BULGARIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Bulgaria is the warmest of the former Eastern Bloc countries and sits on the Black Sea coast, sandwiched between Romania to the north and Greece to the south. It is now an EU country and is fast throwing off the shackles of its communist days to offer tourists a unique, cost-effective holiday, especially for those into skiing.
The huge Balkan Mountains cut right through the country, providing some excellent skiing and quaint mountain villages to enjoy, while there are also loads of national parks to explore. The Black Sea is also a major drawing point and comes with a string of quality resorts on the edges of its golden beaches. In the towns and cities are UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites, with Sofia being the main urban centre and boasting the bulk of the attractions.
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BULGARIA WEATHER - When To Go
Like most of Europe, Bulgaria is best visited in the summer months if you want to catch the warmth. It can get pretty hot here, however, particularly in the mountainous north, and owing to its southerly locale. Summer temperatures average around 25°C while winters drop to 0°C on average, with lows of way below freezing. Temperatures in the south of Bulgaria are a lot more uniform while Sofia sees fairly hot summers and cold winters. Off season bargains are more likely in late autumn and early spring when it tends to rain more.
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BULGARIA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Sofia: Bulgaria’s capital city lies in the west and is the main draw to the country. It has a charming old town centre and loads of parks spread far and wide, while hundreds of historic landmarks line the streets and squares. Sofia has the distinction of being the highest capital in Europe and also comes with fine shopping options and a huge number of buzzing cafés, bars and clubs. The main attractions in Sofia are convenient to get to as they can mainly be found in the centre of town. Maria Louiza Boulevard is the best place for people watching and also comes with the Banya Bashi Dzhamiya mosque, while the Central Baths (Tsentralnata Banya) and the Central Food Halls (Tsentralni Hali) are also nearby. An absolute must-see in Sofia is the Alexander Nevski cathedral, a fabulous looking church of neo-Byzantine design topped off with gold and copper domes.
There are also many decent attractions within easy reach of Sofia, including Mount Vitosha, which lies just a few miles south of town and is one of the country’s most popular ski resorts. The chair lifts also run in the summer for hikers and sightseers. Sofia International Airport is the gateway to the Bulgarian capital with flights coming in from all over the world.
- Black Sea beaches: Bulgaria has a few hundred miles of Black Sea coastline and there are several quality family resorts along it. One of the more popular beach resorts is Sunny Beach, which has excellent facilities for families with kids. There are children’s playgrounds, pools, fairgrounds rides and video arcades galore, while the hotels and beach areas are well set up. With airports in Varna and Bourgas, the main Black Sea towns, travel to the Black Sea resorts is straightforward.
- Varna: Bulgaria’s third largest city lies towards the southern end of the Black Sea coast and is the main beach resort here. Varna has a good tourist infrastructure with plenty of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars, and it also comes with an airport. The main beach in Varna is lots of fun and there is some fine walking to be had, while at night the place really comes alive - particularly in the busy summer season. Varna Airport receives flights from all over Europe and is just outside town, while trains and buses also come in from all over Bulgaria.
- Shumen: situated in the northeast of Bulgaria five hours from Sofia, Shumen is beautifully set over a hillside and although it mainly consists of newer buildings it also boasts many UNESCO World Heritage sites. The part where all the interesting buildings are is pedestrianised and also comes with a large number of cafés and nightlife options. Shumen is well-known for the nearby Madara Horseman - a large carving in a cliff wall - while the nearby village of Medven is also worth a look, with its old wooden houses and quaint waterfall.
- Rousse (Ruse): lies in northern Bulgaria on the River Danube near the border with Romania and is commonly known as ‘small Vienna’. Rousse is actually one of Bulgaria’s largest cities and although it’s not really worth the effort to get here unless you are on an extended Bulgaria jaunt, it does boast some fine architecture unseen anywhere else in the country. The main sights of interest in Rousse are the ancient Sexiginta Prista Roman Castle, the House of Caliopa and the Pantheon. Rousse is three hours from Sofia by train.
- Pamporovo: located in the Ruldophe Mountains, about two hours from Plovdiv, Pamporovo is Europe’s southernmost ski resort and boasts the 6,000-foot-plus Mount Snejanke. The skiing here is not exceptional but the views from Snejanke are outstanding and you can even see the Greek coast on a good day. Visitors can also come here in the summer for the hiking and make use of the ski lifts. There is no rail access to Pamporovo.
- Other Bulgaria Highlights: the town of Vratsa in northwest Bulgaria is picturesque and a popular tourist centre while the Rose Valley is a must-see in May and June when the entire valley comes alive with colour.
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BULGARIA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: the food in Bulgaria is a concoction of neighbouring influences, including Mediterranean flavours. There are some unique Bulgarian tastes such as the white salty cheese, sirene. Bulgarians like their food and there are cafés and restaurants all over the place, especially in Sofia and Varna, which are loaded up with terrace cafés.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: Bulgarians are also into their beer and having fun, so there is no shortage of drinking options from the capital to the mountain villages and Black Sea resorts. Many places remain open late into the night - sometimes even 24-hours in Sofia - and prices are cheap.
- Bulgaria Accommodation: Bulgaria has a staggering range of hotels and guest houses, from family hotels with a two-star rating up to five-star hotels in the largest towns. Many hotels in Sofia have been established in old stately buildings that hail from Communist times, while those on the Black Sea coast are more modern.
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BULGARIA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Try Skyscanner to find the best flight deals to Bulgaria form the UK.
Direct flights to Bulgaria are available from a number of London and regional UK airports.
Flights from the UK operate to Sofia as well as the Black Sea resorts of Varna and Bourgas.
The main flight operators from the UK to Bulgaira are BA / British Airways, Thomson Holidays, Thomas Cook, Easyjet, Wizz Air and Bulgaria Air.
Also try travel sites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers for flight deals to Sofia and Bulgaria.
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