Last updated on October 20, 2026
15 things to do in Dryanovo, Bulgaria
Dryanovo might not be on every foreign tourist’s Bulgaria itinerary, but this small town in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains has plenty to offer. Known as the hometown of Kolyo Ficheto, it’s a great destination for history, culture, and nature lovers.
Located in central northern Bulgaria and within the Gabrovo Province, Dryanovo makes an easy day trip or weekend getaway from Veliko Tarnovo. You can also combine it with nearby Gabrovo, the city of humour and satire, and Tryavna, known for its icon painting and woodcarving.
From monasteries and museums to caves, waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic viewpoints, there’s a surprising amount to explore in and around Dryanovo. And with many attractions close to one another, you can fit quite a lot into a short visit.
Here are 15 things to do in Dryanovo to help you plan your trip.
Disclosure:
- This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click through and book or buy something, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- This trip was organized in collaboration with Dryanovo Municipality. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own.
Plan your Bulgaria trip without overthinking it:
- Flights: I usually compare prices on Kiwi, Skyscanner, and Omio – they often show different deals for the same routes.
- Accommodation: For apartments and hotels, Booking and HostelWorld cover pretty much every budget and city in Bulgaria.
- Tours & activities: If you don’t want to book on the spot, GetYourGuide and Viator are the easiest options.
- Transfers: For airport pickups and long-distance transfers, Welcome Pickups save time and negotiation.
- Car rental: I compare prices on DiscoverCars and LocalRent – especially useful outside Sofia.
- Mobile internet: For eSIMs, Saily is simple and cheaper than roaming.
- Travel insurance: I usually check HeyMondo (5% discount available) or SafetyWing, depending on trip length.
Dryanovo map – save it before you visit
I’ve put together a Google Maps list of the places mentioned in this guide to help you plan your visit. Save it before you head to Dryanovo so you can easily find the sights, hiking trails, and nearby villages as you explore.
1. Learn about Bulgaria’s most famous architect and builder, Kolyo Ficheto
Start with the iconic monument to Kolyo Ficheto, perhaps Bulgaria’s most famous Revival-era builder, architect, and sculptor. Dryanovo is his hometown, after all!
Right next to the monument, you’ll find the History Museum’s “Kolyu Ficheto – Life and Work” exhibition on the second floor. It features models of his buildings made from natural materials, portraits, and collections of masonry, stoneworking, and carpentry tools used during the Bulgarian National Revival.
The museum is also Site No. 22a on Bulgaria’s 100 National Tourist Sites list, so you can get a stamp for your collection here.
Stef’s local tip:
- Get a combined museum ticket. It costs €12 for all museum exhibitions in Dryanovo. If you plan to visit them all, this is a better deal than paying €5 for each individual entry.
- Look for Kolyu Ficheto’s personal signet ring. It’s one of the most valuable exhibits.
- Photograph the list of his buildings. Use it to create your own little quest and see how many you can visit in person.
- Ask about his charitable work. The museum staff can tell you more about this lesser-known side of the master builder.
2. Discover a unique mineral collection in a house built without a single nail
The next stop is Lafchieva House, an impressive three-storey building famous for being constructed without a single nail or metal bracket.
Built in 1840 by master builder Kolyo Gaydardzhi, the house was shared by two wealthy merchant families, the Lafchiev and Perev families.
The ground floor once housed a shop. Today, it hosts the exhibition Created by the Earth, featuring over 270 mineral specimens from around 80 deposits. The collection was donated to the History Museum by Ventsislav Panev, a local resident of Dryanovo.
On the second floor, accessible via the stairs and inner courtyard, you’ll find an exhibition showcasing urban life in the region from the late 19th to the early 20th century. It features antique furniture, everyday household objects, and both festive and everyday clothing from the period.
Stef’s local tip:
- Call the museum entrance first. You need a staff member to accompany you and open the house before you can visit the exhibitions.
- Look for the mix of Bulgarian, Ottoman, and European influences in the second-floor exhibition. It’s an interesting glimpse into the region’s cultural influences.
- Don’t miss the sokai. Displayed in the centre of the exhibition, this traditional bridal headdress was found only in this part of Bulgaria.
3. Step inside a monastery school and see how students used to spend their day
Our next stop is just nearby: Holy Trinity Church, the oldest church in Dryanovo. It’s small, but its altar features beautifully detailed woodcarvings and icons.
According to Father Ivelin, this is the only church in Bulgaria with a carved wooden sun rosette on its ceiling. The design is characteristic of the Tryavna woodcarving school.
Opposite the church entrance, you’ll find a reconstructed monastery school. These were religiously oriented primary schools during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria. This reconstruction is the result of dedicated volunteer work, with exhibits collected patiently and lovingly over time. Don’t just walk past it – step inside!
Stef’s local tip:
- Take a closer look at the school supplies. The original desks are incredibly narrow and worn, but they have lumbar support. Not bad for old-school education!
- Look for the bowl of crushed walnut shells on the floor. Disobedient pupils were punished by kneeling on the sharp shells with bare knees. Suddenly, school detention doesn’t sound so bad.
- Play a little guessing game. Examine the household vessels and tools displayed along one wall. Can you figure out what each object was used for?
4. Admire Kolyo Ficheto’s craftsmanship at St. Nicholas Church
Don’t miss St. Nicholas Church, built by master builder Kolyо Ficheto in 1851.
The church features several distinctive architectural elements:
- An integrated bell tower, built into the main structure rather than standing separately. This was an innovative architectural solution in Bulgaria.
- Two curved balconies for women, finished with elegant, flowing lines.
- A wide, projecting exterior cornice that stands out from the building.
- Exterior arches surrounding the church.
- Red brick decorations above each window, following the curves of the arches.
There are probably more architectural details worth spotting, but I’ll leave the expert analysis to the professionals. Take your time exploring the building and ask questions if you get the chance.
Inside, the church is richly decorated with beautiful frescoes by Stanislav Dospevski, the nephew of Bulgaria’s legendary icon painter Zahari Zograf. You’ll also find an impressive gilded altar. It’s a genuinely memorable place to visit.
Stef’s local tip:
- For better photos of the church’s rear exterior, walk further up the street. The extra distance gives you a better view and a nicer angle for your pictures. Also, don’t be afraid to ask if you can climb the stairs and go on the balcony inside!
5. Explore Bulgarian National Revival church art at Ikonomova House
Before continuing to Dryanovo’s Clock Tower, make a stop at Ikonomova House, another architectural work by Kolyu Ficheto. And no, this won’t be the last of his works you’ll see in Dryanovo!
From the street, the house might not look particularly impressive, especially if you’ve visited other Bulgarian Revival-era houses. Don’t skip it, though. Head through the entrance into the inner courtyard to admire the other side of the facade, featuring a distinctive triple-curved bay window.
The house once belonged to Father Vasil Ikonomov. Today, it showcases Bulgarian National Revival church art through a collection of over 150 icons, woodcarvings, and fresco fragments.
On the second floor, you’ll find the icons and woodcarvings. At the top of the stairs, look to your left for a Yerusalimiya from 1859 (I think it’s called Proskynetarion), brought back from Jerusalem by Father Vasil Ikonomov himself. The collection also includes triptych home icons and carved wooden ceiling rosettes known as suns.
The basement houses fresco fragments from a church in the village of Kalomen. As the church was at risk of collapse, the fragments were removed and sent for restoration by students from the Restoration Department at the National Academy of Art in Sofia. They’re now preserved here.
The ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions, so what you’ll find depends on when you visit.
6. Step onto a map of Bulgaria, just like Joey from Friends
Right next to Ikonomova House, you’ll find two more local landmarks: Dryanovo’s Clock Tower and the relief map of Bulgaria. And yes, one of them lets you channel your inner Joey Tribbiani!
The Clock Tower is hard to miss, but here’s something worth knowing: it’s a reconstruction of the original tower, demolished in 1945. The original stood where the Mother Bulgaria monument is today, although its clock mechanism has been preserved.
Next to it, you’ll find the relief map of Bulgaria, described as the country’s largest, most detailed, and most accurate relief map. It was created by teacher Bonka Tihova and her students using cement and paint.
The map once had a rather fun feature: a system of pipes supplied running water to its rivers, which flowed all the way into the Black Sea. Unfortunately, a technical fault means this little spectacle is no longer possible. Fingers crossed they find a way to bring it back!
7. Walk across Kolyo Ficheto’s only surviving original bridge
Continue your walk downhill along “The Old Street”, which connects the town centre with Kolyu Ficheto’s bridge. Along the way, you’ll pass Revival-era houses dating back to the time when the master builder himself was growing up here.
At the end of the street, you’ll reach the only bridge by Kolyo Ficheto in Bulgaria that has survived in its original state. Built in 1861 (over 160 years old!), it connects the two banks of the Dryanovska River. The fact that it has withstood the river’s waters for so long is pretty impressive!
Right next to the bridge, you’ll also find graffiti artwork on a concrete wall. The artists pay tribute to Kolyo Ficheto and his craftsmanship, adding a modern touch to this historic spot.
Stef’s local tip:
- The Old Street’s official name is Pencho Cherkovski. However, for some reason, in Google Maps you’ll find it as Drjanoroka Komana.
8. Step back into the April Uprising at Dryanovo Monastery
Dryanovo Monastery, dedicated to St. Archangel Michael, was founded in the early 13th century and is still active today. It has long been an important spiritual and educational centre, even during Ottoman rule. Today, it attracts believers and visitors from Bulgaria and abroad.
The monastery played a key role in the April Uprising and Bulgaria’s struggle for liberation. In 1876, the rebel band led by Pop Hariton and Bacho Kiro gathered in nearby villages before arriving at the monastery where they fought against thousands of Ottoman soldiers and bashi-bazouks for nine days.
While visiting, you can explore the monastery churches, monuments, and history museum. You can also enjoy a meal at the restaurant or even stay overnight in the monastery’s hotel.
If you want to stay near Dryanovo Monastery, Strinava Campsite and Bacho Kiro Hut are two alternatives to the monastery’s hotel.
Strinava Campsite is right next to the river. You can book a wooden bungalow with two beds or bring your own tent. The campsite also hosts the annual Running Free Festival, an open-air metal festival held towards the end of August. So, if you like your nature with a side of heavy metal, you know where to go!
Bacho Kiro Hut is also close to the monastery, but I’d check its current status before relying on it for an overnight stay. Its recent social media posts make it look more like a venue for private celebrations than a traditional mountain hut. Hopefully, I’m wrong!
10. Cool off by one of Dryanovo’s waterfalls
The Dryanovska River flows through Dryanovo and the area around Dryanovo Monastery, Strinava Campsite, and Bacho Kiro Hut. Along the way, you can visit two waterfalls: Siniya Vir and Dryanovo Waterfall.
Siniya Vir is a short walk from the monastery. From here, you can also spot the metal ladder belonging to the Via Ferrata hiking route.
Dryanovo Waterfall is also known as Andaka Waterfall. It forms along the Andaka River, a left tributary of the Dryanovska River. You’ll find it on the way to Bacho Kiro Cave, which we’ll get to shortly.
Stef’s local tip:
- Visit in early spring or after heavy rain for the fullest waterfalls. But summer can be lovely, too – I’ve visited in peak season and there was still some water to enjoy!
11. Visit the cave that was home to Europe’s earliest modern humans
Bacho Kiro Cave is just a short walk from Dryanovo Monastery. It was the first developed cave in Bulgaria, earning it a place as Site No. 22 on the country’s 100 National Tourist Sites list.
There are two routes through the cave: a short route and a longer one. You can explore the short route independently, but the longer route requires a guide.
Excavations here uncovered remains of cave bears and Homo sapiens. Further research revealed that the human remains are among the oldest found in Europe.
Stef’s local tip:
- Visiting in summer? Head into the cave during the midday heat. It’s a great place to cool off when the sun is beating down outside. During the week I spent living in the area, I regularly took my lunch breaks here. 😄
12. Take someone special to the Bench of Love
The Bench of Love is a panoramic viewpoint above Bacho Kiro Cave, offering lovely views of the Dryanovska River canyon and Dryanovo Monastery. Look across to the rocky cliff on the right, and you’ll also spot a large iron cross.
The walk up is short and easy enough for most visitors. The spot is especially popular with locals who bring their partners here. For some couples, it’s even the place where marriage proposals happen. Romantic, with a view!
Stef’s local tip:
- Visit at sunrise or sunset for the best light. Going for sunset? Bring a headlamp so you can safely find your way back down in the dark.
13. Explore the Dryanovo Balkan Mountains on foot
Hiking is becoming increasingly popular in the Dryanovo region, with several marked trails offering different ways to explore the surrounding nature.
Here are six routes to consider, from short walks to longer hikes:
- Dryanovo Eco Trail: Starts at the entrance to Bacho Kiro Cave and winds along the Boruna rock massif. Follow the green markings, and you’ll pass the Bench of Love along the way. Visit in spring for plenty of crocuses or in autumn to spot wild cyclamens.
- Via Ferrata Eco Trail: Starts at Dryanovo Monastery. Follow the blue markings and signs along the Dryanovska River, past Siniya Vir Waterfall, and up the stairs to a plateau with scenic views.
- Dryanovo Monastery to Bozhentsi Eco Trail: Connects Dryanovo Monastery with Bozhentsi, one of Bulgaria’s architectural and historical reserves. You can hike in either direction. Follow the green markings and allow around five hours for the route.
- Kumanite to Bozhentsi Trail: Starts in Kumanite village and ends in Bozhentsi. Follow the white-red-white markings. The hike takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes, with great views of the Central Balkan peaks along the way.
- Skalsko Eco Trail: Runs for around 12 km from Skalsko village to Dryanovo Monastery. Follow the white-red-white markings. The route passes a paragliding launch site above Skalsko and through Iglika village, which has recently become known for its carpet festival.
- From Discoduratere to the Present Day: Starts in Gostilitsa village and leads to the foot of the ancient Roman fortress of Discodurater. The route is around 3 km long and partly follows the remains of an ancient Roman road that once connected Nicopolis ad Istrum and Augusta Traiana with Constantinople.
14. Join an annual group hike
If you’d like to explore the area with other hikers, Dryanovo hosts several annual group hikes.
Which one you can join depends on when you visit:
- Around Easter: Dryanovo – Bozhentsi – Tryavna
- In May: Follow the route taken by the rebel band of Pop Hariton and Bacho Kiro.
- In mid-October: In the Kingdom of Wild Cyclamens
If one of these hikes fits your travel dates, it’s worth checking locally for details before setting off.
15. Explore the surrounding villages and experience local rural life
The villages around Dryanovo offer a mix of history, scenic views, outdoor activities, and quirky local finds.
Here are a few reasons to venture beyond the town:
- Kalomen: Visit an oak tree that’s over 500 years old. The village is also home to the church whose frescoes are now displayed at Ikonomova House in Dryanovo.
- Tsareva Livada: See a royal locomotive dating back more than 100 years.
- Gostilitsa: Take in the beautiful views from around the village.
- Skalsko: Go paragliding from the cliffs above the village.
- Runya: Stay at Runya Lodge and check out its collection of restored vintage wood-burning stoves.
- Chukovo: Head here for English street food.
Want to explore even more?
Other villages in Dryanovo Municipality include:
- Kumanite
- Glushka
- Buchukovtsi
- Golemi Balgareni
- Zaya
- Ganchovets
- Kereka
- Dlaghnya
- Turkincha.
They’re worth keeping in mind if you’re planning a longer stay and want to discover more of the local countryside.
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Stefani Gospodinova
Founder and Content Creator
Stefani is a travel content creator born and raised in Bulgaria, and the founder of Kiss My Backpack. Having explored the country since childhood, she shares practical tips, local insights, and her own photography to help visitors plan their trip.
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