Bulgaria sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

Bulgaria has everything that vacationers seek in a country – awesome beach resorts, rich historical and cultural heritage, interesting architecture and museums. Sofia is cultural and political capital of the country. Travellers will be particularly interested in the central part of the city as all major landmarks are located there. These are Banya Bashi Mosque, the Church of St. George, Mineral Bath, Theological Seminary, the Church of St. Nicolas, and Sofia Cathedral. The central square of the city is the location of another popular landmark, the Museum of History, which exhibits the Panagyurishte Treasure. The age of the exhibited items is the 6th – 3rd centuries B.C. The treasure was found by archaeologists near Sofia and consists of several gold plates decorated with carvings.

Most romantic hotels in Bulgaria

The best hideaways for couples in love, as well as top hotels for wedding and honeymoon.
Read further

Varna is considered one of the oldest cities in Europe. Many buildings there belong to the antique period. Varna Necropolis is the most famous sight of the city. Archaeological excavations never stop there. It is possible to see the results of these excavations in the Museum of Archaeology.

Pleven is one more important historic centre of the country. This is a city of glorious past, and guests are welcome to learn more about it in the museum of Pleven Epopee 1877, which is most commonly known as Pleven Panorama. The building of the museum is also worth attention. Many years ago, the building was used for the meeting of Alexander II with Osman-pasha. There is a beautiful park on one of surrounding hills. The park was named after Russian general Skobelev. There is also a museum dedicated to the military events of the 19th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Admire style in every aspect? Selection of the best design hotels in Bulgaria

Great attention is paid to the design of hotels and the choice of their style in Bulgaria. In the Park Maxi hotel in Velingrad, the interiors are …
Read further

The city of Plovdiv is another popular tourist destination in Bulgaria. Plovdiv is famous for ancient archaeological landmarks, the most prominent one being the Ancient Theatre built in the 2nd century during the reign of Trajan. Other sights of antiquity in the city include the City Forum, several ancient thermae and old basilicas. The clock tower, which is located in the central square of the city, was proclaimed the oldest tower of its type in whole Europe.

Veliko Tarnovo is a prominent Bulgarian city that is home to three magnificent sanctuaries – Holy Forty Martyrs Church, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Church of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki. There is an interesting fact connected with these buildings. Their architect, Nikolai Finchev, was a self-learning master, but in his works he managed to overcome many famous architects of his time. The Marine Park, which is located in Burgos, is also worth visiting as besides entertainment there are beautiful monuments and sculptures in the city.

Top Bulgaria hotels for most demanding travelers

Bulgaria is considered a country with democratic prices for recreation. Despite this, at its resorts you can find unique fashionable hotels, the rest …
Read further

History and Entertainment

The first written references to the country on the territory of modern Bulgaria data back to 618. At that time, it was the Bulgarian Kingdom. At the beginning of the 11th century, it was conquered by the Byzantine Empire governing the territory until 1185. After becoming independent of Byzantium, the country had managed to maintain independence for over 200 years. The end of the 14th century was characterized by bloody battles between the Bulgarian Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire.

In 1396, Bulgary fell before Ottoman troops. The period of Ottoman Bulgary was one of the longest and ended in 1878. Bulgary became officially independent of the Ottoman Empire only in 1908. The country gained a status of the republic after the Second World War, in 1946.

When and where to 'hang out' in Bulgaria - festivals and celebrations

The first in the list of favorite holidays of the Bulgarians with certainty can be designated Christmas. On the night before the holiday, it is …
Read further

Some of the main values for tourists are beach resorts in Bulgary. They are characterized by the well-developed infrastructure and affordable prices. The noisiest and liveliest beaches are Golden Sands and Sunny Beach. Young people mainly relax here. Local resorts will suit those who have long dreamed of doing water sports and who like having fun all day and night long. Fans of calm recreation and travelers with children often visit Sozopol and Tsarevo. Their resorts are distinguished by a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

On the territory of Bulgaria, there are several excellent ski resorts targeting beginners and travelers with children. The largest winter resort is Borovets. The total length of its ski routes is about 40 km. In the surroundings of the resort, there are a lot of unique nature attractions, such as pine reserves and lakes. It will be very interesting to visit Borovets in summer.

For active traveler - national parks, landscapes and nature of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is famous for its nature and national parks. At any time of the year you can find a picturesque corner for rest. Situated in the center of …
Read further

During the year, a lot of interesting holidays are celebrated in Bulgary. For instance, on 25 May is the Rose Festival held. For local residents, breeding of essential oil roses is one of the main national “crafts”. Rose oil is actively used in cosmetics and perfume production. This beautiful national holiday always includes festive processions, theatrical and folk bands’ performances and concerts. The crucial point of this traditional holiday is the final of the beauty contest. The winner gains a title of the Rose Queen.

Bulgaria guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Famous and uniques places in Bulgaria from our review series

Plovdiv

From the series “Remains of the First Ancient Cities”

The charming Bulgarian city of Plovdiv is officially recognized as the oldest city in modern Europe today. The earliest organized settlements were formed on the territory of the city in the 6th Millennium BC. The ancient city reached its heyday during the rule of the Thracians. It was called Eumolpiada at the time. The reign of Philip II of Macedon was the next bright turn in the history of the city. His army captured the city in 342 BC. It was renamed Philippopolis after that.

The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans influenced the city's culture later. This leads to a rich historical and cultural heritage More than 200 objects located on the territory of the historical city are under UNESCO protection today. There are many buildings of ancient times among them. Guests of Plovdiv will have … Read all

Veliko Tarnovo

From the series “Amazing Cities on the Rocks”

The beautiful town of Veliko Tarnovo is located on a mountainside in Bulgaria. It was founded in the 5th century. The town, located in the valley of the Yantra River, was the capital of the state in ancient times. It attracts travelers with its outstanding architectural monuments today. The town is located in an incredibly difficult mountainous area. It was built on the slopes of a winding gorge. The ancient fortress remains its main symbol. The historic district is perfectly preserved in the town.

Its buildings are located in a cascade on terraces. Many historic buildings are the location of museums and art galleries today. Guests of Veliko Tarnovo will have the opportunity to visit the historical museum. A rich collection of archaeological artifacts is stored there. You can also visit … Read all

Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky

From the series “The Most Astonishing Orthodox Churches”

Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky is one of the main sightseeing places in Sofia. The cathedral has appeared there only in 1912. The creator of this tremendous temple is a Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev. This Orthodox Church is one of the largest in the whole world. Its area is 3 170 meters and it can hold about 5 000 people inside. The most interesting part of the cathedral is the bell tower. It has 12 bells and their weight is about 23 tones.

For several hundreds of years this wonderful cathedral with azure and golden cupolas stays one of the main symbols of Sofia. At the beginning of the 20th century, the church was the highest building in the city. It has placed 552 meters above the sea level. Today its main-golden cupola is possible to see from every city street. The … Read all

All unique sightseeing Bulgaria

Bulgaria sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

History and Entertainment

Plovdiv

Veliko Tarnovo

Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky

Sightseeing in popular cities of Bulgaria