The 10 Most Fascinating Experiences in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has to offer a little bit of everything! You can get a bronze tan sunbathing on our beautiful beaches. The mountains attract the passionate skiers, while our resorts offer the best conditions for a snowy holiday. Book a hotel near hot mineral springs and feel the healing power of the water while relaxing! For you wine-lovers – Bulgaria has special sorts of wine! Furthermore, you can go on wine-tasting trips! Don’t forget about the historical sights. You can combine your interests and make your stay unforgettable! This diversity will make you return again and again to see more.

We made a summary of the top places to visit – the most popular and interesting sights and activities. Feel free to browse through and discover things you didn’t know about Bulgaria.

1. Visit one of the most significant Bulgarian cultural monuments – Rila monastery

The Rila Monastery is the largest monastery in Bulgaria and one of the most revered in the whole Orthodox world.

The history of the monastery is related to St. Ivan Rilski, who settled in the area and devoted himself to fasting and prayer. The Rila Monastery carries a magical energy and is a strong energy point of Bulgaria. The monastery is a large religious center. The monastery’s library holds 16,000 volumes, among which there are especially valuable copies from the 15th to the 19th century.

Tours which include Rila monastery

2. Enjoy the magic of Seven Rila lakes

The Seven Rila Lakes are without a doubt one of the most notable natural attractions on the Balkan Peninsula, a dream destination not to be missed. Their beauty touches the thousands of Bulgarian and international visitors who visit them.

Rila Mountains with their highest peak Musala (2925 m. a. s. l.) are the highest in Bulgaria and on whole Balkan Peninsula. They represent the sixth highest mountain range in Europe as well. The name of the mountains has a Thracian origin and means “plenty of water”. The fact that Rila had twice been frozen has most influenced its landscape formation. The numerous cirques, well – formed glacial valleys, alpine mounts and more than 180 glacial lakes are certain proof of that.

The Seven Rila Lakes is the most popular trekking destination in Rila Mountains because of the outstanding beauty of the glacial lakes and the whole cirque. The lakes are one of the 100 national tourist sites in Bulgaria as well. These mountain pearls are amphitheatrically situated one above the other as follows: The Tear (the highest one at 2535 m. a. s. l.), The Eye, The Kidney, The Twins (the largest), The Trefoil, The Fish Lake and The Lower Lake (the lowest one at 2095 m. a. s. l.).

3. Perperikon – the mysterious holy city

Perperikon is located in the East Rhodope Mountain, 20 km northeast from the town of Kardzhali. The rock city stands on a clifftop at a height of 470 meters. The village of Gorna krepost lies at its foot, and the river Perpereshka flows beside it. The comfortable river valley has created conditions of life since ancient times. Therefore the valley is strewn with dozens of archaeological sites from various ages, the center of which is Perperikon.

The medieval archaeological complex Perperikon is one of the most ancient monumental megalithic structures, entirely carved into the rocks. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bulgaria.

4. Admire Tsarevets – the primary fortress of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom

The name comes from the legends told during the Bulgarian Revival period – the king’s residence is called Tsarevets. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the town was called Tsarevgrad Tarnov or the town of Tarnov, unlike the town of Trapezitsa, Devin town, Nov grad, which were also part of the capital, but separately fortified.

Tsarevets is located on an extremely picturesque rocky hill, surrounded by the winding river Yantra at its foot. The high rock crown is fortified with towers and fortress walls with a thickness of 2.5 – 3.5 m.

The fortress is entered through three entrances. The fortress walls surround an area of ​​120 decares, where today the remains of the densely built medieval city are completely excavated. There are separate neighborhoods with their churches, large and probably rich at the time homes, between which meander narrow streets. Shops and workshops have been studied on the ground floors of some houses.

5. The Old Town of Plovdiv will definitely enchant you!

The old town in Plovdiv is an architectural and historical reserve located on three of Plovdiv’s hills: Nebet Tepe, Dzhambaz Tepe and Taksim Tepe.

The complex has been formed as a result of the long sequence of habitation from prehistoric times to present day and combines the culture and architecture from Antiquity, Middle Ages and Bulgarian revival. The old town in Plovdiv is included in UNESCO World Heritage tentative list since 2004.

6. Belogradchik Rocks – The incredible rock formation!

Undoubtedly, the Belogradchik rocks are one of the unique natural phenomena not only in Bulgaria and Europe, but also worldwide. In 2009, in a competition aimed at choosing the new 7 natural wonders of the world, they were among the 77 finalists from the 260 natural sites participating. Legends tell of the bizarre rock formations and the fortress “Kaleto”, preserving the memory of its past inhabitants. Learn more or rediscover with us, this small part of the exceptional natural and cultural heritage of Bulgaria.

The Belogradchik Cliffs were sculpted by natural forces over a period of more than 200 million years. Their iron ore content gives them their reddish coloration. They vary in form, and are more than 100 meters high.

The first group of cliffs are situated near the city of Belogradchik. The most famous of these are called The Rider, Madonna, The Dervish, Adam and Eve, The Mushrooms, The Lion, The Monks, The Bear, The Castle, and The Shepherd Boy.

7. Feel the mystical atmosphere of Rupite – the home of Baba Vanga

Rupite is a picturesque area, considered as a holy place, surrounded by a mystical atmosphere. It is related to Prophet Baba Vanga- called the Bulgarian Nostradamus and brings to every visitor a rich energy charge. It is situated on the banks of the Struma River, at the eastern foot of the Kojuh Volcanic Hill, just 10 km from Petrich. In Rupite is located the temple built by Vanga “St. Petka Bulgarska”, which is a place for worship of thousands of believers. The ruins of one of the largest ancient cities of Herakleia Sintikas, which existed since 4th century BC, are also very close. Thousands of people come every year to this magical place to worship in the temple “St. Petka Bulgarska”. It is built as a gallery and you can see the non-standard icons, painted by the famous artist Prof. Svetlin Rusev.

In the courtyard of the temple is the grave of Baba Vanga, where believers pray for salvation. Not far from here is the modest house of the prophetess, in which she spends the last years of her life. Everyone who has ever visited this place defines it as a little corner of paradise. It fills you with a sense of greatness and peace of mind. It is not by chance that Baba Vanga says: “This place is very special here, it serves as a battery, and I draw energy and strength from it, and there has once been a terrible fire, and this ridge hides a great secret over us. According to the prophetess, it is precisely in the volcanic heights that Kojuh conceals the key to unraveling our ancient past.

Tours which include Rupite

8. Alexander Nevski –  the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria

The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is believed to be one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world. It is one of Sofia’s symbols and primary tourist attractions. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 5,000 people inside.

It is believed to be among the 10 largest Eastern Orthodox church buildings. It is the third largest Orthodox Cathedral located in Southeast Europe, being surpassed only by two new and not yet fully completed Cathedrals – the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, and the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade. It is believed that until year 2000 it was the largest finished Orthodox Cathedral.

Tours which include Alexander Nevski

9. Nessebar

The holiday-makers love Nessebar because of the ambivalence it shows. The old and the new town offer different but always interesting and unforgettable experiences. The old town is situated on a small island connected to the new part with a natural narrow neck of land. A very beautiful and romantic sight while passing through the neck can be observed – an old wind-mill which catches the eye of the tourist and has become a favorite place for taking pictures.

A night view over the luminous mill often is an illustration on postcards and advertising catalogues of Nessebar. It is no wonder that the small stone squares at the center of the Old Town are always full of painting artists. They can be observed on the coastal rocks and around the picturesque houses. The old Nessebar houses which have kept their typical architecture during the centuries are usually with a stone basis with wooden body. Revival houses with stone foundations and broad wooden eaves, overhanging narrow cobbled lanes leading right into the sea, are also remarkably beautiful. Some of the seaside local dwellings are painted in the usual colour for sea ports which is white. The houses are scattered around the coast line and are looking forward to their guests at Nessebar.

Tours which include Nessebar

10. Historic park Pliska

Roughly 29 km from Shumen and just 2 km from present-day Pliska are the remains of Bulgaria’s first capital. Pliska was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire, from 681-893. The Pliska National Historical and Architectural Reserve was declared an important national cultural and historical landmark in Issue № 46 of the State Decrees for 1970.

The location of the capital was not chosen at random – the valley surrounded by the hillsides of neighboring plateaus appealed to the proto-Bulgarians as a favorable place to pasture their herds. The location was also at an intersection of major thoroughfares.

The first structures at Pliska date from the end of the 7th century. They were made of wood and either circular or rectangular. Some were living quarters, while others served different purposes. The first palaces were surrounded by fortified walls and in the surrounding fields, villages were built to house workers. At the end of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century, buildings made of stone replaced those made of wood. It is thought that the first stone structure was the palace of Han Krum. In 811, the capital was razed by the Byzantine Emperor Nikifor.

The imperial compound at Pliska was rebuilt during the reign of Omurtag (814-831). A new throne room was built where the throne room of Krum had been before it was burned down, and a high brick wall was erected around the palace and the adjoining living quarters and fields. When Bulgaria accepted Christianity in 864 under King Boris I (reign 852-889), Pliska also underwent changes – the pagan temples were rebuilt as Christian churches and new churches were built. The most impressive of those was The Great Basilica, remains of which can still be seen today. In 889, King Boris established a monastery, and its first prelate was the king’s oldest son Vladimir (Rasate). However, when Vladimir attempted to re-introduce paganism he was blinded and imprisoned in a dungeon. In 893, Simeon I (reign 893-927) assumed the throne, and the capital was moved from Pliska to Preslav.

After that, Pliska lost its administrative and political importance and returned to its former status as an agricultural center. The city was particularly devastated by a massive invasion in 1048-1049.

Today visitors can still visit the Eastern Gate, once the main entrance to the castle. The gate is now a protected site.
About 1.5 km from the Gate is the Great Basilica. Tourists can also walk through the Imperial Palace, as the Omurtag Palace is called since that was its function when Bulgarian rulers occupied it during the first half of the 9th century. Also in the vicinity is the so-called “Small Palace.” Everywhere there are fragments of ornamental building blocks topped with cornices, along with baths aqueducts, and cisterns.

There is a museum located at the northeastern corner of the palace that displays artifacts discovered in the region, and in front of the museum, there is a rest area that offers coffee, nonalcoholic drinks, and packaged snacks.

The Pliska Reserve is maintained by the Shumen Regional Museum of History and is one of the country’s 100 most important tourist destinations.

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