Bulgaria, a country in the Balkan region, bordering Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, and Türkiye, is a diverse and beautiful country. Many people travel to Bulgaria to enjoy the Black Sea and relax at resorts which the country is famous for but there is so much more to explore in this stunning country. We spent two weeks traveling through the country with our motorhome, arriving from North Macedonia and we loved our time there so much. Let’s dive into the 7 places to visit in Bulgaria!
Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is a fascinating mix of different types of architecture and is rich in culture and history. The capital, located in the western part of the country, is the largest city in Bulgaria and the 13th largest city in the European Union and is a great cultural, commercial, transport, and manufacturing center. In Sofia there is so much to see, so much culture to experience, and admire how alive and dynamic life is there.
To get around the city you can take public transport which is so convenient to use. Read more about the system and prices here.
In Sofia you can explore so much so here are some places that are worth visiting – St. George Rotunda Church, Vitosha Boulevard – the main shopping street, Borisova Gradina Park, Ivan Vazov National Theater, St. Sofia Church and the gorgeous St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Devetashka Cave
Devetashka Cave, about a two-hour drive by car from Sofia, was our favorite spot in Bulgaria. The cave is located in a remote area by the river Osam and dates back to the Stone Age. Nowadays the cave is home to about 30,000 bats but before that historically the cave was inhabited also by humans at various times. While exploring the cave, you may come across different amazing rock and mineral formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, speleothems, and even rivulets and the famous “eyes” of the cave – holes in the ceiling of the cave that allow light from outside to shine through creating a magical look inside. The entrance is BGN 2 and only cash was accepted when we visited the place, as well as there is a parking lot nearby the entrance.
Interestingly, a movie scene was filmed in 2011 for the movie The Expendables 2 but unfortunately, later it was revealed that the filming process damaged some environmental regulations which as a result seriously affected the bat population, nevertheless by the end of 2012 most of the bats returned to the cave.
Buzludzha Monument
Buzludzha Monument, or the Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, is another unique spot in Bulgaria that is worth visiting. Located in central Bulgaria, on the Buzludzha Peak, it offers quite spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The monument was opened in 1981 and abandoned in 1989 when the communist regime came to an end. After that, the building was open to anyone interested to explore the abandoned monument which also meant that the property faced vandalism that resulted in major damages therefore these days the entrance is closed and the property is overlooked by guards.
At this moment there are plans for preservation to save the building, and the impressive mosaics inside the monument, and altogether make the place a great destination for locals and tourists to learn about that period, though no plans currently are made official.
Nessebar
Nessebar, a town on the Black Sea coast and in Burgas Province, is a perfect place to relax by the beach, enjoy time in the many resorts, have fun at an aquapark, or just walk around the old town that looks like it deserves a scene in a romantic movie. The town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983 since it has an important history and uniqueness to the place.
The city is in two parts that are connected by a narrow strip of land – the part that is on the promontory is the old part of the city. Nessebar was a major trading city that developed a trading and monetary system in the region and most importantly, Nessebar was one of the first places in the world that started creating coins as a payment method for trading goods. The city is truly a remarkable place to explore, learn about its history, and enjoy time at the beach.
Varna
Varna, being the third largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city on the Black Sea coast, is the perfect place for a fun weekend. Compared to Sofia, Varna is quite different in the atmosphere of the city by having a more laid-back attitude, an option to spend time by the sea, and a more active nightlife. We enjoyed our stay in Varna and would definitely go back there for a more thorough exploration.
Some of the most popular spots for visitors are the Archeological Museum, the Ancient Roman Thermae complex of baths that are the largest in Bulgaria as well as the fourth largest ones in Europe. My favorite spot in Varna was Primorski Park, a park that stretches about 8 km along the sea and is the perfect place for a calm walk or an active jog, a visit to the aquarium, and the zoo.
Basarbovo Monastery
Basarbovo Monastery is a unique Bulgarian Orthodox monastery built in the mountain caves, located in north-east Bulgaria. Currently, it is the only active cave monastery in Bulgaria and is certainly worth visiting. It’s free of cost to enter the monastery complex and explore the cave monastery and the charming yard with buildings built in the present day. The Basarbovo Monastery is truly a special kind that I have never seen before and I wholeheartedly recommend visiting it if you have a chance.
Ruse
Ruse, 15 minutes from Basarbovo Monastery and just by the Romanian border, earned the name “Little Vienna” in the 19th century by its architectural beauty and elegance. The city’s center is so stunning with Neo-Rococo and Neo-Baroque architecture and is a perfect place for a picturesque walk through the streets and resting at parks and other greenery. Some of the popular places to visit in Ruse are the Roman Fortress “Sexaginta Prista”, Pantheon of National Revival Heroes, Sveta Troitsa Church, and the Monument of Liberty.
The city is located on the right bank of the river Danube where on the opposite side is the Romanian city Giurgiu, making Ruse a perfect stop before traveling further to Romania.
When we were planning our trip to Bulgaria, we had so many more places that we wanted to visit but unfortunately, we had a very tight time before we needed to move on so here are some places that we didn’t manage but hopefully in the future will make our way to:
- Pobiti Kamani rock formations, a spectacular place near Varna;
- Krushuna Falls;
- Brugas seaside city;
- Koprivshtitsa town;
- Veliko Tarnovo city;
- Rila Monastery;
- Plovdiv city;
- Bansko town and ski resort;
- Melnik town.
As you can see, we have so much more to explore and I can’t wait when we will get a chance to go back to Bulgaria and see more of this charming country.
Check out my blog post about the 10 things to know before traveling to Bulgaria here!
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