Bulgaria isn’t high on most travellers’ radars, but we’re hoping this post will move it up a little higher on your must-see list. The country is steeped in history beginning as early as the Thracians in the Bronze Age. Throughout the ensuing centuries, many empires have laid claim to this land. Bulgarians won and lost control of their land a few times. Each time they didn’t lose sight of their own culture and when they regained it, they built houses in a uniquely Bulgarian style that can be seen in Old Towns throughout the country.
As well as the historical cities and towns there are many beautiful natural settings settings that are waiting to be explored. From mountain lakes to sandy beaches, there’s something for every nature lover in Bulgaria.
Here are what we consider the best sites to visit in Bulgaria.
1. Rila Monastery
Upon entering through the main gate you will gasp at the beauty of the monastery. The large, stone Nativity of the Virgin Church takes centre stage in the courtyard. Its walls are painted in bright murals that will take your breath away. Some of these murals are instructions on what one should do and not do in life as well as what constitutes bad actions.
But the church is not the only stunning feature. Surrounding it is the monastery residence which is also beautifully decorated.
You can read more about this beautiful complex in our post Rila Monastery & RIla 7 Lakes Trek.
2. Veliko Tarnovo
Called Bulgaria’s prettiest city, Veliko Târnovo is not to be missed. With a hilltop Medieval castle and a downtown bursting with 19th century Bulgarian Revival Architecture, it easily lives up to that moniker. Not only was it the capital of Bulgaria’s Second Empire, the city continued to prosper becoming a wealthy city. That wealth can be seen in the lovely heritage buildings on main street.
You can read more about this pretty city in our post Veliko Tarnovo – Bulgaria’s Second Empire
3. Plovdiv
As the oldest, continuously inhabited city in Europe there is a lot of history lingering on the streets of Plovdiv. Located on the Balkan Peninsula between Europe and Asia meant that many travellers passed through over the ages. A visit to Bulgaria’s Plovdiv allows you to explore the array of buildings and monuments left behind from these earlier civilizations.
You can read more about this historical city in our post Visit Bulgaria’s Plovdiv.
4. 7 Rila Lakes Trek
Nestled in the Rila Mountain Range is a popular hike to seven pretty mountain lakes. A relatively easy hike takes you by these picturesque glacier lakes. It’s not far from Rila Monastery so if you visit one, you should visit both.
You can read more about this hike in our post Rila Monastery & 7 Rila Lakes Trek.
5. Nessebar and Sozopol on the Black Sea
On the shore of the Black Sea are two charming Bulgarian Old Towns. Both Nessebar and Sozopol have historic centres located on matching peninsulas that jut out into the Black Sea. Although they are known as summer hotspots for beach goers, our arrival in the autumn meant those vacationers were gone and temperatures were quite chilly.
You can read more about these historic centres in our post Bulgaria’s Black Sea Resorts. need link and picture
6. Sofia
The capital of Bulgaria is filled with reminders of its extensive history. Walking through its historical centre you will pass Roman ruins that are sitting beside buildings from the Byzantine Empire. You’ll see Ottoman buildings next to those with a more European look. Although it doesn’t have the draw of other European capitals, we found Sofia to be a pleasant city to visit.
To read more about the city’s historical downtown visit our post Sofia, Bulgaria’s Capital.
7. Bulgarian Revival Architecture
During the last century of the 500-year Ottoman rule a ground level movement for Bulgarian independence began to grow. By the 19th century, still under the Ottoman rule, Bulgarian merchants were becoming wealthier and built large, lavish mansions in a unique style. This Bulgarian Revival Architecture can be seen throughout the country, but the towns of Koprivshtitsa and Tryavna are known to have the greatest display of these homes. The town of Arbanasi has examples of the ornamented revival churches.
To read more of these towns and their historical architecture read our post Bulgarian Revival Architecture.
8. Bulgaria’s First Empires
Its prime location on the Balkan Peninsula between Europe and Asia, resulted in Bulgaria having a storied history and many different ruling empires. The land that is now called Bulgaria has been inhabited since at least 6000 BCE. Only a few leftovers from these early civilizations have survived, but seeing the ruins of Bulgaria’s first empires helped us to better understand the long history of this country.
You can read more about the towns of Kazanlak, Pliska and Veliki Preslav in our post Bulgaria’s First Empires.
Travel Tips For Bulgaria
• Language – Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic Alphabet. In tourist areas, most of the signs have English or at least the Bulgarian names written in the Roman Alphabet. But if you get outside of these areas, it would be helpful to know the alphabet and have your destination written in Cyrillic. Google Lens is very helpful to translate written material such as menus.
• Body Language – Simple yes and no body language is very confusing. In Bulgaria, nodding is no, shaking head is yes. We asked if we were on the correct platform for our train and the lady shook her head yes, but to us it looked like no. I thought we were at the wrong platform until she said the time of the train.
• Transportation – Buses run between major centres and a few are serviced by passenger trains. Getting to many of the small communities in Bulgaria though, is not easy by public transportation so renting a car is often a better option. Visitors from almost any country outside of the EU need to show a physical copy of their international driver’s permit. A digital copy is not enough. Car rental agencies are very strict with this rule. There are no ride-share services, but rental cars are very cheap. There are a few freeways and they are in excellent condition. The rest of the highways however are in rough shape with a lot of potholes so drive with care. Mountain driving will involve a lot of sharp switchbacks that require a low speed.
• Schengen Area – Bulgaria is now a member of the Schengen Area. This applies to arriving by air only. Currently land border crossing checkpoints are still in effect.
• Bulgaria is still recovering from its centuries under another government’s control. They seem to be on their way to stability, but it is still a little rough around the edges. Sidewalks are uneven with broken tiles, buildings are in much need of maintenance and not all historical sites have been restored.
To read more of our adventures in Bulgaria click here.
Coming Next – A Day In Bucharest
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