DiscoverEasternEU – join us for a 4-day Meet-up from Sofia to Plovdiv, Bulgaria!

Dear applicants, due to the great interest in the Meet-up we are closing the applications today, 27.05.2025. We will start contacting the participants from end of May via email. Please, monitor the email addresses that you have provided when registering for the Meet-up as there will be a reserve list of candidates, as well. 

We have prepared for you an unforgettable experience that will start in Sofia - a city that never sleeps, and also visit Plovdiv – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, EU Capital of Culture 2019 and one of the oldest cities in Europe – find out about the local cuisine, our rich history and have fun with the other participants. 

We provide you with 3-night accommodation in a single hotel room, food and tickets. What is more, we have coordinated this Meet-up with the Serbian, Macedonian and Turkish National Agencies so that you can visit Belgrade and Macedonia first and then continue to Sofia, from where you can move on to Istanbul!

📅 When? From 18 – 21 July 2025

📌 Where? Sofia - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

💰 Costs? No costs! Food, tickets, transport during the Meet-up and accommodation are included!

😎 Who? 25 registered DiscoverEU travellers (there will be a reserve list, so don’t be discouraged!)*

❗ Deadline: Please, submit your application by 1 June 2025.

The shortened version of the Programme for the Meet-up is the following:

18 July (Friday) – Arrival day in Sofia and dinner. 

19 July (Saturday) – Get to know Sofia, explore our Traditional Music and Dances through a specially organised seminar for you, then travel to Plovdiv, where you will have the opportunity to have dinner and walk around nighttime Plovdiv.

20 July (Sunday) – Get to know Plovdiv, visit many historical sights, learn about the history and customs in the city, have coffee next to the Ancient Stadium like a local and walk around the Old Town.

21 July (Monday) – Departure day (Hopefully, to Istanbul!)

We are leaving some activities as a surprise for you ;) 

In case you have questions, feel free to contact our NA for the Erasmus+ Program in Bulgaria at tpdimitrova@hrdc.bg 

See you in July!

Links to the other coordinated Meet-ups: 

Serbia: July 14-16, 2025 (APPLY HERE)

North Macedonia: July 16–18, 2025 (https://youth.europa.eu/discovereu/meetups/where-past-meets-future-skopje-north-macedonia_en  )

Türkiye: July 21–23, 2025 (APPLY HERE)

• Although all participants are welcome, please bear in mind that a slight priority will be given to participants that have won the DEU travel pass during the autumn application round in 2024 or in spring 2025 - those who will be travelling through the DiscoverEU this summer.