10 Places You Must Visit in Bulgaria

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofial

It's quite amazing that Bulgaria is off the beaten track for Western tourists, as the country has a bit of everything, and all at affordable prices. A recent addition to the European Union, Bulgaria is trying hard to catch up with the modern world, yet authentic Eastern European traditions and cultures remain.

Mountain slopes in Bansko and Pomporovo attract skiers in the winters; the Black Sea beaches are full of beachgoers in the summer months. Sofia is not your most beautiful capital city, but once you get out into the countryside, you'll fall captive to Bulgaria's special charm.

Rila Monastery

Known as the Jerusalem of Bulgaria, this picturesque Eastern Orthodox monastery in the forested mountains less than two hours south of Sofia is definitely worth a pilgrimage visit. Named for St. Ivan of Rilski, a tenth century hermit who lived in a nearby cave, the monastery has been built, burnt, and rebuilt over the centuries, with the latest construction dating to the 1800s. Enter the courtyard and you will be stunned by the perfect harmony of the church, with its graceful arches in bold stripes of black and white set under a row of sculpted gargoyles, tiled roofs, and five domes reaching towards the sky. Step closer and you'll see colorful depictions of the Devil in the carefully restored frescoes on the outer walls. In the distance are the peaks of the Rila Mountains, complimenting an oasis of serenity perfect for religious hermits and modern visitors.

Rila Monastery

Koprivshtitsa

Walking the narrow alleyways of the village of Koprivshtitsa, some two hours east of Sofia, you'll feel that you're being transported back to the momentous months of 1876, when the Bulgarians valiantly fought against their oppressive Ottoman rulers. Inside the colorful houses, representatives of Bulgarian National Revival architecture of the 19th century, local patriots plotted their rebellion leading up to the first shot being fired in the ultimately unsuccessful April Uprising. The village is full of memorials and museum houses displaying ethnographical treasures, old weapons and farm implements, national costumes, artwork, and jewelry.

Koprivshtitsa

Plovdiv Old Town

Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, has something that Sofia does not - an Old Town on a hill. The city was founded some 6,000 years ago and developed on seven hills, but one of them was destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century. The Old Town towers over the city center with structures from different eras, including a remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheater. The Old Town is best known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style, with colorful houses displaying the National Revival's unique exterior characteristics on every corner. Walking up the hill is a delight, with the many galleries and house museums all worth a visit.

The Old Town of Plovdiv

Sozopol

One of the oldest towns on Bulgaria's Black Sea coastline, Sozopol is a popular fishermen's village and seaside resort. Located 35 kilometers south of Burgas, Sozopol was known in the 6th century BC as Apollonia, complete with a temple dedicated to Apollo. The town is small enough for a casual stroll. You can walk along the quays as the day's catch is unloaded or through the old town with its wooden houses calling out in desperation for repair. If you find the sea too deep or rough for swimming, you can always sunbathe on the rocks along the shore.

Sozopol on the Black Sea coast

Nessebar

Often referred to as the Pearl of the Black Sea, the historic town of Nessebar dates back to antiquity, when it was founded as a Thracian settlement known as Menebria. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, Crusaders, and Ottomans all took turns fortifying the ancient town, and the narrow peninsula on which it is located. Today a stroll on its cobblestone streets will bring you to remnants of some 40 brick churches, dating back as far as the 5th century. The town is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Nessebar

Veliko Tarnovo

The historic capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire between the 12th and 14th centuries, Veliko Tarnovo is located in central Bulgaria and is a popular tourist attraction. The reconstructed Tsarevets fortress bears no resemblance to the medieval palaces of the Bulgarian tsars who ruled from the hilltop until their defeat by the Ottomans in 1393. Still, one senses Bulgaria's former greatness when walking through the gates of this picturesque stronghold.

Veliko Tarnovo

Melnik

Melnik is known for two reasons. It is the smallest city in Bulgaria and it is home to some of the best wineries in the country. It will take you minutes to walk up the town's one main street, but you'll sit for hours at a local tavern, your head spinning under the intoxicating spell of the rich red wines. If you manage to get up from your seat, the nearby pyramidal Melnik Rocks and the Rozhen Monastery are worth a visit.

Melnik

Belogradchik

Belogradchik Fortress is a manmade construction set against a stunning outcrop of rocks. The combination is so unique and picturesque, that it seems to have been lifted straight out of a Disney fairytale. More unique than the fortress is the surrounding countryside. The Belogradchik Rocks, named in 2009 as Bulgaria's candidate to be selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, are a stunning arrangement of strange-shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations.

Belogradchik

Seven Lakes

One of Bulgaria's main tourist attractions is a group of glacial lakes located high in the Rila Mountains. The appropriate time to visit the lakes is in the summer months, as even in June the lakes can be frozen, with the terrain alternating between deep snow drifts and patches of brilliant wildflowers. The lakes are located one above the other in a mountain valley, interconnected by streams and waterfalls. Access to the lakes is not easy, although riding a ski lift shortens the distance up the steep mountainside. Legends say the lakes were formed by the tears of a female giant, crying for her beloved.

The Seven Lakes

Tryavna

Tryavna is a laid-back town in central Bulgaria that features typical National Revival architecture, museum houses, modern art studios, and galleries. The town's main square with its landmark clock tower dating back to 1815, is the starting point for explorations of the colorful streets. The Daskalov House, a museum of woodcarving and icon painting, is best known for its wooden sun ceilings. Another symbol of the town is the St. Archangel Mihael Church, with its wood-carved bishop's throne.

Tryavna

And one more = the Black Sea beaches

Bulgaria enjoys a long Black Sea coastline, marked with sandy beaches and hotels alongside quaint fishing villages and historical sites. Tourists flock to the fancy glitz of the Sunny Beach and Golden Sands resorts, but the city beaches in Varna and Burgas are just as nice. Vendors offer corn on the cob, topless bathing is quite common, and everyone has a good time.

Black Sea beaches

Originally published on Global Grasshopper.


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