Shumen is a city of unexpected contrasts. Cozy streets sit alongside monumental buildings from the 20th century, while old Ottoman mosques have adopted distinctly European features. Here’s what you must see in Shumen and the best ways to get around the city.
Renting a car is the most convenient way to explore the attractions of Shumen, which are located at a respectful distance from each other. Taking a taxi to visit these interesting places would be more expensive than renting a car for just one day, especially considering a trip to the Madara monuments.
Average rental prices in Shumen by car class
Car rentals in July will be 20-30% more expensive than at the end of spring. A similar range is typical for hotel room prices as well.
Car classes |
Price per day |
Deposit amount |
|---|---|---|
compact cars |
from 6 EUR (12 BGN) |
from 150 euros |
small cars |
from 18 EUR (36 BGN) |
from 150 euros |
standard |
from 20 EUR (40 BGN) |
from 200 euros |
minivan |
from 26 EUR (52 BGN) |
from 300 euros |
SUVs |
from 35 EUR (70 BGN) |
from 800 euros |
luxury |
from 60 EUR (120 BGN) |
from 1500 euros |
*Prices are valid for November 2024. Check the available cars in the city and review the offers from rental offices.
What do you need for renting a car?
To rent a car in Bulgaria, you will need a standard valid European driver’s license (no need for an international driver’s permit), a passport, and a Visa/MasterCard credit card for the deposit.
The minimum age is 23 years old, with at least 3 years of driving experience. For drivers under 23, there is an additional fee of 6 euros per day and a doubled deposit.
Make a reservation in Shumen a week before the rental starts to secure the car of your choice.
How to choose a rental car?
Determine where you will be driving: in Shumen, to another city on the highway, or through mountainous or coastal terrain. Consider who you will be traveling with, that is, how many passengers will be in the car.
Travelers |
Car body |
Transmission |
|---|---|---|
Two people |
coupe, compact sedan or hatchback |
Manual |
A loner |
coupe, sedan, hatchback |
Automatic, Manual |
Company of 2-4 people |
full-size sedan, station wagon or hatchback |
Automatic |
Company of 5-7 people |
minivan |
Automatic |
Family 3-4 people |
full-size sedan, station wagon or hatchback |
Manual |
Goals and routes |
Transmission |
Engine capacity |
Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
Short trips around the city |
автомат |
1.1-1.6 liters |
In the city there will be enough coupe, sedan or hatchback with an automatic transmission with a small engine capacity. |
To sights off-road |
automatic, manual |
1.6-2 liters |
To overcome ups and downs, it is preferable to choose a car with high ground clearance and not the smallest engine. |
To other cities along the highway |
machine |
2-3 liters |
To save on gas stations and comfort when overtaking, it is better to take a diesel car with a powerful engine. |
Rental companies’ offers
Top Rent-a-Car – National rental company of Bulgaria. The best prices and new cars with minimal mileage, usually up to 50,000 km. Still remains a leader in quality and comfort of services.
Discover Cars – World Travel Awards winning car rental comparison site. Customers can find, compare and rent a car in Bulgaria. Competitive prices at over 10,000 locations worldwide.
EconomyBookings – International booking service for economical car rental. Large selection of cars, more than 20,000 rental points, 150 countries. 24/7 reservation and support service.
Rentalcars – World leader in online car booking. Rentalcars is part of the American company Priceline, which also includes Booking.com.
Localrent – Car rental broker in local rental companies. Low prices, low deposits: from 0 to 300 euros. Manual confirmation of the selected vehicle option.
BikesBooking – Online booking service for motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and bicycles around the world.
GetrentaCar – Marketplace for renting vehicles from local owners at the best prices. Competitive prices in Bulgaria, best price guarantee, tender system. 24/7 support in 20 languages. Prepayment is only 15%.
Cities near Shumen
Let’s not forget that tourists reach Shumen from Varna or other nearby towns. Renting a car will provide the most comfort for this journey. If desired, you can plan a multi-day travel route that includes Dobrich, Sliven, and other cities in the eastern part of Bulgaria.
City information
Info |
Data |
|---|---|
Population of Shumen |
87 924 (2021) |
Square |
127 km² |
IATA code (airport) |
VAR |
Closest airport to Shumen |
87.6 km |
Airport information desk |
+359 52 573 323 |
Language |
Bulgarian, English |
Currency |
BGN – lv. (Bulgarian Lev) |
Country code |
+359 |
Police/ambulance phone number |
112 (free) |
Direction of movement |
right-handed |
Speed limit outside the city |
90 km/h (56 mph) |
Speed limit within the city |
50 km/h (31 mph) |
Permissible blood alcohol level |
0.05‰ ppm |
Access to the sea |
No |
Weather during the year
The local climate is not characterized by harsh cold weather, but it is still best to visit Shumen between May and September. In other months, strong winds or rain can hinder sightseeing. Walking around the fortress hills in cold weather is not very pleasant, so it is better to plan your trip for the summer months.
Average temperature by month:
Jan. |
Feb. |
March |
Apr. |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
0 |
+1 |
+4 |
+10 |
+15 |
+19 |
+21 |
+21 |
+17 |
+12 |
+7 |
+2 |
If you want to save money, come between May and June. Shumen is not one of the heavily advertised tourist destinations, but seasonal price fluctuations are common in all Bulgarian cities.
Parking zones in the city
Finding a parking spot in Shumen is quite easy. Some streets fall under the paid “blue zone,” but you can always find free parking in neighboring areas. Even in the historic center, you can quickly park your car; just turn into a residential neighborhood, where there are likely no prohibiting signs or “Blue Zone” markers.
Interestingly, paid parking is less convenient for tourists than free parking. The maximum parking time at a single spot is limited to three hours, so you won’t be able to leave your car and stroll around all day. Drivers need to have spare coins on hand, as payment via SMS only works with a local SIM card. The cost of paid parking is 1 lev per hour. You can ask locals to send an SMS to the number, and you can pay them in coins.
Attractions in Shumen
Most of the attractions are located on the outskirts of Shumen or outside the city, where parking is not an issue.
Shumen Fortress
The most famous city attraction is the Shumen Fortress, located on a hill in the western part of the city. The fortress towers and walls were built by the Romans in the 2nd century, but a couple of centuries later, the Byzantines settled here, followed by the Bulgarians. In the mid-15th century, the Ottoman Turks destroyed the city, but many parts of the walls and towers have survived to this day. Today, the Shumen Fortress remains one of Bulgaria’s main ancient monuments.
Tombul Mosque
The era of Turkish rule also left a significant mark on Shumen. After destroying the Roman heritage, the Turks built one of the largest mosques in the Balkans—Tombul Mosque. Its architects were inspired not only by classic Arab motifs but also by French Baroque. The result is unique: the mosque retains the recognizable Turkish style while resembling European structures in its exterior design.
Fragment of the Shumen Monument
The pedestrian center of Shumen is formed by streets from the early 20th century. The old buildings are unexpectedly interspersed with Soviet structures, some of which remain unfinished. However, the most grandiose monument from the Soviet era is located on the southwestern outskirts of Shumen. The monument “Creators of the Bulgarian State,” dedicated to the 1300th anniversary of Bulgaria, was unveiled in 1981. The giant sculptures and mosaic panels evoke mixed reactions from visitors, but this place leaves no one indifferent.
Surroundings of the village of Madara
Located 18 km east of Shumen is the unique early medieval monument included in the UNESCO list—the Madara rider. The relief depiction of a warrior on horseback is carved into the rock at a height of 25 meters. It is believed that the rider was modeled after the Bulgarian khan Tervel, who lived in the early 8th century. Additionally, near the village of Madara, visitors can explore ancient caves and hike up to the hill where fragments of a medieval fortress remain.
