City
Plovdiv
Bulgaria
A colourful, creative city built around hills, a Roman theatre and a lively old town.
Balkans
Bulgaria
Ancient Thracian and Roman ruins, painted monasteries, Black Sea beaches and ski mountains, at some of the lowest prices in the EU.
For storytellers
Why Bulgaria matters
Bulgaria packs a lot into a small country, and most travellers have no idea. You can wander a Roman theatre in Plovdiv, climb a medieval fortress above a river bend in Veliko Tarnovo, and stand inside a monastery in the Rila mountains with stripes on its arches. There are Orthodox cathedrals with golden domes, hiking and skiing in the Pirin and Rila ranges, and a Black Sea coast that ranges from party resorts to quiet fishing towns. Food is hearty, wine is underrated, and prices are friendly. It is a country with real depth and very few crowds.
Talking points
- Plovdiv has Roman ruins in the middle of a lively modern city.
- Rila Monastery is one of the most beautiful religious sites in the Balkans.
- Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of a medieval empire, and its fortress still dominates the town.
- The Black Sea coast has both resort beaches and UNESCO-listed Nessebar.
- Skiing and hiking in Pirin and Rila are great value.
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- Capital
- Sofia
- Languages
- Bulgarian
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Best time to go
- May to June and September for sightseeing and hiking; July and August for the beaches; December to March for skiing.
Where to base yourself
Cities and towns in Bulgaria
City
Sofia
Bulgaria
A relaxed capital where Roman ruins, golden-domed churches and a mountain all sit within sight of each other.
Town
Nessebar
Bulgaria
A UNESCO-listed ancient town on a rocky peninsula, linked to the shore by a narrow causeway.
City
Varna
Bulgaria
Bulgaria's sea capital, with a big seaside garden, beaches and a relaxed summer feel.
City
Veliko Tarnovo
Bulgaria
The medieval capital of Bulgaria, spread across steep hills above a river canyon.
Town
Bansko
Bulgaria
Bulgaria's top ski resort and a charming old mountain town below the Pirin range.
Top places
What to see in Bulgaria
- Top places
- Church, mosque or temple 7
- Neighbourhood 3
- Ruins 2
- Castle 2
- Beach 2
- Historic site 2
- Shopping 1
- Mountain 1
- Lake 1
- Park 1
- National park 1
- Viewpoint 1
Church, mosque or temple
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia's golden-domed cathedral and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the Balkans.
Church, mosque or temple · UNESCO
Rila Monastery
Bansko, Bulgaria
Bulgaria's most famous monastery, with striped arches and painted domes deep in the mountains.
Historic site · UNESCO
Nessebar Old Town
Nessebar, Bulgaria
A UNESCO-listed ancient town on a peninsula in the Black Sea.
Neighbourhood
Old Town of Plovdiv
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
A hillside neighbourhood of cobbled lanes and brightly painted nineteenth-century houses.
Ruins
Roman Theatre of Plovdiv
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
A remarkably well-preserved Roman theatre carved into a hillside.
Lake
Seven Rila Lakes
Bansko, Bulgaria
A chain of seven glacial lakes reached by a chairlift and a hike.
Castle
Tsarevets Fortress
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
A hilltop medieval fortress that was once the royal seat of Bulgaria.
Church, mosque or temple · UNESCO
Boyana Church
Sofia, Bulgaria
A small medieval church with remarkable thirteenth-century frescoes.
National park · UNESCO
Pirin National Park
Bansko, Bulgaria
A UNESCO-listed mountain park of alpine lakes, pine forests and jagged peaks.
Castle
Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress
Bulgaria
A fortress built among towering red rock formations.
Mountain
Cherni Vrah and Vitosha
Sofia, Bulgaria
The mountain above Sofia, for hiking in summer and skiing in winter.
Neighbourhood
Kapana Creative District
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
A lively maze of lanes packed with cafes, craft shops and street art.
Neighbourhood
Koprivshtitsa Old Houses
Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria
Colourful Revival-era houses along cobbled lanes.
Park
Sea Garden Varna
Varna, Bulgaria
A huge seaside park with paths, trees, a zoo and the beach below.
Ruins
Serdica Ruins
Sofia, Bulgaria
Roman streets and walls beneath modern Sofia, visible in the metro station.
Shopping
Vitosha Boulevard
Sofia, Bulgaria
The pedestrian shopping and cafe street at the centre of Sofia.
Church, mosque or temple
Bachkovo Monastery
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
A quiet Orthodox monastery in the Rhodope foothills.
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