Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria

Books to Read Before Visiting Bulgaria

Whether you only have a short visit or are planning an extended holiday in Bulgaria, you will, without a doubt, find this Balkan country fascinating.

These cities and towns offer a diverse and wonderful insight into this beautiful and intriguing country, and some might be just a little off the tourist trail.

The second oldest settlement in Europe, Sofia may be no grand city but certainly shines in cultural richness with many galleries, museums, parks and nightlife.

Sprinkled with onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques, Red Army monuments and a treasure trove of 2000-year-old Roman ruins, the modern and youthful city feels somewhat eclectic with a dash of the exotic.

Wide boulevards lined with alfresco cafes, spacious parks and manicured gardens make Sofia a pleasant city experience.

Enjoy Skiing and Hiking Near Sofia

Want a reprieve from the city? Only a short bus ride from the centre, you can hike the trails of Mt Vitosha, taking in the panoramic views of Sofia. Or, you can be on the slopes in Borovets in just over an hour. Bulgaria’s most famous ski resort is renowned for its world-class skiing.

Take a Sofia Walking Tour

We can highly recommend a walking tour of Sofia when you first arrive. On our first trip to Sofia, of which there have been many, we did a city walking tour at minus 20°C.

While we all nearly froze to death, it was a fantastic introduction to Sofia and the history of Bulgaria. It also helped us get our bearings for visits to come thanks to some local insight on the best places to eat and drink.

Sample Traditional Bulgarian Food

Bulgarians are very hospitable especially when it comes to dining. Bulgarian food is homely, fresh and plentiful so do take time to sample some traditional Bulgarian fare while in Sofia.

Being quite a modern city, Sofia has an exciting new cafe, restaurant and bar scene emerging which is reshaping the city centre and putting a new spin on Balkan cuisine. As a result, there are now some fabulous food and wine tours available from Sofia which is a great way to experience both the traditional and modern aspects of Bulgarian culture.

Experience a full day history tour with wine tasting and lunch or for the night owl, a pub crawl of Sofia’s hidden bars.

Declared a Natural Landmark by the Bulgarian government, the scene is vaguely reminiscent of the whimsical landscape of Cappadocia in Turkey. The spectacular rock formations of the Belogradchik Fortress are nearly as impressive as the view from the top.

The rocks, primarily sandstone form a mystical landscape that has given rise to many local legends. Many of the stones have earnt the titles of things they are thought to resemble, such as The School Girl, The Bear, The Madonna, The Pine Stone etc. legends local guides will be eager to share with you.

You can read more about the legends of the Belogradchik Rocks here.  It is easy to see why the Belogradchik Rocks are quickly becoming one of Bulgaria’s top natural tourist attractions.

Trip time is approx. 1 hour from Vidin to Belogradchik.

Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress Opening Hours:

• 1 April – 30 September: Daily from 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
• 1 October – 30 March: Daily 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

The Black Sea Sozopol Beach

Sozopol Beach is a beautiful ancient fishing village on a narrow peninsula 35 km south of Burgas on the Black Sea coast. Bulgaria has some popular, highly commercial coastal resort towns such as Sunny Beach or Varna.

Sozopol, on the other hand, appeals to the more discerning beachgoer with its laid back atmosphere and picturesque setting.

Discover Antique Sozopol

Sozopol is brimming with natural and historic beauty. In addition to clean stretches of white sand and crystal clear water, the town has been declared an architectural and archaeological sanctuary – a museum-reserve.

“Antique Sozopol” is a meandering maze of picturesque cobbled streets lined with the 18th century Bulgarian Revival houses declared monuments of culture.

Sozopol’s Greek Heritage

In the 7th century, Sozopol was a Greek fishing village by the name of Antheia, then shortly after, renamed Apollo. The town is now famous for the Apollonia arts and film festival named after its Greek heritage.

Throughout the summer months, May to September, Sozopol is alive with tourists from around the world who come to enjoy the sandy beaches, history and culture, the Mediterranean, Balkan fusion cuisine, and most of all – the atmosphere.

You can read our complete article on Sozopol here.

Ruse

Ruse is Bulgaria’s fifth-largest city. Roughly 300km northeast of Sofia on the banks of the Danube River, just 75 km south of Bucharest, Romania. Often referred to as Little Vienna, this is one of Bulgaria’s most elegant cities.

Imposing 19th and 20th-century Neo-Baroque or belle époque architecture gives Ruse a sense of grandeur unlike any other city in Bulgaria. Leafy streets, promenades and squares play second fiddle to the city’s grand centre, Plaza Svoboda.

The striking central feature, an enormous Monument to Freedom is set against the backdrop of the glorious Viennese designed building known as The Profit Yeilding Building.

Around 18 streets radiate from the central square which is where you will find all of Ruse’s points of interest making this city very easy to explore.

Day Trips to Bucharest from Ruse

• The Danube bridge crosses in Ruse making this an easy transit point for those wishing to visit Romania, even for a day trip.
• If you wish to cross by car via the bridge expect ~ 4 Bulgarian Lev (~€2) from Ruse and 13 Romanian Lei (~€3) from Giurgiu on the Romanian side.
• The bridge can get very busy with trucks, especially from the Romanian side so anticipate delays.
• Travel time from Ruse to Bucharest is approx. 1 h 20 min.
• If coming from Romania, there are day trips from Bucharest to Bulgaria perfect for those short on time or without a car. You can find out more about these tours here.

Visit the Rock hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Ruse’s other big drawcard is less than a half-hour drive from the city centre. The UNESCO listed rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo and the Basarbova Rock Monastery.

These incredible 13th-century churches are carved into rock faces and cliffs with some of the most impressive frescoes we have seen anywhere in the world.

Where to Stay in Ruse

Being so cosmopolitan, you will find an abundance of good quality hotels and restaurants in Ruse.  Some have been awarded the best in the country and like the rest of Bulgaria, are very reasonably priced like the Grand Hotel Riga.

We found it to be exceptional value for money, especially the hotel’s Panorama Restaurant. Awarded one of the best restaurants in the country, it offers outstanding fine dining at incredibly low prices.  The hotel also offers free parking and some of the most spectacular views of the Danube, especially at sunset.

You can check rates and the availability of more hotels in Ruse here.

Visit Tsarevets Fortress

Tsarevets is surrounded on three sides by the winding Yantra River, with the Patriarchal Cathedral perched high on the hill. Your first impression is of a lone castle on an island. Within the walled city was where nobility and the Patriarchate resided.

It will take a good few hours to work your way around all the sites within the walls of Tsarevets fortress so make sure you allocate enough time.

Retaining the original facade; Gurko street is the oldest and most picturesque street in town. It is the street you want to stay in to soak up the gorgeous atmosphere of Veliko Tarnovo.

It is also a favourite romantic getaway for Bulgarians. So expect a mix of lively nightlife to rival the bigger cities and a good offering of chic boutiques, classy hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Veliko Tarnovo is an all-around crowd pleaser and a “must do” on any Bulgarian itinerary.

Where to Stay in Veliko Tarnovo

As you would expect from a historic university town that attracts both backpackers and the more sophisticated traveller, Veliko Tarnovo has a good offering of accommodation options to suit all budgets.

While there is plenty of hostel-style accommodation starting at around €10 per night, such as the popular Hostel Mostel, you will also find some very reasonably priced boutique style accommodation.

Our picks for accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo are The Hill Hotel, Hotel Studio and finally, our favourite, Gurko Hotel.

All of these hotels are great value for money, very well located and offer wonderful views. Hotel Studio, in particular, offers views of Tsarevets from some rooms and the roof terrace. Perfect for viewing the nightly light spectacular.

You can search for more accommodation options for Veliko Tarnovo here.

Plovdiv

Less than 150kms south of Sofia, Bulgaria’s European Capital For Culture is an easy day trip or weekend away from the capital.

Plovdiv Old Town is where the city’s main appeal lies. Vibrant cafes, bars and restaurants buzz alongside Byzantine, Roman and Bulgarian antiquities including; the most impressive Roman amphitheatre in the Balkans; still in use today.

Winding cobbled streets reveal museums and galleries where eminent artists are still in residence. We fell in love with Plovdiv and its lively and infectious atmosphere of creativity mixed with laid-back, youthful confidence.

You can read our complete article on the best things to do in Plovdiv; Bulgaria’s second-biggest city.

Things to do in Plovdiv Bulgaria

Bansko

Bansko is primarily known as one of Bulgaria’s premier ski resort at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in the Pirin National Park, southwest Bulgaria.

Bansko’s budget-friendly skiing at altitudes ranging from 900m to 2600m attracts an increasing number of Bulgarians, Brits and Europeans, mostly Russians each year. It is one of Bulgaria’s hottest destinations in winter.

You can read our complete article about skiing in Bulgaria here.

Hiking in Bansko

It is not just skiing that makes Bansko one the best places to visit in Bulgaria. Bansko doesn’t shut down after the winter crowds have left which makes it the perfect base to explore the pristine Pirin National Park.

A stunning alpine landscape with forested ridges and stunning glacial lakes, home to bears and wolves.

Explore Bansko Old Town

Away from the main ski resort, the cobblestoned old town delights with 19th-century National Revival mansions and museums. The stone-and-timber houses were once supported by fortress-style walls with hidden escape routes to protect the inhabitants from the Turks.

The old town of Bansko rivals those of Sozopol or Veliko Tarnovo.

Getting to Bansko 

• Bansko is 160km’s south of Sofia.
• Buses leave daily from the capital.
• There is also a Bansko Shuttle Service that runs from Sofia Airport to your accommodation in Bansko.
• The expected travel time is 2.5 – 3 hours. 

Smolyan

Close to the border of Greece, 240kms south of Sofia is the town of Smolyan. Nestled in the Rhodope Mountains, it is the highest in Bulgaria. Smolyan is where Bulgarians come to escape, summer or winter.

An amalgamation of four villages, there is nothing overly endearing about the town of Smolyan itself, but what surrounds the town is well worth coming for.

Skiing and Hiking Near Smolyan

Pamporovo

15 km from the centre of Smolyan is the village of Pamporovo, Bulgaria’s premium ski resort. One of the best known in Southeastern Europe.

Rhodope Mountains

The Rhodope Mountains surrounding the town offer pristine hiking trails, small villages, lakes, caves and an endless vista of unspoilt woodlands.

When you say to Bulgarians you are going to Smolyan, more often than not they will whisper “ahh, paradise“.  The perfect all season getaway for nature lovers, hikers and skiers.

Smolyan is also the perfect gateway for exploring surrounding villages such as the very pretty Shiroka Laka en route to our next town, Devin.

You can search for accommodation in the Smolyan & Pamporovo area here.

Originally built in 1874 and rebuilt three times, the Lovech bridge is one of only a handful of bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides.

This charmingly restored town has so much to offer for a full day. Explore the Varosha quarter, visit the Hisarya fortress overlooking the town, the historical museum or the interestingly restored old Turkish bathhouse.

Once you have walked the town, settle down for lunch in one of the lovely restaurants that occupy the gorgeous candy-coloured buildings with views over the river and central square of the old town.

Said to be founded in 1600, this beautiful monastery also offers accommodation to tourists, but book in advance as this beautiful place of pilgrimage is very popular.

Only 1.5 hours drive from Sofia the area is popular with hikers and day tourists. Previously, The Seven Rila Lakes was only accessible by a steep 2-hour hike from Pionerska Hut near Panichishte. Now, a chairlift leading from the asphalt road near Pionerska Hut directly to the lakes provides easy access for the less enthusiastic hiker.

Getting to Rila Monastery

Even though the Rila Monastery is one of Bulgaria’s most famous tourist attractions, it’s not that easy to get to.

Bus to Rila Monastery

There is only one direct bus daily from Sofia leaving mid-morning which may or may not be reliable as is the way with public transport in Bulgaria. There is, however, a Rila Monastery shuttle service which costs around €19 per adult.