What interesting things can you see in Bulgaria? Route through the main places and interesting sights. Churches, cathedrals, fortresses and parks. Let's walk through beach resorts and non-tourist destinations!
This country has long been popular with holidaymakers. Many remember how, as a child, they went to rest here with their parents. In sunny Bulgaria, tourists not only swim in the sea and bask on endless sandy beaches. Despite the popularity of lazy rest, the sights of Bulgaria are no less interesting side of it. Today we will tell you what to see in Bulgaria, and you choose.
Look for excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Sunny Beach
Sunny Beach is the largest resort in Bulgaria, its length is more than 7 km. Sunny Beach is located between Varna and Burgas, closer to the latter. The resort is part of the city Nessebar - a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bulgaria.
We recommend the Old Town as a must-see - this is an authentic, beautiful and interesting area. The atmosphere of a medieval European town reigns here: the streets are covered with paving stones, the two-storey houses have been preserved in their original form. Small shops and souvenir shops on the first floors, wooden walls, shutters on the windows, flowers on the second. Holidays in Sunny Beach >>
The ruins of fortresses have been preserved since the time of Byzantium. Among them and church of Hagia Sophia 5th century, the remains of its columns and arched windows, and St. Stephen's Church XI century with rich decoration and unique frescoes. You can see everything on your own or book a tour of the old town with a boat trip along the Black Sea!
You can get to Nessebar by city buses. For example, you can get from Burgas for 6 levs (about 3 euros). Buses run every 20-40 minutes depending on the season.
Sofia
The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, is located far from the beaches, to go to it from the coast for about 400 km from Burgas and 500 km from Varna, but tourists will also be interested here. Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the largest city in Bulgaria. Located near the Balkan Mountains, Sofia attracts ski tourists and is also famous for its sanatoriums and hospitals. What to see in Sofia itself?
The appearance of the city has been formed over many centuries, and this is precisely its beauty and uniqueness. Attractions are concentrated in the central area Sredets... Literally every street here attracts attention. From ancient monuments - Sredika fortress, a younger building - library named after Cyril and Methodius, and for lovers of Orthodox shrines, we recommend that you look into cathedral of holy week... The Hagia Sophia Cathedral is also located here. It was this temple that gave the name to the city. You can order an individual excursion back through the centuries in the historical center of Sofia.
Regular direct flights from Moscow fly to Sofia. The resort towns can be reached by train, bus or domestic flight.
Pomorie
Pomorie is a city in the Burgas region. This place is famous primarily for balneological therapy, mud clinics and sanatoriums.
Burgas itself, although a tourist, but, according to our impressions, is not such an interesting city (I speak as a person who began studying the country from it). But the suburbs of Bulgaria are another matter, they have something to see.
Pomorie sounds in ancient languages as "anhialo", which means "near salt", which means that the healing properties of this place have been known since ancient times. In Pomorie there is even Salt Museum - a landmark that deserves attention. The second business card of Pomorie is wine production. Those who wish can go on special wine excursions! The cost is approximately € 30 per adult. Fans of active sports - sailing, yachting and fishing - will also like it here.
Another interesting place - reserve "Old houses of Pomorie"... This is an old city quarter, where buildings of past centuries, tiled streets, and a real European flavor have been preserved. And right at the entrance to Pomorie you will see the main shrine of these places - monastery of St. George... It was built in the 7th century and is still in operation. Taking a bus to Pomorie from Burgas costs about 3.5-4 levs.
Golden Sands
One of the visiting cards of Bulgaria is Golden Sands. The resort is located near Varna. This place owes its name to a legend: they say that a treasure buried in these parts of gold turned into golden sand over time. The legend is beyond doubt: the sand on the coast is indeed golden in color.
A unique attraction in Golden Sands is the pools filled with mineral water. Many hotels provide such services, but the resort also has free outdoor pools located on the streets.
We also recommend to include in the list of attractions ethnographic complex "Chiflika" - an unusual open-air museum, where you can see household items of people who lived several centuries ago.
Varna
Varna is a large port city in Bulgaria. What is worth seeing here? There are large ships, shopping centers, and high-rise buildings. The main attraction of Varna is Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin... Orthodox Bulgaria is very rich in shrines!
From Varna we decided to go to the mountains, but on the way out of the city we accidentally turned the wrong way. As it turned out, not in vain! Suddenly we met an open-air museum "Stone Forest", or in Bulgarian "Beat Kamani". It is located about 20 km from Varna on the road to Sofia. For 3 levs per person, we got a little historical background and unlimited walking time. The landscape here is unique. On several hectares of sand, stone pillars of various shapes are located deeply embedded in the ground. Outwardly, the pillars are generally difficult to compare with something terrestrial - the feeling of alienation does not leave. As we understood, few know about this place, but it's a pity. We have not met a more unusual location in this country.
Kalofer
There is also a non-tourist Bulgaria: you can see endless fields, small cozy villages, look at the mountains and walk along them. In addition to the capital, there are many more interesting places in the central part of the country. I will only tell you about one small piece that really impressed me.
We rented a car in Varna with PRO RENT A CAR VARNA, it turned out very nicely at a price of 26 euros per day. Our Russian rights were enough. We drove far inland and stopped in the town of Kalofer. This is the birthplace of Hristo Botev, the poet of the revolution, whose poems are quoted throughout Bulgaria.
In Kalofer you can go to National balkan park: these are mountain trails, ecological routes, suspension bridges and very beautiful places. The entrance is free. The park is huge, you can get into it from different cities, we chose the closest path, because we wanted to return to the sea.
If you want to plan your own routes, then rent a car online in advance on the Myrentacar.com service.