diff --git a/specfile/specfile.py b/specfile/specfile.py
index d1e69d7c..e13f75c9 100644
--- a/specfile/specfile.py
+++ b/specfile/specfile.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import contextlib
 import datetime
+import re
 import subprocess
 import types
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -266,3 +267,95 @@ def add_changelog_entry(
             elif email is not None:
                 author += f" <{email}>"
             changelog.append(ChangelogEntry.assemble(timestamp, author, entry, evr))
+
+    @property
+    def version(self) -> str:
+        """Version string as stored in the spec file."""
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            return tags.version.value
+
+    @version.setter
+    def version(self, value: str) -> None:
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            tags.version.value = value
+
+    @property
+    def expanded_version(self) -> str:
+        """Version string with macros expanded."""
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            return tags.version.expanded_value
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _split_raw_release(raw_release: str) -> Tuple[str, str]:
+        """
+        Splits raw release string into release and dist parts.
+
+        Args:
+            raw_release: Raw release string.
+
+        Returns:
+            Tuple of (release, dist).
+        """
+        tokens = re.split(r"(%(?P<m>\{\??)?dist(?(m)\}))$", raw_release, maxsplit=1)[:2]
+        if len(tokens) == 2:
+            return tokens[0], tokens[1]
+        return tokens[0], ""
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _get_updated_release(cls, raw_release: str, release: str) -> str:
+        """
+        Returns the specified raw release string updated with the specified release.
+
+        Args:
+            raw_release: Raw release string.
+            release: New release.
+
+        Returns:
+            Updated raw release string.
+        """
+        _, dist = cls._split_raw_release(raw_release)
+        return f"{release}{dist}"
+
+    @property
+    def release(self) -> str:
+        """Release string without the dist suffix."""
+        release, _ = self._split_raw_release(self.raw_release)
+        return release
+
+    @release.setter
+    def release(self, value: str) -> None:
+        self.raw_release = self._get_updated_release(self.raw_release, value)
+
+    @property
+    def raw_release(self) -> str:
+        """Release string as stored in the spec file."""
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            return tags.release.value
+
+    @raw_release.setter
+    def raw_release(self, value: str) -> None:
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            tags.release.value = value
+
+    @property
+    def expanded_release(self) -> str:
+        """Release string without the dist suffix with macros expanded."""
+        return self.expand(self.release)
+
+    @property
+    def expanded_raw_release(self) -> str:
+        """Release string with macros expanded."""
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            return tags.release.expanded_value
+
+    def set_version_and_release(self, version: str, release: str = "1") -> None:
+        """
+        Sets both version and release at the same time.
+
+        Args:
+            version: Version string.
+            release: Release string, defaults to '1'.
+        """
+        with self.tags() as tags:
+            tags.version.value = version
+            tags.release.value = self._get_updated_release(tags.release.value, release)
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_specfile.py b/tests/integration/test_specfile.py
index cca8ad5a..13379578 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_specfile.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_specfile.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import subprocess
 
 import pytest
+import rpm
 from flexmock import flexmock
 
 from specfile.exceptions import SpecfileException
@@ -172,3 +173,28 @@ def test_add_changelog_entry(
         spec.add_changelog_entry(entry, author, email, timestamp)
         with spec.sections() as sections:
             assert sections.changelog[: len(result)] == result
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "version, release",
+    [
+        ("0.2", "3"),
+        ("67", "1"),
+        ("1.4.6", "0.1rc5"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_set_version_and_release(spec_minimal, version, release):
+    spec = Specfile(spec_minimal)
+    spec.set_version_and_release(version, release)
+    assert spec.version == version
+    assert spec.release == release
+    assert spec.raw_release.startswith(release)
+    with spec.tags() as tags:
+        assert tags.version.value == spec.version
+        assert tags.release.value == spec.raw_release
+    assert spec._spec.sourceHeader[rpm.RPMTAG_VERSION] == spec.expanded_version
+    assert spec._spec.sourceHeader[rpm.RPMTAG_RELEASE] == spec.expanded_raw_release
+    spec.raw_release = release
+    with spec.tags() as tags:
+        assert tags.release.value == release
+    assert spec._spec.sourceHeader[rpm.RPMTAG_RELEASE] == spec.expanded_raw_release
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_specfile.py b/tests/unit/test_specfile.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0cd0c8aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_specfile.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Copyright Contributors to the Packit project.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+import pytest
+
+from specfile.specfile import Specfile
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "raw_release, release, dist",
+    [
+        ("1%{?dist}", "1", "%{?dist}"),
+        ("0.1%{prerelease}%{dist}", "0.1%{prerelease}", "%{dist}"),
+        ("28%dist", "28", "%dist"),
+        ("%{release_string}", "%{release_string}", ""),
+    ],
+)
+def test_split_raw_release(raw_release, release, dist):
+    assert Specfile._split_raw_release(raw_release) == (release, dist)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "raw_release, release, result",
+    [
+        ("1%{?dist}", "28", "28%{?dist}"),
+        ("0.1%{prerelease}%{dist}", "1", "1%{dist}"),
+        ("28%dist", "0.1", "0.1%dist"),
+        ("%{release_string}", "1", "1"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_get_updated_release(raw_release, release, result):
+    assert Specfile._get_updated_release(raw_release, release) == result