Discover the main cities of the country and the most beautiful sites to visit during your stay.
Sofia – The capital of Bulgaria
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and has 1.4 million inhabitants.
You will be surprised by its dynamism and beauty.
You will also notice a great contrast in the town planning between the city center, which is both modern and historic, and the suburbs, whose numerous HLMs bear witness to the communist period that Bulgaria went through. Located in the western part of Bulgaria not far from the Serbian border, at the foot of the Vitosha massif and a few kilometers from the Balkan range, the city of Sofia, which is crossed by the Iskar river, enjoys an exceptional geographical position.
Downtown
The economic, political, academic and cultural heart of the country, you will find in Sofia everything that a large capital can offer – numerous restaurants and bars with extraordinary value for money, particularly on Vitosha Boulevard, the main pedestrian street of Sofia.
But also numerous shopping centers recently built throughout the city, offering a large choice of local or foreign products and where you can do good shopping deals and find good deals while controlling your budget.
The main city of the Balkans since antiquity, Sofia has a rich and varied historical, cultural and artistic heritage, the numerous remains of which you can admire in the very center of the city.
Tourist sites and activities
The most visited tourist sites are the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, symbol of the city, the Church of Saint Sofia and the Church of the Rotunda of Saint George, considered the oldest building in Sofia.
The Church of St. George is a red brick rotunda from early Christianity which is considered the oldest building in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is located behind the Sheraton Hotel, amid the remains of the ancient city of Serdica.
In terms of cultural and social activities, you can go to the Ivan Vazov Theater or the National Palace of Culture which hosts events, conferences, exhibitions, shows and concerts.
Museums
Also remember to visit and admire the collections of the National Gallery of Fine Arts. Or those of the city's many museums – the historical museum, the archaeological museum, the ethnographic museum and the natural sciences museum which are located in the city center, near the National Assembly Square where the Parliament is also located , the Presidency and the headquarters of the National Bank.
Transport in Sofia
For accommodation in Sofia, you will easily find many hotels and youth hostels.
In particular, the Art Hotel in Sofia, near Vitosha Boulevard, which offers low-cost rooms and an ideal atmosphere for groups of young people who want to meet people and discover the city.
To get around the city, Sofia has its own airport connected by a public transport network of metro and buses.
Vitosha Mountain
Finally, for fans of winter and outdoor sports, Sofia also benefits from an ideal location.
Located at the foot of Vitosha mountain, a beautiful panoramic view overlooking the entire city is available to you and where you can do many activities – skiing, snowboarding, hiking, or simply picnic and enjoy nature. It is the closest site to the capital for hiking, mountaineering and skiing. The Černi vrǎh or “Black Peak” is the highest point at 2,290 meters above sea level.
Urban transport allows you to reach the wooded area in around forty-five minutes. The Vitosha Natural Park is the oldest in the Balkans.
It covers approximately 27,000 hectares and the park includes two natural biosphere reserves, one of which is included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program.
Although Vitosha is located in the immediate vicinity of Sofia, the flora and fauna there is extremely rich and varied. The Vitosha is also very rich in water with a large number of small springs and 8 larger springs giving rise to rivers, most of them tributaries of the Iskǎr.
To discover in particular, the Bojana waterfall and the Struma – an important watercourse which flows into the massif.
The capital of Sofia and its region is therefore an essential destination for discovering Bulgaria and its rich and varied heritage – its history, its culture, its cuisine… whether you are traveling alone, as a couple, with family or with friends.
Have a nice trip to Sofia!
Plovdiv – The oldest city in Europe
One of the oldest cities in Europe
Located in the heart of the ancient Thracian lands in the Upper Thracian valley, Plovdiv is the second city in the country after Sofia and one of the oldest cities in the world, even predating Rome or Athens.
Plovdiv rests on seven rocky hills and is located near the Maritsa River, which made the region an ideal site for its development.
Its history began some 6000 years ago and it will impress you with its beauty, its dynamism and the warmth of its inhabitants.
The historic city center
Plovdiv is a magnificent Bulgarian city which will seduce you with its historic Old Town and its characteristic Bulgarian Renaissance architecture.
Its pedestrian streets, the colorful houses of the Bulgarian Renaissance, the house of Lamartine (where the French poet, writer and politician resided in 1833) make it a city with an impressive cultural and historical heritage.
The ancient Roman Theater
The city's heritage, which includes more than 200 archaeological sites, some of which are of national interest, bears witness to the various Thracian, Greco-Roman, Ottoman and Bulgarian civilizations that passed through it.
The City Center of Plovdiv itself is organized around its famous Ancient Roman Theater which is magnificently integrated and highlighted in the modern urban planning of the city.
This unmissable place still hosts concerts, operas and shows in a historic open-air setting.
Garden of Tsar-Simeon and the singing fountains
To the delight of citizens and visitors, the city of Plovdiv also has numerous parks and gardens including the Tsar–Siméon Garden designed in 1892 by a Swiss landscaper, Lucien Chevalas.
Today, this carefully maintained park features avenues shaded by venerable trees, flower beds, sculptures and a fountain.
Areas with swings attract the youngest. A large artificial lake built in the farthest part of the central square allows canoeing activity.
And a sound and light show around the fountain called the singing fountains enlivens the place.
The special fountain dance – a spectacular show with music and light can be seen every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 p.m.
European Capital of Culture 2019
The city is also rich in numerous museums, contemporary art galleries and an emergence of street art which helps to brighten up street furniture and certain streets in the city's shopping center.
It is a city easily served by the development of its airport and by numerous trains and buses.
This city with its unique and authentic historical and cultural heritage will undoubtedly seduce you and will make your stay in Bulgaria a rich and unforgettable memory.
Vratsa – At the foot of the Balkan
Downtown
Located in northwest Bulgaria at the foot of the Balkan Vratsa and crossed by the Leva River, the town of Vratsa is easily accessible by train from the capital of Sofia.
The town of Vratsa itself is very pleasant with its cobbled pedestrian street and the town's many restaurants and hotels.
It is one of the most picturesque towns in Bulgaria and it is a good place to live.
Nestled at the foot of the Vratsa mountain, the Leva river passes quietly through the town and the rocks seem to hang from the roofs of the houses.
Thracian burial mounds are also found in the very center of Vratsa.
In the 5th century BC, the lands of Vratsa were inhabited by the Thracians.
From this period dates one of the most beautiful and greatest Thracian treasures, that of Rogojen.
The Historical Museum
You can discover the most sumptuous and important Thracian treasure ever discovered at the city's regional historical museum.
That of Rogojen composed of a set of 165 traditional and ritual objects (coins, cups, jugs, etc.) in silver or gold of high quality and of inestimable historical and cultural value.
“Vrachanski Balkan” Nature Park
In addition, the landscapes of Vratsa are among the most beautiful in the Balkan region and the Vratsa Balkan (“Vrachanski Balkan” Nature Park) was proclaimed a natural park in 2003.
There are many natural sites to discover in the region.
Covering an area of 28,844 hectares, it is an ecological heritage site rich in protected animal and plant species.
Many outdoor activities such as hikes and walking tours are organized to admire the magnificent natural scenery of the depths of the Balkans with its imposing and steep rocks.
But also, winter sports activities, climbing and caving will await you as soon as winter arrives in the middle of the snow-covered mountains and forests.
In fact, on the territory of the national park there are 16 tourist routes which cross the different territories and the various natural curiosities and 8 educational routes are offered.
In the Vratsa Balkan there are also three marked bike routes of varying difficulty as well as horseback riding or motorcycle hang-gliding rides.
Vratsa, at the foot of the Balkans, is therefore a perfect destination to combine a cultural stay with discovery of the ecological heritage and breathtaking landscapes of Bulgaria.
Veliko Tarnovo – “The Queen of Bulgarian Cities”
Located in north-central Bulgaria, on Mount Trapezitsa, the town of Veliko Tarnovo is crossed by the multiple meanders of the Yantra River.
Veliko Tarnovo is nicknamed the “Queen of Bulgarian cities”. It is famous for having been the historic capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, until its fall on July 17, 1393.
Located in the central north of the country, on Mount Trapezitsa, Veliko Tarnovo is crossed by the Yantra River and is nicknamed the "Queen of Bulgarian cities". Today a major university and economic center of Bulgaria, it is also a city rich in an intense and varied historical and cultural heritage.
Bansko – Winter Resort in Bulgaria
Bansko and the Pirin Massif
Located at an altitude of 925 meters in the protected Pirin massif, Bansko is a dream mountain resort for spending your winter holidays in Bulgaria.
Today it is one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in the country.
Winter sports
Its snow cover from December to April and unbeatable prices on packages and equipment will allow you to enjoy the joys of winter sports without breaking the bank.
Whether skiing, snowboarding and other board sports on slopes from green to black.
For example, it will cost you 58 Bulgarian leva for a day of skiing for an adult, or around 30 euros.
An installation of around fifteen ski lifts allows skiers to be transported to the various peaks of the area, up to 2,500 meters above sea level. And different outdoor activities can also be organized whatever the season to enjoy this magnificent landscape – horseback riding, excursions, thermal baths, quad biking, etc.
The historic city center
At the foot of the slopes, in the historic town center of Bansko, you will discover the typical charms of Bulgaria thanks to its small, steep, cobbled streets and its traditional stone houses and imposing beams full of mystery.
The most beautiful and typical of the city are the Vélyanova, Pénéva and Hadji Rousko houses.
These fortified houses with decorated facades often contain one or more secret hiding places protected by loopholes.
You can also admire the statue of the poet Nikola Vaptsarov or the very pretty Trinity Church and its Clock Tower dating from 1850, but also visit the magnificent Rilski convent converted into an Icon museum.
Activities and Events
The Sunday market is also an essential place to meet the population of the village.
You can discover Bulgarian local products there but you can also find absolutely everything you are looking for – clothes, shoes, utensils, souvenirs…
Many bars and restaurants will offer you good traditional meals of Bulgarian cuisine in a friendly atmosphere.
The folklore shows organized in the evening will make you have a very pleasant time in this charming resort of Bansko.
The city also hosts one of the most famous events of recent years – the Bansko International Jazz Festival.
So, don’t hesitate any longer!
Winter and summer, Bansko is an ideal place in all seasons for an unforgettable stay with family, couples or friends.
Haskovo – The city of the Virgin Mary
Haskovo, the city of the Virgin Mary where you will find her 32.8 meter statue, the tallest in the world, but also where the tomb of Alexandrovo of Thracian origin will surprise you with its beauty. The City Center is remarkably well located between the Rhodope Mountains and the Balkan Range in the plains of southeastern Bulgaria.
Pazardjik – A charming Bulgarian town
Like Plovdiv, Pazardjik extends on the banks of the Maritsa in southern Bulgaria in the Western Rhodope Mountains. Pazardzhik City Center is a charming little town located only about a hundred kilometers from the capital of Sofia and is very well connected by the Sofia highway. You will find many shops, restaurants and pubs there.
Blagoevgrad – The hidden gem of Bulgaria
Located in the southwest of Bulgaria, on the border with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece, the Blagoevgrad region is one of the large Bulgarian regions. The Strouma River crosses the plain surrounded by mountainous reliefs – the Pirin in the southeast, the Vlahina in the west and Rila and Mount Mussala in the east
Ruse – “Little Vienna”
The city of Ruse, the fifth largest city in the country, is located in the north-east of Bulgaria on one of the banks of the Danube and borders Romania opposite, connected by the Danube Bridge. Ruse today represents the largest Bulgarian port on the Danube River. The City Center It is a city that will seduce you in particular with its sublime
architecture.
Nessebar – The pearl of the Black Sea
Located a few kilometers north of Burgas along the “Sun Coast” on a peninsula in the Black Sea, the historic town of Nessebar is today recognized as one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Old Nessebar has also been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1983.
Old Nessebar
Founded by the Thracians around 3000 years BC, the city holds numerous treasures, churches and architectural monuments that bear witness to the city's Greek, Roman and Byzantine past.
Some remains will only be visible to scuba diving enthusiasts.
Notably the remains submerged by the sea of the Greek enclosure built in the sixth century BC.
The ancient town of Old Nessebar is located on the peninsula while the modern hotels, restaurants and shops are located in the new town. A bus allows you to travel between the two very distinct districts.
Note that the Old Town is closed to car traffic and that there is parking outside where you can park your rental vehicle.
The typical Port
Nessebar benefits from a temperate continental climate which gives it exceptional sunshine levels all year round with 240 to 260 sunny days per year.
During summer, average water temperatures are 20-26°C and ambient temperatures are around 28-30°C.
Architecture
You can also visit magnificent churches, in particular the Pantocrator Church.
But also the Saint Stéphane church, the Saint Sauveur church or the church of Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel and many others… Some old churches have been rehabilitated into art galleries hosting exhibitions by local artists.
You can admire the architectural wealth of the city while strolling through the streets with their millennial past.
Or go to the archaeological museum or the Moskoyani House – the city’s ethnographic museum.
The combination of ideal weather conditions, the historic old town of Old Nessebar, its charming typical port and the proximity to the beach will undoubtedly make Nessebar an exceptional destination for a cultural stay and tourist activities on the seaside.
Burgas – By the Black Sea
Burgas and the Black Sea Surrounded by the salt lakes of Atanasovsko and Bourgasko with curative properties, Burgas is an ancient Roman city located in one of the bays of the Black Sea. The city is today one of the most important industrial and maritime cities in the country.
It is the main seaside resort in Bulgaria and this dream destination offers many activities.
Sozopol
Sozopol is an ancient seaside town located 35 km south of Burgas on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
It is built on a peninsula in eastern Bulgaria and its climate is temperate.
Its coast alternates between beaches and rocky capes, with islets. The city's economy is mainly based on summer tourism. The other activities are linked to the sea and in particular to fishing.
Inherited from late Antiquity, the style of traditional houses has a stone base, a wooden floor and roof and a veranda.
This architectural style is found throughout the Balkans and is extremely well preserved in the old town of Sozopol.
The village has a maze of winding, cobbled streets, wooden houses with balconies overlooking the sea and a small, typical fishing port.
The pretty town of Sozopol comes alive in the summer, to the rhythm of small restaurants offering fresh fish.
The city has an Archaeological Museum dedicated to the ancient city, Apollonia of Pontus.
Discover this charming little town on the Black Sea coast where generous sunshine and transparent water await you for your vacation.
Varna – The maritime capital of Bulgaria
Varna and the Black Sea Varna is a famous seaside resort in Bulgaria on the Black Sea. It is very touristy and includes the seaside resorts of Golden Sands, Albéna, Saints Constantine and Helena and the Kamtchia River natural park. Third city in the country, it is an ideal destination in summer.
Varna on the Black Sea
But Varna is also a famous seaside resort in Bulgaria on the shores of the Black Sea.
Located in the northeast of the country, the region is an important port, industrial and university city. It will seduce you with its Slavic charm and its architecture as well as the atmosphere that reigns there.
And of course, by its sunny and pleasant climate!
Third city in the country, it is an ideal destination in summer to enjoy the sea and wellness activities, restaurants, shops along the beach.
Ideal weather conditions, idyllic landscapes and numerous cultural or outdoor, sea and well-being activities.
Varna and its region is the seaside resort not to be missed for a cultural and relaxing stay with family, couples or friends.
Pomorie
The small town of Pomorie is located in southeastern Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast, in the Burgas region.
The city is located near Lake Pomorie, the northernmost lake of the Burgas Lakes.
Pomorie is a maritime town, located on a narrow and short peninsula, equidistant between Burgas and Nessebar.
The peculiarity of Pomorie is that it is surrounded by water almost on all sides – the Black Sea in the south, the east and northeast, Lake Pomorie in the north.
It is a charming city, pleasant both to live in and to spend your holidays.
The production of white and red wines, liqueurs (cognac) and other spirits (eaux de vie) is still in full swing and regularly wins national and international awards.
You can also benefit from medicinal mud in specialized establishments and hoteliers specializing in this field.
Salt production is still active and it is here that you can visit the only Salt Museum in Bulgaria.
The advantageous geographical location, the long beaches and the presence of Lake Pomorie (protected natural area) give Pomorie a unique and very pleasant appearance.
A perfect destination to combine sea activities and well-being, culture and history.
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