Bulgaria is a surprisingly diverse country in the Balkans region of Southeast Europe, offering both sunny beaches with popular nightlife, thermal spas, lively cities and charming rural villages, historical monasteries and fascinating mountains with opportunities for trekking and skiing. What is even better, you can enjoy the many treasures of beautiful Bulgaria with very little money.
A rising destination once known as a well-kept secret of East Europe, Bulgaria has become a popular destination for the budget-minded holidaymakers. Due to Bulgaria’s friendly climate and coastal location by the Black Sea, this former communist country and present-day member of EU is best known as a summer holiday destination. During the Bulgarian summer, which lasts from May to September, temperatures can rise up to 25-30 degrees Celcius. At this time, especially in July and August, the popular Bulgarian beach resorts of the Black Sea are usually filled with people who enjoy the warm sun and sand. The ski season in Bulgarian mountains starts in December and ends in early April.
Attractions of Bulgaria from Black Sea beaches to historical cities
Bulgaria has a lot to offer for international visitors. Would you like to experience the wide beaches and warm waves of the Black Sea in coastal cities of Varna or Burgas and the nearby beach resorts of Nesebar, Sozopol or Sunny Beach, or try the inviting ski slopes of the snow-capped Vitosha mountain or the ski resorts of Bansko, Samokov or Pamporovo? How about exploring the rich Slavonic traditions of Sofia, visiting historical cities like Plovdiv, or visiting the lovely Bulgarian countryside where you can sense the presence of what you always thought does not exist anymore. Bulgaria may be cheap, but it sure is worth every cent!A rising destination once known as a well-kept secret of East Europe, Bulgaria has become a popular destination for the budget-minded holidaymakers. Due to Bulgaria’s friendly climate and coastal location by the Black Sea, this former communist country and present-day member of EU is best known as a summer holiday destination. During the Bulgarian summer, which lasts from May to September, temperatures can rise up to 25-30 degrees Celcius. At this time, especially in July and August, the popular Bulgarian beach resorts of the Black Sea are usually filled with people who enjoy the warm sun and sand. The ski season in Bulgarian mountains starts in December and ends in early April.
Practical information for your trip to Bulgaria
Flights to Bulgaria are available from many European cities. Bulgaria has four international airports, which are located in Sofia, Varna, Burgas and Plovdiv. There are frequent charter flights to Varna and Burgas available from many Western and Northern European cities, especially from Germany and Britain. There are also international train connections to Bulgaria available from for example Vienna, Kiev and Istanbul. The cheapest and also the fastest way to travel inside Bulgaria is by bus.
Photo: LEE's Image, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There are frequent bus connections available between all major cities of Bulgaria. Also railroad network in Bulgaria is good. Car rental is also possible. Traffic in Bulgaria is right-handed.
Affordable prices. Although the local standard of living is rising fast, price level in Bulgaria is still much lower than in Western Europe. The most popular shopping items in Bulgaria are shoes, leather goods and clothing. Also Bulgarian folklore products are popular among tourists. Bulgarian language uses Cyrillic alphabet, which is why reading signs in Bulgaria might cause problems to a western visitors. English is commonly understood in the main tourism destinations and holiday resorts of Bulgaria.
History. Inhabited by Thracians, Slavic people and Central Asian Turkic tribes for millenia, Bulgaria was an independent state and part of the Byzantine Empire, until it fell under the Ottoman rule in the 14th century. This period lasted for 500 years, ending in 1908, when the final part of Bulgaria gained its independence. After losses in two World Wars, Bulgaria witnessed a strong influence from the Soviet Union, transforming the country into a People's Republic. After the collapse of Soviet Union, Bulgaria has made a turn into democracy, and joined European Union in 2007.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Sofia
