Gabrovo is situated 390 m above sea level along the two banks of Yantra River, at the foot of the Shipka (Central Stara Planina). It is located 220 km northeast of Sofia, 274 km south-west of Varna, 150 km north-east of Plovdiv and 46 km south-west of
Veliko Tarnovo. Gabrovo is near the geographical center of Bulgaria's ski resort Uzana.