On your first trip to Bulgaria, explore Sofia's Byzantine churches and
fashionable boutiques and Plovdiv's picturesque old quarter. Then head
to Bulgaria's hills for hidden away monasteries and heritage-filled villages.
Experience Bulgaria's extremes, from Black Sea beaches in Varna
and Bourgas to fast-developing ski resorts like Bansko and
Pamporovo. Get to grips with Balkan history, or just kick back and immerse
yourself in traditional Bulgarian music.
Background
Explore fully the patchwork of fascinating history of Bulgaria, one of the newest
members of the European Union. In the west, capital Sofia bears the
marks of its 3000-year history, from Roman remains and Byzantine churches to
Stalinist monuments. The mountainous Balkan Range stretches from west to
east, almost reaching the Black Sea coast on the east. You'll
find major port cities Varna and Bourgas and popular beach resorts nearby. Along the
northern border with Romania, visit the Danubian Plain, which boasts the
noble city of Ruse with its Central European elegance.
Urban
Delve into centuries of history in Sofia's cobbled boulevards and at
the fourth-century Rotunda of St George church, but don't miss its
swanky new shopping centres. In the ancient capital, Veliko Turnovo,
you'll find a living museum in its streets, churches and fortress. Scramble
about the Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv's well-preserved old
city with National Revival-style houses. Enjoy the lively port city of Varna,
including its buzzing shopping streets and impressive Archaeological Museum
with its ancient necropolis. In Ruse, admire the Neoclassical
façades around Ploshtad Svoboda, or liberty square, from an open-air
cafe.
Rural
Sample the local tipple in the wine-growing village of Melnik while gazing at
the surrounding sandy rocks. Near Sofia, join locals to ski on Mount
Vitosha, or further afield in the Pirin Mountains at the quaint
village of Bansko. Escape to hidden monasteries, like UNESCO-protected
Rila with its extravagant frescoes and dramatic location in the Rila
Mountains. Beach-hop along the Black Sea Coast stopping at pumping
resorts, or take a more peaceful dip at hot mineral baths in Velingrad.
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