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EuropeBulgariaSmolyan

Chepelare

Smolyan, Bulgaria · Europe

About Chepelare

Chepelare is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Laki, 18km from Wonderful Bridges.

Chepelare is a town located in Smolyan, Bulgaria. With a population of 5,478, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Chepelare sits in Bulgaria, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Sofia time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Chepelare to your route.

About Chepelare

Chepelare (Bulgarian: Чепеларе [tʃɛpɛˈɫarɛ]) is the principal town in Chepelare Municipality, part of Smolyan Province in Southern Bulgaria. It is situated in the central part of the Rhodopes, on the banks of Chepelare River. Chepelare is a popular winter resort with one of the longest ski runs in Southeastern Europe.

Read more It is located near Pamporovo, one of the biggest Bulgarian ski resorts. As of December 2009, the town had a population of 5,412. The town is known for the only ski and snowboard factory in the Balkan peninsula. The factory cooperates with the ski brand Atomic Skis. Chepelare is also the birthplace of biathlete Ekaterina Dafovska, Bulgaria's only Winter Olympics gold medal winner. The local Sports School provides good conditions for young winter athletes. Climate table:

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Chepelare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Chepelare?

Chepelare offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Chepelare?

Plan your road trip to Chepelare with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Chepelare as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Chepelare located?

Chepelare is located in Smolyan, Bulgaria, Europe. The coordinates are 41.7333 latitude, 24.6833 longitude.

What is the population of Chepelare?

Chepelare has a population of approximately 5,478 people, making it a town in Bulgaria.

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Quick Information

Population
5,478
Continent
Europe
Country
Bulgaria
Region
Smolyan
Timezone
Europe/Sofia
Coordinates
41.7333, 24.6833

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Bulgaria

Police
112
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
Driving side
right

Vignette required for all roads outside towns.

Full driving guide for Bulgaria

Tags

EuropeBulgariaSmolyanTown

Worth the detour from Chepelare

7 notable places within an hour's 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.

18 km · about 20 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.

28 km · about 35 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.

28 km · about 35 min drive

castle

Asen's Fortress

A medieval fortress ruin with a surviving 13th-century church on a rock spur above the Chepelare river, beside the Asenovgrad–Smolyan road.

33 km · about 40 min drive

bridge

Devil's Bridge (Dyavolski Most)

Elegant 16th-century Ottoman arch bridge spanning the Arda River in a wild Rhodope gorge near Ardino, reached by a short mountain road: a legendary photo stop steeped in folklore.

38 km · about 45 min drive

landmark

Plovdiv Old Town

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, with colorful Revival-period houses perched on ancient hills above Roman ruins.

46 km · about 55 min drive

ancient ruins

Plovdiv Roman Theatre

A remarkably well-preserved 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre seating 6,000 spectators, still hosting performances today.

46 km · about 55 min drive

Driving roads near Chepelare

  • 28 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.
  • 38 kmDevil's Bridge (Dyavolski Most)Elegant 16th-century Ottoman arch bridge spanning the Arda River in a wild Rhodope gorge near Ardino, reached by a short mountain road: a legendary photo stop steeped in folklore.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Chepelare.

Laki

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

17 km awayPop. 3,258

Smolyan

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

18 km awayPop. 30,689

Devin

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

24 km awayPop. 7,393

Gyovren

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

27 km awayPop. 1,040

Banite

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

31 km awayPop. 1,279

Rudozem

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

31 km awayPop. 3,783

Topolovo

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

32 km awayPop. 2,600

Borino

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

33 km awayPop. 3,084

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence