Where to go in Bulgaria for Holiday

Bulgaria is an appealing country for history enthusiasts, beach sun lovers, festival fans, and culture vultures. It has a long, enthralling history, oodles of crumbling Roman bathhouses and elaborate Orthodox architecture, amazing and original little villages, and a diverse natural environment. A daily Sofia tour might cause you to think that the city stopped a century ago however it is not. It is simply preserving its historical and cultural legacy. As the city has various historical sights, original textured villages, and natural sites the Bulgaria tours from Sofia are highly preferred among travelers. While the capital Sofia, the Rila Monastery, Boyana Church, and the museums are quite dizzying, Plovdiv tours are highly preferred ones. Plus it is easy to reach the cities of Varna, Burgas, and Zheravna by day trips from Sofia. 

Let’s look at the tourist attractions and the most recent and comprehensive Bulgaria tour packages to get ideas for where to go this summer.

Sofia: Sofia is the largest city in the country and the capital, which dates back to 7000 years. It is one of the most visited cities, with so many historical destinations.

a. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

is the symbol and one of the most visited sites in the city. It is a Neo-Byzantine-style cathedral. It is believed to be one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world and was once the largest cathedral in the Balkans. The Cathedral is a sample of cross-domed basilica style with the Lord’s Prayer inscribed in thin gold letters around it in the central dome.

b. The Saint Sofia Church

is the oldest in Sofia, previously known as Serdika. As it was harmed through the invasion of the Goths and the Huns, it was rebuilt most probably five times. It has been built upon a Roman theatre that dates back to the 2nd century. As the 5th version of the church was built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it is the contemporary but modest friend of the Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul. 

c. The Church of St. George

is a rotunda-formed church that was built with red bricks on the ruins of Roman baths. It takes place on the walls of the capital of ancient Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica, during the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire.

d. Boyana Church

It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. It was built in three stages: the 11th, 13th, and 19th centuries. Since 2008, the visits to the Boyana church have been held, and 89 scenes with 240 human images can be seen on the walls.

e. Banya Bashi Mosque

located in the city hearth, was built in the Ottoman period and designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. The outstanding feature is that it has been built over natural thermal spas; even today, the rising steam can be seen on the ground near the mosque walls.

f. The Russian Church

is located in central Sofia, built on the site of the Saray Mosque, the domes are coated with gold, and Emperor Nicholas II donated the bells.

g. The museums in Sofia

on the other hand, have rich collections at the same time and they are all located close to each other.

 I. National History Museum

II. the National Archeology Museum,

III. the National Art Gallery

IV. the Museum of Socialist Art

V. National Museum of Natural History

St. Sofia Statue, Crystal Garden, Ivan Vazov National Theater, Saint Sophia Church, The Church of Saint Paraskevi, and the Rila Monastery can be added to your Sofia itinerary.

1. Plovdiv is a cosmopolitan Bulgarian city with old Roman theatres, castles, monuments, national awakening churches, and Ottoman remains. Plovdiv was called “The City of the Seven Hills” as it was built on seven hills along the Maritsa River.

The Roman Stadium, Knyaz Aleksandar I Street, Cuma Mosque, Stefan Stambolov Square, and the ancient city of Nebet Tepe (Nebet Hill) are the highlights of the city.

Keep in mind that the 4 Day Bulgaria Tour includes the cities of Sofia and Plovdiv and all the top sights which were mentioned above, or the charming mountain towns of Koprivshtita and Veliko Tarnovo could be added to the itinerary with an 8 Day Bulgaria Tour.

2. Another popular destination in Bulgaria is Veliko Tarnovo, which is about a 2:30-hour drive from Sofia. By walking on the cobblestone streets, Tsarevets Fortress, the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Stambolov Bridge, and the town of Arbanasi can be visited.

3. Varna is a 5-hour drive away from Sofia, and it is the sun, beach, and swimming. The city has the Black Sea and a wealth of restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, Opera, Nezavisimost Square, the rock formations in Pobiti Kamani, and the Art Nouveau style train station can be visited in the city.

4. Burgas takes place on the Blacksea coast too and is the home of the annual summer music festival, Spirit of Burgas. The Lake Burgas and Poda Protected Area are the favorite regions of nature lovers and bird watchers.

5. Zheravna is the symbol of Bulgarian national resistance and is located at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. While the city is keeping its original architectural features, the festivals in Agusta Dobromirista Rural Park, the house of Yordan Yovkov, and St. Nicholas Church are the hot spots of the city.

6. Nessebar is a city, which is on the World Heritage List. The old town, the Old Windmill, the Church of Christ Pantocrator, and the Aquapark are the attractions of the city.