The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria

Zdraveite (Hello) from my home country Bulgaria. Today I will share with you the six best places to visit in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a small country in South-East Europe. Perhaps only a handful of you has heard of it and its capital, Sofia. Here, we have four seasons which you can enjoy by visiting the black sea or any of the thirty-nine (YES, 39!) mountains. We have a rich history dating back to 1185 AD, and beautiful beaches. Not to mention the astounding nature.

Bulgaria is also popular with oil-bearing roses. The rose oil is used for perfumes, cosmetics, cooking, and many other things. For more than two centuries, Bulgaria has been a leader in producing rose oil. You can also be sure that you will try the incredibly delicious Bulgarian traditional cuisine, which you will surely fall in love with.

So… Welcome to Bulgaria, and let’s get started!

Plovdiv

In my personal opinion, Plovdiv is one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria. Situated just 144 km out of Sofia, it is a city that you should make sure to stop by. In Plovdiv, you can see the Ancient Stadium of Philipopolis which was built in the second century. The stadium is one of 12 stadiums in the world. It is in Jumaiata Square and the entrance is free.

Another landmark in Plovdiv is the Cathedral of Saint Mary. The temple was constructed in the XIX. century. It has a very beautiful interior decorated with stained glass and mural. Also, a suitable destination during the hot summer days is the singing fountains in Tsar Simeon Garden that cover an astounding 6 decares of land.

You can also visit Juma Mosque, which is the second biggest mosque in Bulgaria. It is in the city center on Plovdiv and was built between XIV-XV centuries. Right next to the Mosque is the Ancient Stadium Philippopolis. In 1995, the ancient building was declared to hold a national cultural value. You will only see the northern part of the stadium because the shopping street hides the rest of the building.

Ancient Streets

After visiting the Mosque and the stadium, make sure to visit the pedestrian street which is the largest in Europe. These streets are the crown jewels of the best cities in Bulgaria. Here, there are tiny shops for clothes, coffee shops, and restaurants. Also, you can visit the famous Kapana district, where there is a great variety of restaurants where you can eat or drink coffee.

Last but not least, there is the Old Town of Plovdiv. There, time seems to have stopped. You will discover the amazing architecture of the old town walking along the cobblestones. From a fortress wall to many antique shops, you will see places that preserved the spirit of the older times. In the Old Town, you will be able to see amazing galleries, valuable exhibits, Revival monuments, and many museums.

Burgas

If you visit Bulgaria in June-August, make sure to visit a seaside town to enjoy our Black Sea coast.

Burgas is also one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria that occupy the coastline. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches and the Sea Garden of Burgas which is next to the central beach. Every summer you can see the Festival of Sand Sculptures. For those who love extreme experiences, of course, there is diving. If you want, you can visit the towns near Burgas (Nessebar, Sozopol, Chernomorets and many more). These cities also have beautiful beaches, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Varna

Varna is the sea capital of Bulgaria. Here, like in Burgas, you can enjoy the beautiful Sea Garden, which is right next to the central beach. Then you can walk in the city center, which has a great pedestrian zone. Another exciting place you can visit is the Dolphinarium in Varna. You will be able to enjoy beautiful dolphins dancing underwater. If you want to escape from the city, there are many resorts nearby – Golden Sands, St. Constantine and Helena, Sunny Day, and many others.

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo is a very beautiful historic town located in northern Bulgaria. Here you will see the Tsarevets Fortress. It was the main Bulgarian fortress during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. After exploring the fortress, you can head to Samovodska street. Here, the unique architecture of the houses, the small craft shops, and cafes will take you back in time.

If you want to spend the night outside Veliko Tarnovo, the village of Arbanassi is nearby. In Abarnassi, you will find many family hotels where you can relax and take a break from visiting the best cities in Bulgaria. If you are hungry, don’t worry. The village has amazing restaurants with traditional Bulgarian cuisine.

Winter Resorts in Bulgaria – Borovets, Bansko, Pamporovo

As I mentioned at the beginning, Bulgaria has four seasons, so if you like winter sports, Bulgaria is definitely your place. In Borovets, Bansko, and Pamporovo you can enjoy wonderful ski slopes and go snowboarding and skiing. You can stay in great Spa hotels and enjoy a fully relaxing experience. There are also many restaurants where you can try Bulgarian cuisine again, as well as international cuisine.

Sofia

And last but not least, add our capital, Sofia, to your bucket list.

For me, one of the most beautiful landmarks in Sofia is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the largest Orthodox church in the Balkan Penisula.

Take a walk around the National Palace of Culture, in front of which there are beautiful fountains. Just opposite the palace, there is Vitosha Boulevard. There you will find many restaurants where you can eat, drink or simply take a break from touring. And for those of you who like shopping, there are many shops with clothes, shoes, souvenirs and etc.

Well, this is all for now! Of course, there are many more beautiful places and resorts that you can visit in Bulgaria. But these six best places to visit in Bulgaria will take your breath away in your trip. If you are interested in more, leave your comments below and check my Instagram page.