If you're looking for the best places to visit in Bulgaria, or a reason for visiting this off-the-beaten-path gem, then you've come to the right place!
Last summer (July 2022) we had the pleasure of road tripping all of the Balkans, spending a full week in Bulgaria. From the delicious food to friendly people, and the fun beach bars to vibrant nightlife, we fell in love with this underrated country, and we're sure you will too!
In this travel guide we're going to share everything you need to know for visiting this stunning country, from how to get there and get around, to the tastiest dishes, and the best places to visit in Bulgaria. Let's jump right in!
*Please note that this blog post may contain some affiliate links, which we make a small profit on, at zero cost to you. Links are only used on products & services that we've used and believe in, to give you the best buying experience. Purchasing from these links helps us to continue providing free travel guides for you- so thank you for your support!
Where is Bulgaria Located?
Bulgaria is a country located in south east Europe. It borders Macedonia to its South East, Serbia to its North East, and Romania to its North. Bulgaria also shares borders with Greece to its South, as well as Turkey to its South East.
Bulgaria is located in south east Europe.
How to Get to Bulgaria
Now that you know where Bulgaria is located, how do you get there? Here's how!
Where Do You Fly Into For Bulgaria?
One of the easiest ways to explore the best places to visit in Bulgaria is by flying there. The country has 4 different airports that you can fly into internationally, which are also home to some of the best places to visit in Bulgaria!
Sofia is the capital, and has the biggest airport serving Bulgaria. Other cities that have airports include Varna or Burgas, located along the coast of the country, and Plovdiv, which is one of our favorite places to visit in Bulgaria.
Flying to Plovdiv
Cities that fly direct to Plovdiv include Budapest, Istanbul, London, Memminghen, and Tel Aviv.
Flying to Burgas
The cities that fly to Burgas include Bratislava, Kaunas, Krakow, London, Poznan, Vienna, and Warsaw.
Flying to Varna
International cities that fly directly into Varna include Berlin, Brno, Brussels, Cologne, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Istanbul, Karlsruhe, Larnaca, Liverpool, London, Memminghen, Nuremberg, Prague, Tel Aviv, and Vienna.
Flying to Sofia
Sofia is the only city in Bulgaria that receives several direct flights from cities outside of Europe. These include Aqaba, Djibouti, Doha, Dubai, Fes, Hanoi, Hurghada, Phuket, Sharjha, and Tel Aviv.
The European cities that which fly direct to Sofia include Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Baku, Barcelona, Basel, Belgrade, Berlin, Birmingham, Bologna, Bournemouth, Bratisalva, Bristol, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Catania, Chambery, Cluj Napoca, Cologne, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Dublin, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Geneva, Gran Canaria, Hamburg, Istanbul, Karlsruhe, Larnaca, Leipzig, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Madrid, Malaga, Malta, Manchester, Memmingen, Milan, Munich, Naples, Newcastle, Nice, Nottingham, Nuremberg, Paphos, Paris, Pisa, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Valencia, Vienna, Warsaw, Zagreb, and Zurich.
If you'd like to look for flights to Bulgaria, simply put "from your city", and "to Bulgaria", to find the cheapest city to fly to!
Other Ways to Get to the Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria
If you're coming from a nearby country, or flying isn't your thing, there are also a few other options for getting to the best places to visit in Bulgaria.
Can I Go to Bulgaria by Train?
If you want to get to Bulgaria by train, you can take the express train from Istanbul to Sofia.
Other Options for Getting to Bulgaria
Two other ways to get to the best places to visit in Bulgaria are to either take international buses, or to take Bla Bla Car, which is a carpooling app that is popular in Europe.
Here are a few of the most popular buses that you can book from International cities:
Buses to Sofia:
Buses to Other Top Places to Visit in Bulgaria:
Entry Requirements for Bulgaria
Now that you know how to get to Bulgaria, let's check out the requirements for entering the country.
Visa Entry Requirements for Bulgaria
Bulgaria allows foreigners to visit the country for a period of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Bulgaria is not part of the Schengen Zone yet, so you won't have to worry about expiring your time within Europe if you are visiting Bulgaria.
Covid Entry Requirements for Bulgaria
All requirements to enter Bulgaria when it comes to Covid-19 are no longer in effect. In Addition, masks are no longer required for entering any establishments or on public transportation.
All Your Travels
in One Book
Transform your travel memories into a unique book, with personalized pages, country by country.
Local Adjustments for Visiting Bulgaria
Whenever visiting a new destination there are certain things that you may need to adjust to, which could differ from your home country. Here are a few of the "local adjustments" to put into consideration while traveling to Varna, Bulgaria.
What Language is Mostly Spoken in Bulgaria
The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian, which is a Slavic language. The language of Bulgarian is written in Cyrillic, which is the same alphabet that is used by other nearby countries like Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Macedonia.
Local Currency in Bulgaria
The currency used in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev. Currently (April 2024) 1 USD or Euro is equal to 1.82 Bulgarian Lev, and 1 British Pound is equivalent to 2.21 Lev.
Can I Use Euros in Bulgaria?
While Bulgaria doesn't use the Euro, some of the best places to visit in Bulgaria (the ones with higher tourism at least) may accept Euros if it's the only thing that you have on you. We always suggest going to an ATM so that you can withdraw plenty of Bulgarian Lev to carry on you.
Many restaurants and hotels will accept credit cards, but there are some that will only accept cash. It is also great to have extra cash on you for street vendors, tipping, or other small expenses, especially in some of the lesser known places in Bulgaria.
Is Bulgaria Cheap for Tourists?
Bulgaria in general is a pretty cheap country to visit compared to other European countries. We found Bulgaria to be very affordable, even in the capital and beach locations in the country.
Plug Types Used in Bulgaria
Bulgaria uses the same outlets as the rest of Europe, which require plug types C & F. The standard voltage in Bulgaria is 230 V with a standard frequency of 50 Hz.
If you are coming from the Northor South America, you will need to get a travel converter (not just an adapter) so that your electronics won't blow out when you plug them in.
Is the Water in Bulgaria Drinkable?
The water is perfectly safe to drink throughout Bulgaria. We suggest bringing a reusable water bottle with you to fill up at fountains in the different cities. We use vacuum-sealed ones so that they can hold the temperature.
Is the Water in Bulgaria Drinkable?
The water is perfectly safe to drink throughout Bulgaria. We suggest bringing a reusable water bottle with you to fill up at fountains in the different cities. We use vacuum-sealed ones so that they can hold the temperature.
Tipping Culture in Bulgaria
The tipping culture in Bulgaria is similar to many other European countries. While tips are never required, it is standard to leave 10% of the bill as a tip in a restaurant, and to tip in cash (you cannot add tips onto your credit card). If you feel you've received excellent service, you could of course leave a bit extra.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria
Now that you know all the basics, it's time to share all of the best places to visit in Bulgaria!
Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #1: Sofia
No trip to a European country is complete without seeing the capital! Sofia is small, but it definitely had a few things to offer to keep you busy for a couple of days. The main highlight of the city is the breathtaking St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is the heart of the city.
Sofia is also known for fun nightlife, trendy rooftops, and the beautiful mountains surrounding it. Want to learn more? Take a look at our Sofia travel guide where we share everything you need to know for visiting!
Sofia is known for its iconic church in the middle of the city.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #2: Belogradchik
This is definitely one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria, and we regret not coming here so much! (We had a friend who visited right after we left and it looked incredible).
Tucked away in the north western corner of the country, this certainly isn't the most convenient place to visit, but certainly worth it, and it can be done on a day trip from Sofia. Belogradchik is a fortress that has been constructed in front of striking rock formations.
Not only is the place incredibly beautiful, but you can also do epic activities around it such as ATVing, bungee jumping, or ride in a hot air balloon!
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #3: Burgas
Now let's head to the east coast of the country! Burgas is a beach city located along the south west of the Black Sea. During the summer you can enjoy trendy bars along large stretches of golden sands, and even a giant sand castle competition.
In Burgas it's all about the good vibes. As soon as we arrived we had to work a ton, and got welcomed at one of the beach bars with a smiley bartender handing us free shots.
We loved all of the people there, the music, and the whole atmosphere of Burgas so much that we ended up spending the whole day eating and drinking on the beach, definitely making it one of our favorite places to visit in Bulgaria.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #4: Varna
Another one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria is definitely Varna. Also located along the coast, this beach city is one of the top coastal cities in the county.
We didn't have big plans for Varna, nor seemed impressed with what we read online. However, when we arrived we spent some time on the beach and then to explore the ruins.
As soon as we walked up to the ruins we saw people setting up tables, which ended up being for a wine festival! $5 and countless wine tastings later, we found ourselves making friends with tons of locals, and partying all night long in the ruins.
Varna is one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria.
The following day we took one of our new friends with us and explored a ton of great nearby attractions like a stone forest, sunflower fields, and cliffs.
We had a great weekend in Varna, and absolutely recommend visiting there in the summer. If you want to learn more, make sure to check out our full Varna Travel Guide that we've put together.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #5: Nessebar
Nessebar for us turned from a quick lunch stop to what we found to be one of the best places to visit in Bulgaria! This tiny coastal town is located along the coast between Varna and Burgas. While Varna and Burgas are more city-like, Nessebar is full of tiny alleyways with quaint buildings, ruins, and local vendors.
This town is amazing for roaming around aimlessly, shopping, and having a delicious seafood meal along the water. Also, in summer they are known for their foam parties! We ended up spending half a day here, but definitely recommend spending a night to enjoy the nightlife and the amazing evening atmosphere of Nessebar.
Nessebar îs one of our favorite places to visit in Bulgaria.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #6: Sozopol
This is another ancient seaside village that is a must-visit while in Bulgaria! Unfortunately we didn't hear about it until after we left the country, but will definitely be back to see it one day!
The historic village is situated along the coast of the Black Sea, all the way in the south Bulgaria. With beautiful beaches and traditional architecture, it's no wonder this has become a popular vacation destination for Bulgarians.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #7: Veliko Tarnovo
This city is located in the north central region of Bulgaria, and is known for its many orthodox temples, quaint alleyways, and beautiful fortress.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #8: Plovdiv
While Sofia is a must-visit city, we have to admit that our favorite city in Bulgaria was actually Plovdiv.
Located in the heart of the country, this city is the perfect blend of historic architecture and vibrant art. Check out the trendy cafes, watch the colorful fountain show, and stroll the picturesque alleyways of this hidden gem in Eastern Europe.
Want to learn more about Plovdiv? Stay tuned for our brand new Plovdiv travel guide coming up soon!
Plovdiv is a true hidden gem of Eastern Europe.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #9: Asenovgrad
Looking for a great day trip outside of Plovdiv? Located just a half hour south east of the city is Asenovgrad. This ancient fortress hosts ruins, an old church, and a beautiful terrace with panoramic views of the beautiful nature around it.
Here are a couple of tours that visit Asenovgrad:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #10: Bansko
This is definitely on the of the best places to visit in Bulgaria for the skiers out there. Bansko is located in the south west of Bulgaria, along the foot of the Pirin mountains, and is one of the best (and most affordable) places to ski in Europe.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #11: Balchik
Located just a half hour north of Varna is another one of the top places to visit in Bulgaria. Balchik is a small town which has a palace, as well as botanical gardens that you could easily spend a couple of hours exploring.
Another thing we loved about Balchik is an amazing restaurant we had lunch at called Bistro Kestena. Everything from the food to the service there was simply incredible. We had the opportunity to try a ton of local dishes, (one of our favorites being the caviar dip).
Another thing that we loved about Bistro Kestena is that after a devastating fire destroying the restaurant, the entire town of Balchik came together to rebuild it better than before.
One of our favorite restaurants in Bulgaria was in Balchik.
Take a day trip to Balchik:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #12: Rila Monastery
Located in the same area as Seven Rila Lakes is one of the most stunning monasteries in Bulgaria. Rila Monastery is located 117 km south of Sofia, and is another great day trip from the capital.
Take a day trip to Rila Monastery:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #13: Seven Rila Lakes
This is our favorite hike in Bulgaria, and can also be done as an epic day trip from Sofia. Seven Rila Lakes are a group of 7 different lakes tucked away in the mountains. The hike allows you to see every one of them, and even has a viewpoint where you can appreciate seeing 6 of them at once!
There's a lot to know for visiting, so make sure to read our Seven Rila Lakes Tavel guide for everything you need to know!
Seven Rila Lakes is one of the best hikes in Bulgaria.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #14: Tryavna
Looking for one of the cutest villages in Bulgaria? Well, Tryavna is located right in the center of the country, and is known for its beautiful traditional architecture, as well as its textile industry.
Here are a couple of tours that include a stop in Tryavna, Bulgaria:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #15: Ethno Village Etar
If you're looking to learn about the culture and customs of Bulgaria, then this open-air museum is perfect to add to your list or the best places to visit in Bulgaria.
Ethno Village Etar is located in northern Bulgaria, between the city of Gabrovo and the Bulgarka National Park. Here you'll be able to see local crafts, traditional architecture, and experience an authentic slice of Bulgarian culture.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #16: Shipka
Located in Central Bulgaria, this town is home to a beautiful cathedral, as well as an iconic monument for the country. The monument is a symbol of Bulgarian liberation, and resembles a Bulgarian fortress which can be seen from miles away.
Here are a few organized tours that go to Shipka:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #17: Koprivshtitsa
Looking for another one of the most picturesque places to visit in Bulgaria? Well, look no further than Koprivshtitsa, a traditional town located in the heart of the country.
You can easily reach here on either a day trip from Sofia or Plovdiv, or stop here while on a road trip from Sofia to the western end of Bulgaria.
here are a few tours that you can take to visit Koprivshtitsa:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #18: Kovachevitsa
This charming village will take you back in time with its cobblestone streets and traditional architecture. The white washed buildings with cobblestone accents make this small town so dreamy, and definitely worth a stop while traveling through Bulgaria. It is located in the south west corner of the country, just an hour from the city of Bansko.
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #19: Shiroka Laka
Very similar to Kovachevitsa, Shiroka Lake is another stunning village to check out. With stone bridges and quaint alleyways. you'll love roaming around this adorable place in the south of Bulgaria.
Here is a tour we found that visits Shiroka Laka:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #20: Cape Kaliakra
Located off the northern coast of Bulgaria lies a beautiful cape where you can enjoy a trail up to the cliffs overlooking the Black Sea. As a bonus you can also enjoy a meal in the restaurant right along the edge.
Cape Kaliakra is a beautiful cape in the north of the country
Here are a few tours that visit Cape Kaliakra:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #21: Ovech Fortress
Dating back to the 4rd century, this Byzantine Fortress is just 45 minutes outside the city of Varna. We definitely recommend coming here on a day trip, or stopping here on your way to the east coast while traveling through Bulgaria (or vice versa).
Here are a couple of tours that visit Ovech Fortress:
The Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria #22: Kamani Stone Forest
Pobiti Kamani Rock Formations are also known as the stone fortress, and are another attraction just outside of Varna. The different formations are so amazing to see, especially with the wild stories that are behind them (but we'll leave that for you to learn when you go).
The area is covered in column-like stone formations, and there are two different parts that you can get tickets to enter and look for the special rocks. Check out one of our favorites below!