Shipka Pass crosses the Balkan Mountains south of Gabrovo toward the Rose Valley. It is both a scenic road and a historic site, associated above all with the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 and the battles that helped lead to Bulgaria's liberation.
The pass is best visited with a car, ideally as part of a loop through Gabrovo, Shipka, and Kazanlak. Weather can change quickly on the ridge, so do not treat it like a lowland sightseeing stop in winter or heavy rain.