The city of Ruse is Bulgaria’s fifth largest situated in the north-east of the county by the Danube River. Renowned for its excellent collection of 19th and 20th century architecture, Ruse is often compared to the city of Vienna and offers a wealth of beautiful landmarks and interesting historic sites for visitors. With a history stretching back thousands of years, Ruse is also an incredibly vibrant place with a busy cultural calendar of performing arts shows as well as many museums to explore.
Ruse is perhaps best known for its stunning architecture, with a nickname of “Little Vienna”. Amongst the riches of historic buildings to be found in the city, including the Sava Ognyanov Theatre and the charming square located in the old centre around the Rosseau Historical Museum. In addition to its architecture, Ruse is a richly cultural city offering world-class events throughout the year. Those with a keen interest in the history of the region may also want to visit one of the many museums in the city such as the Museum of Natural History or the Rousse Historical Museum.
Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest is the largest airport nearby to Ruse, situated just over 90 kilometres from the city. Ruse is also connected by rail to cities across the country, including Bucharest and Sofia. The city centre of Ruse is fairly compact so getting around on foot is easy, although the city is served by public transport networks including trains, buses and trolleybuses.
Ruse has a population of around 150,000 inhabitants, ranking it as the fifth most populous city in Bulgaria. The city had been under the rule of various empires over the centuries including Roman and Ottoman rule, although much of its cityscape was constructed after it became a part of modern Bulgaria in 1878.