ®️ (@bgbalkans) June 11, 2025
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