20 Best Attractions in Bulgaria

Some of the Bulgarian villages have been turned into architectural reserves to preserve the beautiful houses of the past. Bulgarians love getting back to nature and to their roots, spending their weekend in villages – growing their own food, sleeping in guesthouses, or just enjoying the silence outside of the city. Vist Rila if you’re looking to get away from the big busy cities!

Bulgaria has more than 1300 years of history as a country, with many tribes and foreign powers having left their influence over the centuries. Plan a stop at one or more of the Bulgarian museums and learn a bit about the past to better understand the present. History buffs will enjoy a day at the biggest history museum in the country, the National History Museum in Sofia that exhibits some of the most impressive ancient Thracian gold treasures as well as the most important items since prehistoric times. The streets of the Old Town of Plovdiv are dotted with traditional Revival-period houses, many of them museums. See it all on this tour!

Wind, water, and time have done their job in sculpting amazing rock formations all over Bulgaria. After that, people have used their imagination to create stories about the rock shapes that resemble people, mushrooms, and giants. Visit the Belogradchik Rocks to marvel at the castle set among the rocks, or the Stob Pyramids near Sofia to see the magical earth formations at sunset.

If you need to get away from the modern world, plan an escape to any of the historical towns in Bulgaria. Nessebar (protected by UNESCO) and Sozopol are located at the seaside and have magnificent Old Towns with wooden houses. The steep cobblestone streets of the Old Town of Plovdiv takes you two centuries back in history. Koprivshtitsa (difficult to pronounce but worth the effort) is a whole town keeping the spirit of the past epochs alive.

Hikers will find all sorts of terrains in Bulgaria – the Pirin and Rila Mountainsmore are rockier and more Alpine-like, while the Rhodopes have rounder shapes and are more green. The Bulgarian mountains are relatively well signed (depending on the route you’ve chosen), but you should always bring a map and a compass with you. There’s an emblematic mountain hike, the Kom to Emine route, which crosses Bulgaria from west to east, finishing at Cape Emine at the Black Sea coast. You will need special training for it, though, as it takes around 20 days to cover.

The imposing structure of the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv Old Town has been well preserved, dating back to the first century. Theatrical performances and gladiator fights took place here, as well as important gatherings of the local government. Come during the summer months to enjoy opera or live music, seated on the ancient stones.

Tsarevets Fortress was built where the palace of the Bulgarian king (referred to as tsar ) once stood, over 800 years ago. Climb the Tsarevets Hill and check out the Tsarevets Museum Reserve. If you’re planning ahead, coordinate your visit with the Sound and Light show – for upcoming dates, check the local Tourist Office.

Prohodna Cave is a favorite spot for both tourists and rock climbers, due to its unique structure. Look up to see the two openings in its ceiling, which look so much like a set of eyes that the locals began calling the cave the Eyes of God. It’s even more impressive on a bright night, with the moon shining through the so-called eyes. Explore the caves on this tour!

There are some spectacular rock shapes around the small town of Belogradchik and like clouds in the sky, they can resemble animals, people or unusual objects – if you look hard enough. What makes the Belogradchik Rocks even more alluring is its very own fortress, built within the rocks with walls, floors and stairs. The view from the top is phenomenal.

Pirin is one of the most popular Bulgarian mountains for hiking. It’s no surprise many visitors claim it stole their heart, as the landscape is mainly alpine rock, with deep blue lakes dotted all around. There are many hiking trails within the national park – Koncheto Ridge is a particularly challenging one. It’s a good idea to bring a map and compass.

These waterfalls almost look artificial, they are so postcard perfect. The turquoise water makes a beautiful contrast against the snow-white rock brinks of the cascades. More than 800 years ago, hermits carved caves out of the rocks and lived in them. Krushuna Waterfalls are located in Northern Bulgaria, near Letnitsa village. See them on this tour!

One of the best destinations for cultural attractions on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is the palace in Balchik and its impressive botanical gardens. The palace belonged to the Romanian queen Maria, who ruled these parts of Bulgaria at the time. She loved Balchik so much she made her own spiritual haven.

Koprivshtitsa will twist your tongue with its hard-to-pronounce name, but it’s worth the effort because it’s one of the best preserved Revival-period towns. Stroll past the colorful houses and visit one which has been transformed into a museum, to soak up the historical atmosphere and learn more about how the Bulgarians gained their liberty.

Sveshtari Tomb is a Unesco-protected ancient Thracian site, discovered in 1982. It was built for the purpose of a royal funeral, although archaeologists are unsure of the name of the deceased. The most impressive feature inside are the 10 female figures with their arms up, appearing as if they are supporting the ceiling.

Bulgaria is known as the Country of Roses, and there’s a specific area where most of the rose fields are located: the Rose Valley, near the town of Kazanlak. Every year, for a whole month – mid-May to mid-June – the Rose Festival fills the air with the sweet scent of rose blooms. Tourists are welcome to join the rose-picking process, as long as they’re prepared for the early start, as the best time to do it is sunrise.

Rila Monastery is the biggest Bulgarian monastery, established in 10th century by the Bulgarian saint and hermit Ivan of Rila. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it is one of the most significant cultural, religious and architectural sites in Bulgaria. Besides the monastery buildings, there’s a fortification tower in the monastery court.

There is a marvelous Bulgarian tradition for every season – from the Kukeri monster dances in winter to the Rose Festival in the Rose Valley in June and the July Morning tradition on July 1 when the locals greet the rising sun to welcome the summer. On June 3, the ancient tradition of Nestinari, walking on embers, takes place in the small border village of Balgari. In the first weekend of August, the biggest open-air bagpipe gathering fills the air with folkloric music on the mountain slopes around the village of Gela. Find a cultural festival in Plovdiv!

Bulgarian cuisine has much in common with the other Balkan countries, but it has its own specialties, too. Fresh vegetable salads are locals’ favorite all year round (try the fresh vegetables and Bulgarian feta cheese Shopska salad and Ovcharska salad, the mayonnaise-based Ruska salad, or the Mlechna salad that is similar to the Greek tzatziki). If you travel through the Rhodope Mountains, don’t miss its local culinary delights. Go wine tasting in Sofia!

The Bulgarian coast attracts many European vacationers every summer, offering both wild and luxury beaches. Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, and Kiten have a more vibrant, party atmosphere, while Sinemorets, Ahtopol or Kavarna are better for families. Varna and Burgas are the two major coastal cities that also have industrial zones and big shopping malls.

Bansko, Pamporovo, and Borovets are the three major ski resorts in Bulgaria with many ski and snowboard facilities. There are tracks for both beginners and advanced winter sports enthusiasts.