Highlights
Sofia
The capital lies beneath Vitosha mountain. See the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Roman remains of Serdika in the city centre, and the medieval frescoes of Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the city's edge.
Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's most famous monastery, set in a forested valley in the Rila Mountains, with a striped arcaded courtyard and a church covered in colourful frescoes.
Plovdiv
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, with a Roman theatre still used for performances, a revival-era old town of painted houses, and the creative Kapana district.
Veliko Tarnovo
The medieval capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, built on hills above the Yantra river, with the Tsarevets fortress and old craftsmen's streets.
Nesebar and Sozopol
Two old towns on the Black Sea. Nesebar, on a rocky peninsula, has dozens of medieval churches and is a UNESCO site, while Sozopol has wooden houses and beaches.
The Seven Rila Lakes
A chain of glacial lakes high in the Rila Mountains, reached by chairlift and hiking trail, with views across all seven from the ridge above.
Bansko and the Pirin Mountains
Bansko is a ski resort in winter and a base for hiking in Pirin National Park, a UNESCO-listed range of granite peaks and lakes, in summer.
Kazanlak and the Valley of the Roses
The valley is known for roses grown for rose oil, harvested in late spring. Nearby is the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, with fourth-century BC wall paintings.
Interesting facts about Bulgaria
- The Cyrillic alphabet was developed in the First Bulgarian Empire in the ninth and tenth centuries.
- In Bulgaria, a nod of the head can mean no and a shake can mean yes, so check with words.
- Gold objects found in the Varna Necropolis, more than 6,000 years old, are among the oldest worked gold in the world.
- Bulgaria is one of the world's leading producers of rose oil, used in perfumes.
- The bacterium used in yoghurt, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, is named after Bulgaria.
Best time to visit
Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September) are ideal for cities and hiking, with the rose harvest in late May and early June. July and August are the peak beach season on the Black Sea, and the best time to hike the high mountains. The ski season runs from about December to March in Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo.
Practical information
| Capital | Sofia |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Bulgarian |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 for police, ambulance and fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Around 10 per cent in restaurants is customary. Rounding up taxi fares is common. |
Getting around
Buses are generally the fastest and most frequent way to travel between cities. Trains are slower but scenic, especially through the mountains. Sofia has a good metro, trams and buses. Hiring a car makes it easier to reach monasteries, villages and mountain areas, and roads have improved, but some rural roads are in poor condition. Motorways and main roads require an electronic vignette.
Staying connected in Bulgaria
Mobile coverage is good across Bulgaria, with 4G and 5G in cities and along main roads and the coast. It becomes patchy in remote mountain areas, such as high trails in the Rila and Pirin ranges. Wi-Fi is widely available in cafés, restaurants and accommodation. Bulgaria is in the EU, so EU roaming rules apply for EU plans. Other travellers can install an eSIM before they fly and switch it on when they land.
See Bulgaria eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Bulgaria
- Google Maps: Directions and offline maps for mountain areas.
- Moovit: Real-time public transport routes in Sofia and other cities.
- Google Translate: Bulgarian translation, with camera mode for Cyrillic signs and menus.