Explore The Differences Between Bulgaria's Main Provinces

Although it’s a small country, Bulgaria has its regional specifics when it comes to culture, cuisine, and income. If you are planning a more extensive trip in Bulgaria, here are the major things you should know about the different corners of the country.

Sofia

Sofia is the city attracting the biggest number of people from all over the country. It is the city with the highest average salaries, the biggest number of theaters and cinemas, the richest art scene, and the biggest opportunities. But living in the biggest city is a double-edged sword, as it also means that it is one of the most polluted places in the country, with the heaviest traffic jams and the highest rents. Ironically, people from Sofia constantly complain about people from other towns coming to the capital, even though most of them did the same. On the other hand, people who grew up in Sofia are mocked by newcomers for their typical dialect with many an “e” where they are not expected and switched stress in words. As a tourist, this is where you can meet many expats, find many people speaking English and get services in English.

Plovdiv

Varna and Burgas

Varna and Burgas are respectively the third and the fourth biggest cities in Bulgaria, but what makes them different is that they are the two main ports of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Residents of Varna and Burgas are proud that they live in a city by the sea, although they usually have the palest skin in a group of vacationers (“When you live by the sea, you can go to the beach whenever you want,” they say, but it seems time-pressed tourists are more consistent beach-goers). These are the best regions to order seafood and fish at a restaurant and be sure it will be fresh and delicious.

Unlike Burgas and Varna, which are big cities with various industries, the other seaside resorts and towns around are bursting with life in summer and dead in winter.

The Rhodopes

The Rhodope Mountains are an area in South Bulgaria known for its small villages with communities who have preserved much of their old-time life, including their heart-warming hospitality. One of the main reasons people go to the Rhodopes, besides the soft, pine-covered folds of the mountains, is the food. Rhodope cuisine consists mainly of potatoes, grains, and milk products with patatnik, kachamak, and marudnik being among the dishes you should order there.

The Northwest

Northwestern Bulgaria is not only the poorest corner of Bulgaria, but it is officially the poorest region in the European Union. A trip to this area will show you abandoned villages and extreme poverty. Bulgarians from this region are known for their crotchety yet unyielding to life’s hardship nature and for their typical dialect. In recent years, various TV shows and websites, as well as a book trilogy written entirely in the local dialect, have raised the popularity of the Bulgarian Northwest, although this hasn’t yet improved its situation.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.