Bulgaria, a country in the Southeastern corner Europe that joined the EU in 2007, is known for its massive alterations in recent years. It is accompanied by the River Danube and Romania in its north, Turkey and Greece in the south, Black Sea in the east, and Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to its west. Stretching to the border of the Black Sea and its glittering beaches, the Balkan Mountains pass the land that holds lush plantations, thick forests, and flowing rivers. The resorts at the Black Sea across a few largest beaches of Europe stretching 370 km on the shoreline are ideal for sunbathing from May to October. In winters, severe snowfall surrounds the mountain ski resorts. Mind-blowing mountains spreading over half of the land and beaches being the major tourists’ attractions, beach and ski resorts are developing on a rapid scale in the nation.
Exhibiting deep love for its traditions, folk dances, music, state costumes, and customary rituals are the part and parcel of the life of Bulgarians. Many cities are witnessing the construction work on a great scale such that it has resulted in cheap property to allure buyers particularly from Western Europe.
Known as the only EU nation to use the Cyrillic alphabet, its official language is Bulgarian. While English, German, French, and Russian are widely spoken in resorts and hotels, Turkish and Macedonian are popular as the minority languages. Maximum population belongs to the Christian cult out of which Bulgarian Orthodox holds the first rank. The Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the traditional religion and you will find Muslims and Jewish communities too.
Tourists’ Attractions
- Sofia:
This is the capital of Bulgaria wherein you can explore the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Turkish sculpting designs. It offers you beautiful museums and churches, stunning art galleries, and captivating opera houses. The most famous attractions are the gold-leaf domed Nevski Memorial Church holding the 6th century St. Sofia and the Museum of archaeology just adjacent to the Church.
- Rila Monastery:
Located at 121 km from the nation’s capital, this has stunning offerings of wall paintings, woodsculptings, ancient artillery, and bibles inscribed on its parchment. As most of the 10th century structures were devastated by fire except for the 14th century Khrelio’s Tower, the modern day structures that you see today are just of the 19th century. - Melnik:
This is a small town holding houses of 18th and 19th centuries erected on bizarrely looking limestone and sand pyramids. This town is famous for fruit and food where you can see many locals at the weekend here to enjoy the traditional food and the local preparations.
- Plovdiv:
This is the nation’s second-largest city that is split by the Maritsa River. Adorned with narrow paved lanes and old-world houses, the charm to be felt here is the Roman Amphitheatre. The energetic Ulitsa Alexander Batemberg where only you will find people walking is full of shops, cafes, and galleries and is the heart of the city. - Bachkovo Monastery:
Located at a distance of 8 km (5 miles) from Plovdiv, this was discovered in the 11th century that holds its historical remains. Offering you unusual frescoes, manuscripts, and coins; the area of Batchkovo is important from the excavation point of view. Many things have been found here during the digging including the gilded Thracian items. Actually, the current region was known as Thrace in olden days.
- Rose Valley and the Festival of Roses:
Bulgaria is famous for its plantations of roses since centuries and extraction of blissful spirit – the attar of roses. You can see the landscape of Rose Valley full with roses in May and early June. It is precisely at this time that The Festival of Roses is celebrated each year in many cities and towns of the nation. - Veliko Turnovo:
This is the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire that took its form from 1187 until 1393. Located on three hills enclosed by the River Yantra, this is the historic museum town that offers outstanding ancient art pieces along with the church remnants.
- UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites:
There are total nine locations included in this list. Among them are the 4th century frescoes in the Thracian Kazanluk Tomb that is well maintained, the Sveshtari Tomb close to Razgrad, the 13th century Boyana Church in the periphery of the capital, and the Ivanovo Rock Monasteries close to Rousse. - Albena:
This area is famous for its breathtaking scenes. - Varna:
This region is worth visiting for its cultural and historical preserves. - Bourgas:
This is the port city embracing the Mediterranean charm. - Swimming:
Try doing so in the Black Sea that holds the sandy coastline with lukewarm beaches and safe waters. You can plan to spend some time in one of the busy resorts here. - Skiing:
Try this adventurous sport out in the slopes of Quaint Bansko – the newest ski region in the ancient town at the base of the Pirin Mountains, Pamporovo at the Rhodopi range – the southernmost ski region, and Borovets in the Rila Mountains that is the nation’s most ancient and biggest mountain resort. - Hiking:
Offering you 35,000 km (21,749 miles) of potential lanes, one can look for a week or two weeks journey along with a guide covering the starting and end points of the wild mountains. Accommodation for this trip includes various forms such as mountain villa, guesthouses, or camps. - Trekking:
Try out the climbing activity in each mountain that is held under the mountaineering and climbing trips. These trips are arranged in Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Trojan, Maliovitza, and Roussenski Lom. For experts, the rocks of Pirin, Rhodope, Rila, and Stara Planina are perfect that also offer many caves, stunning rock creations, and historic cave paintings. - Horse Riding:
Try this traditionally famous sport at the Danube Valley, the Balkan, Rila, Stara Planina mountains, and the Valley of Roses. - Mountain Biking:
This sport is available in the Rhodopi mountains with superb tracks. - Cycling:
This can be enjoyed on the shoreline of the Black Sea along with the family. - Mineral Water Spas:
Famous for its medicinal properties, the mineral waters are utilized from centuries here by erecting many mineral complexes besides the mineral springs. You can grasp the opportunity of the spas in many hotels particularly around the coast of the Black Sea. - Traditional Music Festivals:
Be an inviting part of the nation’s traditional music festivals held in its rural settlements. The Pirin Pee festival, one of the famous ones, offers the popular Pirin Folk Ensemble that is the key band in Blagoevgrad. - National Parks:
Feel in the lap of the Mother Nature by exploring the nation’s parks. Do visit the Pirin National Park that hold the old Bailusheva pine forests and limestone rocks and the Rila Park that offers seven lakes and a monastery built in 10th century. - Raiskoto Praskalo Waterfall:
This holds the first rank in being the highest fall in the Balkan cape. - Shopping:
Shopping items here include the Bulgarian products, fabrics, shoes, handicrafts, and confectionery. The famous shopping streets are Ulitsa Graf Ignatiev and Ulitsa Pirotska for their native clothes and electrical appliances. The timings of shopping are from Monday to Friday: 1000-2000 and Saturdays: 1000-1400. - Special Cuisine:
Do taste the Tarator – a cold soup of cucumber, walnuts, and yoghurt; Shopska salata – a big salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and white cheese; and Banitsa – pastry containing white cheese. - Special Drinks:
These include the popular Espresso Coffee and drinks prepared from the mixture of mountain herbs and dried leaves (more specifically lime).
