Bulgaria Travel Guide

Bulgaria is one of the European Union’s newest additions and has gone through some massive changes over the last few years. Many of the cities and resorts have been undergoing construction booms, which is attracting both tourists and buyers from western Europe hoping to invest in the travel and construction boom. As a result, beach and ski resorts are expanding quickly. The country is a mixture of spectacular mountain ranges and golden beaches stretching along the Black Sea coastline, which provides some lovely scenery to enjoy when getting around Bulgaria by car. The towns and cities have shaken off their communist-era image and are now more attractive and lively places, with many of the smaller towns and villages keeping their Bulgarian spirit and hospitality.

Bulgaria Tourist Board The official website for the Bulgaria National Tourist Office – a useful resource for planning your trip to Bulgaria.

Things to see and do

• Seek out some of Bulgaria's festivals which are an important part of Bulgarian rural life. Bulgaria is rich in the folklore traditions of folk dances, music, national costumes and traditional rituals.
• Hit the slopes at the major ski resorts of Bansko, Borovets, or Pamporovo.
• Enjoy the mountainous scenery of the Rila Mountains.
• Visit the city of Sofia, it is a modern and lively capital with over 300 bars, restaurants, discos, and cafes.
• Enjoy sun, sea and sand at one of the Black Sea coastal resorts which include Sunny Beach and Golden Sands.
• Go on a mountaineering or climbing trip which can be arranged in the areas of Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Trojan, Maliovitza and Roussenski Lom. There are plenty of caves and rock formations and ancient cave paintings to explore.
• Go horse riding in the Danube Valley, the Balkan, Rila and Stara Planina Mountains and the Valley of Roses.
• Try Mountain biking in the Rhodopi Mountains, there are some good trails and scenery here.
• Visit the ancient Bailusheva pine forests, limestone rocks in Pirin National Park, the seven lakes and the 10th century monastery in Rila National Park.

Festivals and events

• Saint Dimitri’s Day – commemorates the beginning of winter. He is the patron saint of winter, frost and snow (October).
• Golden Chest International Television Festival, Plovdiv. (October-November).
• Saint Barbara’s Day, an event to celebrate Saint Barbara who protects children from disease. (December).

Useful Telephone Numbers

Time Difference

GMT +2