The Best Places in Bulgaria to Feel the Christmas Spirit

Traditionally, shopping malls have the most sumptuous Christmas decorations, lights, children’s arts and crafts workshops, mini-handmade bazaars and everything that will switch your mood from mundane to festive in an instant. They also organize a lot of free events, especially on the weekends in December, so be sure to check what’s on.

Handmade festivals have been becoming increasingly popular the last couple of years with hundreds of artists engaging their creative spirit in crafting Christmas tree ornaments, dolls, gifts and much more. Although the dates of the festivals are different every year, you can always try your luck at the Sofia Central Market Hall, (Tsentralni Hali) the National Palace of Culture, and Sofia Live Club (this one on weekends only) – all of which are all traditional hosts to the festivals.

Bring your own pair of skates or rent them at the ice rink and go with the wind! Every major city in Bulgaria has its own ice rink, usually in the city center (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Bansko, Veliko Tarnovo) where you can practice your triple axel to the beat of “Last Christmas” and other Chrismassy tracks. The one at the entrance of Borisova Gradina Park in Sofia is open 24/7 during the whole winter, so you can take advantage of the off-peak times and enjoy skating at 3am, should you wish to.

If you have Bulgarian friends and receive an invitation to their home over the Christmas period, this will be the most genuine way to experience what Christmas means to Bulgarians. You will witness all the festive household preparations and become familiar with the local traditions. You’ll find out the typical Christmas Eve dishes served in a Bulgarian home and why no animal products are served for dinner on this date. You’ll discover how Christmas morning starts with the exchange of gifts and continues with a hearty lunch of pork and cabbage.