Official Name

Смолян (Smolyan). The name probably derives from a small, local Slavic tribe called Smolyani. During the Ottoman occupation, the place was also named Paschmakli. Don't confuse Smolyan with the small town of Smilyan, which is just a few kilometers further to the south.

Location

	Smolyan

Smolyan nestles amidst the massive Rodopi mountain range, the Western Rodopi to be exactly, which straddles the Greek-Bulgarian border. The highest summit of the Rodopi, the Perelik, is only a few kilometres away and 2,191 m high. To the north, it's around 100 km to the closest big city, which is →Plovdiv. The Greek border is in the south and only some 20 km away, but this is of no use, since there's no border crossing in the vicinity.

Population

With around 32,000 people, Smolyan is by far the biggest city in the area.

Orientation

Actually, Smolyan consists of three small towns, which have been unified in 1934. In 1960, the place was granted municipal rights. The town stretches between an altitude from 885 m up to 1300 m, which makes it the highest town of Bulgaria. All the three parts stretch along the river Cherna - Smolyan is many kilometres long. The town was supposed to be a socialist model town and this involves a lot of concrete in the centre. Therefore, the centre looks a bit different. However, people do not come to admire the town but the surrounding mountains.

History

The first settlement was founded around the year 1200. Due to it's isolated location and the fact that there was nothing like a real town but only three villages, the place never gained more than local importance. The attempt to create a socialist model town was interrupted by the political changes after 1989. Eversince, the mountainous border area around Smolyan, with the serious drawback of having no border crossing, suffers structural problems. During the 1990ies, the unemployment rate went up to 60 %. Officially, it dropped to around 20 % by now. Around Smolyan, tobacco is cultivated. Smolyan's future partially lies in winter sports, since the mountains attract many skiers and snowboarders in winter.

Getting there / transportation

You can get to Smolyan by bus, microbus or other motorized vehicles - there's no train at all. The easiest way to get there is via → Plovdiv - just go south all the way along the river Vacha direction Smilyan. The road is quite scenic, so just going there is already a highlight. The trip takes around 2½ hours. From Smolyan, microbusses frequent the surrounding winter sports resorts such as Pamporovo and Shiroka Laka. A small, minor but landscape-wise incredibly beautiful road leads to the west to the Pirin mountain range and further on to →Melnik and Sandanski.

Except for the chance to see the partially realized project of forming a social model town, there aren't any real highlights in Smolyan. Again, people visit the place for the mountains around Smolyan. Nevertheless, the highly 'concrete' city centre has its certain flair and offers an interesting contrast to the landscape.

	In the Rodopi mountains near Smolyan

The Rodopi mountains around Smolyan are a famous winter sports resort and therefore offer all the appropriate facilities and infrastructure, such as large hotels, ski lifts and so on. The area is not very big so everything is easy to reach. Famous winter sports resorts include Pamporovo a few kilometers north of Smolyan and Shiroka Laka north-west of the city.

	View of the Rodopi mountains from Snezhanka

Just a few kilometres north of Smolyan, there's the 1,948 m high Sneshanka with a TV tower on its top. There's a chairlift right to the top of the mountain. The vista is just great, since there are only a few mountains higher than Snezhanka. It also provides a good overview of surrounding winter sports facilities.

	Hotel Kiparis Alfa
	Rating: 3 Price: from US$50 Price: from US$5 Room amenities: air conditioning, hair dryer, ironing board, television, bathtub, shower, mini bar, balcony/terrace, satellite/cable TV, jacuzzi bathtub, non smoking rooms >>Check availability

>>Description

The Hotel Kiparis Alfa is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests to Smolyan. All hotel's guestrooms have all the conveniences expected in a hotel in its class to suit guests' utmost comforts. Room amenities include non smoking rooms, air conditioning, hair dryer, ironing board, television, bathtub. To suit guests' convenience, this Smolyan accommodation offers room service 24hr, casino, elevator, bar/pub, laundry service/dry cleaning. For guests to unwind, the hotel offers a variety of facilities and services including massage, jacuzzi, gym/fitness facilities, sauna, spa. Modern comfort and convenience are seamlessly combined to ensure the guests' satisfaction. These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to Smolyan. Please complete our secure online booking form by entering your period of stay.

	Smilen Hotel
	Rating: 3 Room amenities: desk, hair dryer, shower, mini bar, kitchenette, satellite/cable TV, coffee/tea maker, non smoking rooms >>Check availability

>>Description

With its central location, Smilen Hotel is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Smolyan. The Smilen Hotel boasts a convenient location with modern amenities in every guestroom and superb service. Each of the hotel's guestrooms offers non smoking rooms, desk, hair dryer, shower, mini bar. This Smolyan accommodation contains all of the facilities and conveniences you would expect from a hotel in its class. For a more enjoyable stay, guests can take advantage of a variety of recreational facilities, including massage, sauna, garden. This hotel is characterized by a combination of modern comfort and traditional element of Smolyan, making it a distinct accommodation. To make your booking at the Smilen Hotel Smolyan, please enter the dates of your stay and sumbit our secure online booking form.

	Spa Hotel Dikas
	Rating: 3 Room amenities: air conditioning, desk, hair dryer, television, bathtub, shower, separate shower and tub, mini bar, balcony/terrace, satellite/cable TV, jacuzzi bathtub, non smoking rooms >>Check availability

>>Description

Discover all that Smolyan has to offer with Spa Hotel Dikas as a base. The Spa Hotel Dikas boasts a convenient location with modern amenities in every guestroom and superb service. Each guestroom is tastefully appointed with non smoking rooms, air conditioning, desk, hair dryer, television, bathtub. Guests staying at this Smolyan accommodation can enjoy a wide range of hotel facilities such as room service 24hr, shops, elevator, bar/pub, laundry service/dry cleaning, meeting facilities , restaurant, room service. For a more enjoyable stay, guests can take advantage of a variety of recreational facilities, including massage, jacuzzi, gym/fitness facilities, sauna, spa, garden. The hotel creates a balance of rich culture and modern convinience to ensure you a memorable stay. Please complete our secure online booking form by entering your period of stay.

	Residence Hotel Malina
	Rating: 3 Price: from US$71 Price: from US$7 Room amenities: desk, television, shower, mini bar, kitchenette, satellite/cable TV, coffee/tea maker, non smoking rooms >>Check availability

>>Description

With its central location, Residence Hotel Malina is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Smolyan. All hotel's guestrooms have all the conveniences expected in a hotel in its class to suit guests' utmost comforts. Room amenities include non smoking rooms, desk, television, shower, mini bar, kitchenette. The amenities and services offered at this Smolyan accommodation include room service 24hr, elevator, bar/pub, restaurant, room service, safety deposit boxes, business center. With elegant facilities and hospitality, guests at this hotel will surely have an impressive stay. To reserve a room at the Residence Hotel Malina, simply select your dates of stay and fill in our secure online booking form.

	Bhm Hotel & Casino Smolyan
	Rating: 3 Price: from US$33 Price: from US$3 Room amenities: non smoking rooms, daily newspaper, desk, television, bathtub, shower, mini bar, satellite/cable TV >>Check availability

>>Description

With its central location, Bhm Hotel & Casino Smolyan is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Smolyan. The Bhm Hotel & Casino Smolyan boasts a convenient location with modern amenities in every guestroom and superb service. These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to Smolyan. For your reservation at the Bhm Hotel & Casino Smolyan Smolyan, please select your dates of stay and fill in our secure online booking form.

No detailed information accommodation, since I returned to Plovdiv the same day. Since it's a ski resort, there are many small and large hotels, but many of them will close in summer.

• bulgaria.domino.bg/smolyan/ Extensive website about Smolyan, Pamporovo, Shiroka Laka etc in English.
• www.rodopi-bg.com Very helpful homepage of the Rodopi tourist agency.

Do you have or do you know a good website about Smolyan? Don't hesitate, let me know! After checking it, I would love to add it to the link list. You can submit a link by using the →contact form. Note that commercial websites will be treated differently.