Inside Bulgaria's No-Go Gypsy Slums 🇧🇬

Описание: 🇧🇬 First Time in Bulgaria’s Largest Romani (Gypsy) Neighbourhood | Stolipinovo

Plovdiv is known for its beautiful Old Town, Roman theatre and hip cafés…
but today, I went somewhere very different.

Instead of the tourist side of Bulgaria, I visited Stolipinovo — often called Europe’s largest Romani (Gypsy) neighbourhood and one of the most controversial areas in the country.

Before going, I kept hearing the same things:
“Don’t go there.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“It’s not safe for foreigners.”

So I decided to go and see it for myself.

In this video, I explore:
• The everyday life inside Stolipinovo
• How people really live there
• The food, music and atmosphere
• The parts that locals warned me about

This is a real, unfiltered walk through one of Bulgaria’s most talked-about communities.

It’s easy to judge something from the outside.
But walking through it is a completely different experience.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO: Inside our Plovdiv Hotel
00:54 Eating Bulgarian Lasagna
01:35 Ghetto Underground Passage
02:15 Plovdiv Roman Statue
02:40 Taking The Bus to the Gypsy Slums
03:08 Arrived in Stolipinovo
05:09 Deep in the Bulgarian Gypsy Slum
06:46 Slum DJ 🎧
07:05 Outskirts of Gypsy Slum
08:19 Getting a Gypsy Coffee
09:28 Sketchy Area of Stolipinovo
10:17 Mini Market Haha
12:17 Trying “Gypsy” Hot Cheetos 😂
13:10 The Worst Part of the Slum
14:33 Finally leaving!

📍 PLACES & EXPERIENCES IN THIS VIDEO

🏙️ Stolipinovo, Plovdiv – Often described as Europe’s largest Romani district, home to tens of thousands of people living in a parallel economy and society.

🚍 Plovdiv Public Transport – I take local buses to reach Stolipinovo from central Plovdiv.

☕ Local Gypsy / Romani Coffee Spot – Small, informal businesses inside the neighbourhood.

🛒 Local Mini Market – Inside look at shopping in Stolipinovo.

🎵 Street DJ & Music Culture – Showing how music and sound systems are part of daily life there.

🧠 FACTS ABOUT STOLIPINOVO & ROMANI LIFE IN BULGARIA

• Stolipinovo is considered one of the largest Romani neighbourhoods in Europe, with estimates of 40,000–60,000 residents.
• Many residents don’t have formal employment and survive through informal or family-run businesses.
• The area suffers from poor infrastructure and limited public services.
• It has long been a symbol of social division in Bulgaria.
• Despite its reputation, thousands of families raise children and live everyday lives there.
• The Romani people are one of Europe’s largest and most marginalized minorities.

This video isn’t to shame anyone.
It’s to document reality, without filters.

🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍✈️🌍

MY WEBSITE: urimate.com

ABOUT ME
My name is Máté, I’m a 23-year-old Christian & family-friendly travel YouTuber, documenting my journey through Eastern Europe & beyond for English speakers and Korean viewers learning English 🇧🇬✝️🇰🇷
Faith, travel, culture & real life.

Got feedback on the video? Let me know in the comments — I always read them and improve from your suggestions 🙏

📧 For collaborations or anything else:
[email protected]

Hashtags:
#bulgaria #plovdiv #gypsy #balkan #europetravel