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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. -
Belogradchik
Belogradchik Fortress is a manmade construction set against a stunning outcrop of rocks. The combination is so unique and picturesque, that it seems to have been lifted straight out of a Disney fairytale. What’s even more unique than the fortress is the surrounding countryside. The Belogradchik Rocks, named in 2009 as Bulgaria’s candidate to be selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, are a stunning arrangement of strange-shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations. -
Kazanlak
Kazanlak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just 35 minutes outside of Stara Zagora. Its vaulted brickwork and brightly painted mural make it one of Bulgaria’s most illustrious ancient sites. Unfortunately, it is not possible to visit the original tomb without prior written permission from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. It is possible, however, to visit an exact replica of the tomb situated just steps away -
Old Town Plovdiv
Plovdiv, the second largest city, is an old town on a hill. It was founded 6,000 years ago and developed on seven hills. The Old Town towers over the city centre with structures from different eras, including a remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheater. The Old Town is best known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style enriched with colorful houses. Walking up the hill is a delight, with the many galleries and house museums all worth a visit. -
Veliko Tarnovo
This was the historic capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire between the 12th and 14th centuries, Veliko Tarnovo is located in central Bulgaria and is a popular tourist attraction. The reconstructed Tsarevets fortress bears no resemblance to the medieval palaces of the Bulgarian tsars who ruled from the hilltop until their defeat by the Ottomans in 1393. Still, one senses Bulgaria’s former greatness when walking through the gates of this picturesque stronghold. -
Rila Monastery
Named for St. Ivan of Rilski, a tenth century hermit who lived in a nearby cave, the monastery has been built, burnt, and rebuilt over the centuries, with the latest construction dating to the 1800s. Enter the courtyard and you will be stunned by the perfect harmony of the church, with its graceful arches in bold stripes of black and white set under a row of sculpted gargoyles, tiled roofs, and five domes reaching towards the sky. -
Ovech
Ovech is a stone fortress the remains of which still stand on a ship-shaped plateau east of Provadiya. Once you have looked around Ovech, take the trail to the Rock monastery in the Shashkanite location - this is an extremely pleasant route along the edge of the plateau, an easy 40 minutes walk. The eco trail is a picturesque hiking trail which starts from the city center and goes along the western slope. There are benches along the way which makes it suitable for the elderly as well. -
Seven Lakes
The appropriate time to visit the Seven Rila Lakes is in the summer months, with the terrain alternating between deep snow drifts and patches of brilliant wildflowers. The lakes are located one above the other in a mountain valley, interconnected by streams and waterfalls. Access to the lakes is not easy, although riding a ski lift shortens the distance up the steep mountainside. Legends say the lakes were formed by the tears of a female giant, crying for her beloved. -
St. George Rotunda, Sofia
A Thracian tribe called Serdi built the foundation of the current capital of Bulgaria. The Serdi founded the settlement of Sardonopolis, which later became Serdica and today is known as simply as Sofia.Waiting for curious visitors in the courtyard of the Government Office and the Sheraton Hotel in Bulgaria’s capital, is the St. George Rotunda. It has been here since the 4th century A.D. and remains the oldest and the best-preserved Roman building in Sofia. -
Melnik
Melnik is known for two reasons. It is the smallest city in Bulgaria and it is home to some of the best wineries in the country. It will take you minutes to walk up the town’s one main street, but you’ll sit for hours at a local tavern, your head spinning under the intoxicating spell of the rich red wines. If you manage to get up from your seat, the nearby pyramidal Melnik Rocks and the Rozhen Monastery are worth a visit.
