Rolling down from the pine-clad massifs of the Balkan Mountains and the Rhodope ranges to meet the sparkling blues of the Black Sea, Bulgaria offers everything from sun-kissed beaches to enthralling historical narratives, buzzing party towns to snow-shrouded ski resorts between its borders. In this guide to best places to visit in the country, we take a look at all the major hotspots that should be on anyone’s Bulgarian bucket list this year.
The Black Sea Beaches
A good place to start is the country’s famous coastline. Bulgaria is known for its Black Sea coastline which has long stretches of sandy beaches dotted with hotels, traditional fishing villages and historical sites. Tourists flock to the glitzier resorts of Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, but I personally believe the city beaches in Varna and Burgas are just as beautiful. Looking for some decent accommodation options in this area? I’d recommend the stylish Hotel Sun Apartments a modern boutique hotel with a spa Orchidea Boutique Spa, Sunny Beach, the grand and luxurious Melia Grand Hermitage, or the elegant Ventura Boutique Hotel, Varna which was once named “Building of the Year.”
Nessebar
Often referred to as the Pearl of the Black Sea, the historic town of Nessebar dates back to antiquity when it was founded as a Thracian settlement known as Menebria. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, Crusaders, and Ottomans all took turns fortifying the ancient town, and the narrow peninsula on which it is located. Today a stroll on its cobblestone streets will bring you to remnants of some 40 brick churches, dating back as far as the 5th century. The beautiful town is such an important site it’s recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Sozopol
One of the oldest towns on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coastline, Sozopol is a popular fishermen’s village and seaside resort. Located 35 kilometers south of Burgas, Sozopol was known in the 6th century BC as Apollonia, complete with a temple dedicated to Apollo. The town is small enough for a casual stroll. You can walk along the quays as the day’s catch is unloaded or through the old town with its wooden houses calling out in desperation for repair. If you find the sea too deep or rough for swimming, you can always sunbathe on the rocks located along the shore.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital city of Bulgaria and probably where you’ll fly into if you’re traveling by plane. Sofia is home to over 1.2 million residents and is located at the foothills of Vitosha Mountain, midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea.Sofia is ancient, with human habitation dating back over 30,000 years, making it the second oldest in Europe. Early inhabitants included the Thracians and the Celts, following by the Romans who made Sofia the most important city in the region. It was held by the Ottomans for a number of centuries until becoming the capital of an independent Bulgaria.
Burgas
Burgas was another base for our trip to Bulgaria and is the fourth largest city, located on the Black Sea coast. Burgas is a relatively small city that can easily be explored on foot and offers a good balance of history, beach locations and shopping.The seaside park is a great place for a picnic or a beach walk and the sea breeze prevents it becoming too hot even in summer. The annual sand festival takes place here with amazing sculptures made from the sand to a theme. The Archaeological Museum of Burgas has artifacts uncovered around the area and include findings from the Thracian civilization as well as Greek and Roman eras.
Pomorie
The city started life as Apollonia, a Greek colony that was then conquered by the Romans. It was also part of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.One of the highlights to visit while in the town is the Beehive Tomb. This is an impressive ancient site that is close to the road from Burgas and is thought to be a tomb for the Anhialo family, dating back to the 2nd or 3rd centuries AD. It was also the scene for many pagan rituals and has been restored to this era to see what it looked like at the time, although the murals believed to have once decorated the walls are now gone
Balchik
Balchik is a quaint seaside town that combines historical romance, cultural attractions, and steep streets with the majestic beauty of the sea. Located in northern Bulgaria, it has long been known as the White Town due to the mostly white color of its lime rocks. It is 25 minutes outside the third largest city in Bulgaria and seaside capital, Varna, and just under 7 minutes from the one of Bulgaria’s biggest resorts, Albena. Aside from its stunning beaches, there is much to do and explore within the city, including a botanical garden, the Temples of Balchik, the Archealogical Museum, and the State Cultural Institute.
Bansko
Bansko is a Bulgarian mountain ski resort town unlike any other. It’s surrounded by high stone fences, crisscrossed with charming narrow streets, and dotted with beautifully restored ancient houses. One of their main points of attraction is Pirin Street, a bustling area lined with quaint souvenir shops showcasing artisanal products made of wood, metal, and leather by local craftsmen. Visitors will often see the locals walking the streets in their traditional Bulgarian garb as they speak to one another in a dialect known only to those who live in Bansko. A visit to this town wouldn’t be complete without a trip to one of the local taverns for authentic food, drink, music, and dance.
Belchin Bani
Belchin Bani (Belchin Baths) is a resort town nestled in a beautiful valley between the Verila, Plana, Vitosha, and Rila mountains. It is near the Palakaria River, 8 miles from Samokov, and roughly 35 minutes from Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. Belchin Bani is known for its natural splendor and relatively untouched landscape, and it is near many natural, environmental, and cultural tourist attractions. The Palakaria Valley is a diverse plain and mountain terrain and has a multitude of forests. Belchin is most famous for the mineral springs that stay at about 104°F and are proven to have healing properties and also provide geothermal energy. Just above this village, the ruins of an ancient hilltop fortress, Tsari Mali Grad, are worth a visit.
Balogradchik Rocks
On the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, a stunning landscape of rocks sculptured through millennia hides a medieval fortress with a history dating back to Roman times through to the Bulgarian tsars and Ottomans. 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 only overshadowed by the view from the top.
Ruse
Ruse is Bulgaria’s fifth largest city. Roughly 300km north-east of Sofia on the banks of the Danube River, just 75 km’s 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 cities 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.