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Places to See

Top 10 Cities

Sofia
This is the biggest city of Bulgaria and is also the capital city. This is home to over 250 remarkable landmarks and monuments like the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which is made more famous by the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, and the St. Sofia Church. This is also home to museums featuring artifacts from the Bronze and Stone era.

Plovdiv
This is Bulgaria’s second largest city and is considered as one of Europe’s oldest cities. Here, you can see the Roman Amphitheater as well as the St. Marina Church. It also contains a lot of parks that any visitor can enjoy.

Varna
Recognized as Bulgaria’s thrid largest city, Varna is known for its pristine beaches. It is also very modern as the city has bars and has an active nightlife that makes it one of the favorite spots in Bulgaria. If you want something mellow, there is always the Varna Archeological Museum as well as the Sea Garden and Varna Aquarium and Dolphinarium.

Burgas
Burgas is Bulgaria’s commercial port and the center for oil refinery. This is also known for its Sea Garden Park or Morska Gradina where you can find a variety of plants and flowers. Burgas Bay is also a favorite spot for surfing and flying kites.

Rousse
This city is affectionately called Small Vienna. Anybody who visits here is given a cultural high as he visits a lot of wonderful places like the National Transport Museum as well as the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes. You can also visit the House of Caliopa as well as the Sexiginta Prista Roman Castle.

Vratsa
This sixth largest city offers visitor a magical sight to behold. There is the historical museum that you can visit as well as Sumi, the trade center. As for picturesque places to go to, you have the Vratsata (Mountain Passage) and the Ledenika Cave.

Shumen
Shumen is the seventh city and is a bit modern unlike the first six. It has modern buildings but still retains a small part of the city that houses its older buildings. Here, you can visit the Madara Horseman that was carved along a cliff wall as well as Thracian tombs and Pliska and Preslav (Ancient Bulgarian Kingdom’s capitals).

Veliko Tarnovo
This used to be Bulgaria’s capital during the Middle Ages. This city is rich in historical sites as well as museums. You can also find the ancient castle of Tzarevetz here as well as houses highly influenced by the Renaissance Period.

Sliven
Sliven offers majestic views of its blue rocks. What makes Sliven a favorite tourist destination is that it is a good place to play golf at a very affordable price. So, it is no wonder than avid golfers from all over Europe visit Sliven.

Smolyan
You are going to see a lot of wonderful places in this city as it is one of the favorite cities of many vacationers and those who are simply wanting to relax amidst nature. Here, you can see houses and churches that were built during the 17th to the 19th centuries, among them are the famous Pangalov’s House as well as the Sgurov’s House. You can also find Pamporovo, a ski resort, in this city as well as the planetarium center and a museum.

Top 5 Sites to See

Madara National Historical & Archaeological Reserve
Know that cute horseman on the stotinki coins? The original bas-relief, carved in a viva-Bulgaria fever onto a 100m (328ft) cliff in the 8th century, is at the superb Madara archaeological reserve. There is also an intriguing rock chapel, an open-air cave wall, and a mountain-top fort with views of Shumen.

Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's most famous monastery is set in a towering forested valley. The 300 monk cells span four levels of colourful balconies, overlooking a large misshapen courtyard, while the Nativity Church, built in the 1830s, contains 1200 magnificent murals.

Rozhen Monastery
This hilltop monastery was originally built in 1217, but most of what remains was redone in the mid-18th century. It's an atmospheric place, with woodcarvings and a mural-filled church. It's an inspiring reward if you've hit the hiking trail that leads for several kilometres between Melnik and this site.

Shipka Pass
The scene of an important Russian-Turkish battle in 1877, Shipka Pass is accented by the bare-top 1326m (4350ft) Mt Stoletov and the six-storey Freedom Monument. There are displays on the battles inside, and up top, 360-degree views of the Stara Planina and Valley of the Roses below. It's a Shipka tradition to finish off with buffalo yoghurt at the stands below.

Tsarevets Fortress
Home to Bulgarian tsars during Veliko Târnovo's reign as the nation's capital (1185-1393), this hilltop citadel looms over the medieval town. Inside the triangular walls are the remains of over 400 houses and 18 churches, built between the 5th and 12th centuries.
Following the left wall from the main gate, you go past a watch tower then to execution rock where the convicted saw their last moments in the living Bulgarian world.
At night, when tour groups shell out the bucks, an extravagant 'sound and light show' illuminates the citadel (and town). Locals love it, and watch from all over town for free.