Bulgaria is often seen as a black sea beach resort only, however this country has much more to offer, other than a sun tan.
In this article, I will give you ideas on what to visit in Bulgaria, in order to complement your beach resort stay, in case you wish to explore the country. Even if you are an all inclusive lover, everyone likes a little stroll outside the resort to explore close by towns, to go shopping for souvenirs or simply to unwind in a different spot.
You can enter Bulgaria via Sofia or Burgas. As the majority of the tourist resorts are located on the Black Sea Coast, Burgas is very likely where you will enter the country, if you purchase an holiday package.
Because of this fact, I will start my list with the attractions near the touristic area, going inland along the list.
1. Burgas
Far from the ancient and historic centres that fleck the country, Burgas is modern, with some Art Deco influence and lush parks on the edge of the sea.
It’s also home to some of the most lively music festivals in Bulgaria, like the Spirit of Burgas that takes place every year in the summer.
The most popular beach in the town is North Beach, but Burgas offers a surprise for nature lovers: the wonderful beautiful lakes that range from the bird-spotting paradise of Vaya to the west, to the saline waters of Atanasovsko to the north.
2. Sunny Beach
This sunny resort is the bulgarian version of Ibiza, Ayia Napa, Magaluff or Bodrum. Sunny Beach offers a great party spirit, with plenty of restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs and an inviting Sandy Beach. Here you can see flashing neon, funky ravers, party cruises and sunkissed, bikini and Hawaiian-shirts' partiers.
The promenade, known by the Boulevard, is lively and dotted by plenty places where English all-day breakfasts meet Italian pizzas in the international restaurants and resorts gain shape.
3. Sozapol
Locatel 35km south of Burgas is Sozapol, a beautiful and ancient seaside town and fishermen's village, which was called Appollonia back in the days and had a temple dedicated to the God Appolo.
You can easily walk this town on foot along the quays and watch the fishermen unload the fish from their daily catch or simply walk through the old town with its wooden houses calling out in desperation for repair.
4. Nessebar
Nessebar comes across one of the most enchanting and unforgettable cities on Bulgaria’s coast, sparkling as a medieval-byzantine town amongst the Black Sea coast.
The Thracian ruins together with the many 5th to 6th centuries' built churches have rewarded this city with the Unesco Heritage Site title.
There are rows of pretty seaside villas extending all the way to the shores and beautiful fortifications too. Nessebar is not to be missed, even if you are staying at the other seaside resorts.
5. Varna
Although the beaches and seafood restaurants on the promenade continue to be the main reason to visit Varna, this very popular city amongst national crowds, often dubbed as "The Sea Capital of Bulgaria", is also full of history and culture.
The city is an ideal escape for those who appreciate its entailing history, full of roman baths and orthodox legacies, as the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral.
There are many picturesque beaches with fine golden sand and crystal clear water in Varna as well as some good surf breaks. Rapongi Beach is the top beach in Varna, well maintained and not too crowded.
6. Pomorie
Pomorie is a picturesque seaside resort town located in Burgas Bay. The town sits on a narrow rocky peninsula with spectacular views of the coastline to the north and south, and although popular in Bulgaria, is not so well known amongst the tourists, keeping it as a well kept secret.
The old town centre is alluring with many cosy hotels, local shops and small restaurants. The newer part of the peninsula has small beaches, usually less crowded when compared to the resorts in the north or southwest.
7. Rila Monastery
The famous Eastern Orthodox monastery has risen to be one of the most well known in the world. Unesco World Heritage Site since 1983, it mergest Mamluk, Arabesque, Byzantine and Romanesque architectural styles and meticulous golf-leaf decorated interiors.
There is a museum on site, gathering together more than 1000 years of history as well as beautiful courtyards decorated with medieval scenes to catch your attention.
8. Plovdiv
The second largest city in Bulgaria (after Sofia), has an incomparable architectonic and historic wealth, specially in the Old Town. It was founded 6000 years ago and extended over seven hills. However, one of them was destroyed during the last century.
The city has many historical sights, from Roman amphitheatres, Thracian fortresses, honorific monuments and National Revival churches.
The Old Town is best known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style, with colourful houses, characteristics of the Revival style.
9. Belogradchik
An ancient, beautiful and stunning natural attraction in Bulgaria. This man-made fortification seems to have come out of a fairytale fact that has put the Belogradchick Rocks, as they are called, on the list of candidates to the New Wonders of the Nature World in 2009. They are awesome anthropomorphic monoliths that have inspired folk legends and plenty of local myths.
The fortress was established as a surveillance post when the region was controlled by the Roman Empire.
10. Koprivshtitsa
Emerging from the pine forests and valleys of the Sredna Gora Mountains, Koprivshtitsa is a protected national monument reflective of the achievements of the Bulgarian National Revival movement, represented on its colour-washed facades, stone sculptures and disguised homes.
When walking through the alleys, you feel transported to 1876, when brave Bulgarians fought persistent Ottomans.
11. Seven Lakes
Nestled in the Rila Mountains are these stunning glacial lakes, one of the most famous natural attractions of the country.
The gorgeous lakes are located one above the other in a mountain valley, interconnected by streams and waterfalls and the best time to visit the lakes is during Summer.
Being a country full of tells, legends say the lakes were formed by the tears of a female giant, crying for her beloved.
The access to the lakes is not easy though and requires a hard hike up the steep mountain.
12. Veliko Tarnovo
In the oldest city in Bulgaria, travelers experience a mixture of natural beauty, due to the aweing surrounding landscapes, and the turbulent culture and history, dribbling from the Tsarevets capitol and the glorious Byzantine churches.
Shaped around the Yantra River, the town is a postcard perfect landscape with terraces of terracotta-coloured roofs appearing over the waterways below.
13. Pirin National Park
As a great Balkan rising against the borders of Macedonia and Greece, this Unesco protected landscape is unique in Europe.
This paradise perfect for hiking and outdoors venturers, is a perfect ecosystem for deers and bears which take advantage of the woodlands and wild goats climb fearlessly the craggy precipices to find shelter in the rocky caves.
It is thought that the park combines around 186 lakes.
14. Kamchia Biosphere Reserve
This natural Reserve stands out of the many beautiful parks to visit in Bulgaria, due to its 1200 hectares of protected UNESCO-listed biosphere, located on the northern coastline of Bulgaria.
Its landscape varies between floodplains near the Kamchia river to the long beaches of the Black Sea coast.
15. Sofia
The capital of Bulgaria is a portrait of its past.
Together with ancient remains of the Serdica Fort and the Roman-Byzantine Church of St George, that sit in the shadow of Stalinist municipal buildings and the iconic Orthodox domes and gilded edifices of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia rarely fails to impress travelers.
I hope this article has been helpful to inspire your next holiday to Bulgaria.
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Lots of love
Lina
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