ALL ABOUT BULGARIA
Discovering Sofia and Beyond
Sofia is the national capital and the beating heart of modern-day Bulgaria. It’s where you’ll find the most vibrant international scene, attracting tourists, expats, and digital nomads alike with their delicious restaurants, cozy bars, green spaces, and lightning fast internet access.
Plovdiv is the most tourist-friendly city in the country, with ancient Roman ruins, colorful architecture in a quaint Old Town, and a lively pedestrianized neighborhood called Kapana popular for its bars and restaurants. Veliko Tarnovo is also beloved by tourists for its beautiful Ottoman-inspired architecture set into the hills around the bend of the Yantra River, with the interesting Tsaravets fortress in the heart of the city.
Meanwhile, Burgas and Varna are the two biggest cities on the Black Sea Coast, surrounded by countless small coastal towns such as Nessebar and Chernomorets offer quieter beach vibes. Finally, winter resorts like Bansko and Borovets are fantastic snowy weather destinations, offering some of the cheapest skiing in Europe amidst gorgeous mountains.
ALL BULGARIA POSTS
11 Best Ski Resorts in Pamporovo, Bulgaria
Planning a ski vacation in Bulgaria? Pamporovo is one of the best ski destinations in Bulgaria, perfect for people who want a quieter vibe than either Borovets or Bansko, which can be quite crowded and expensive in the winter. Pamporovo ski resorts are generally more...
2 Days in Sofia: Itinerary for a Weekend in Sofia
Note: This is a guest post from our friend and fellow Bulgaria enthusiast, Annemarie of Travel on the Brain, who has spent several months in Bulgaria. Sofia in Bulgaria is a beautiful city and shamefully underrated. There is so much to see and do even with just two...
11 Best Bansko Ski Resorts for Winter Fun
Bansko, Bulgaria is a wonderful destination year-round. In fact, I just returned from enjoying the Jazz Fest that they have each summer, and I enjoyed going for a hike in the Pirin Mountains and seeing the largest tree in the national park. But Bansko's true season is...
11 Best Borovets Ski Resorts for a Magical Winter Trip
We think that Borovets is one of the most underrated destinations in Bulgaria for a ski holiday. It's close to Sofia (and super easy to get there!), cheaper than Bansko, and full of wonderful ski resorts in Borovets that won't break the bank while providing all the...
11 Delightful Things to Do in Bulgaria in Winter
If you're planning to visit Bulgaria in winter, you've made a fantastic choice! Skiing in Bulgaria is excellent and fantastically cheap, the country gets plenty of snow yet sufficient sunshine, and Bulgarian cuisine is hearty and perfect for winter. And even if you're...
How to Get From Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach Hassle-Free
If you're planning a trip along the Bulgarian Riviera, you've made a fantastic choice! We love the Black Sea, and we've spent many a summer day enjoying the beautiful beaches of Bulgaria and soaking up the sun. While there are a lot of fantastic destinations to visit...
Essential Bulgaria Packing List: What to Wear & Pack for Bulgaria
If you're looking for a Bulgaria packing list, look no further -- we've spent years living in Bulgaria and traveling around it, so it's safe to say we know what to expect when it comes to weather, seasons, and activities you'd do in Bulgaria! We've created this guide...
23 Useful Sofia Travel Tips for Your First Visit
If you're planning a trip to Sofia, you've come to the right place -- literally, we're the biggest Sofia-themed blog on the internet. We are two Americans who have made Sofia our home, spending the better part of the past few years in the Bulgarian capital. We've...
Romania or Bulgaria: Which Balkan Gem is Right for You?
We live in Bulgaria, but from time-to-time, we love to hop up to our neighbor to the north for some amazing vacations. But what should you do if you have limited time and you have to decide whether to visit Romania or Bulgaria? Here's how to pick your winner in a...
7 Cheap Restaurants in Sofia For Budget Travelers
If you're visiting Sofia on a budget, one of the ways you can save big is to find some excellent but cheap restaurants in Sofia. We have a comprehensive Sofia restaurant guide that includes all of our favorites, but those really run the gamut from inexpensive to...
How to Get from Sofia to Ohrid (& Back) Without Losing Your Mind
Sofia and Ohrid are two of my favorite places in all of the Balkan peninsula. I’m a city girl, which is why Sofia speaks to my soul and is where I’ve planted my roots. I love being able to walk around Sofia and get all I need. I can hop on the subway to grab some...
13 Utterly Instagrammable Places in Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is famous as being one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria. It's blessed with tons of great photography spots and hillside views, so we doubt you'll have a hard time finding a beautiful place to photograph when you get here! However, we love...
3 Easy Ways to Get From Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo, the Medieval capital of Bulgaria, is a popular place to visit from Sofia. We've traveled from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo by bus and by car, and we've gone as a quick day trip from Sofia and as longer overnight trips. Here we lay out everything you need to...
The Stay Hotel Plovdiv: Enjoying the Best Location Downtown
There are a few great hotels in Plovdiv, but for my most recent trip to the city I picked out a room at The Stay Hotel Central Square Plovdiv. After a wonderful weekend in the city, exploring Plovdiv's nightlife and climbing up to Alyosha Monument, we absolutely loved...
How to Visit the Alyosha Monument on Plovdiv’s Bunardzhik Hill
When in Plovdiv, expect to climb hills! The city is famously set around seven hills, and there are different things to see from the top of each one. However, the site you're most likely to notice at the top of one of Plovdiv's hills is the Alyosha Monument, a gigantic...
How to Get From Skopje to Sofia (By Day or Night Bus)
By now, I've taken the bus from Skopje to Sofia (and vice versa, which I've written about here) a number of times and I know what to expect. Since it can be difficult to find current and accurate information about buses in the Balkans ahead of time, we've decided to...
13 Magical Things to Do in Plovdiv at Night: A Plovdiv Nightlife Guide
Plovdiv is famous for its picturesque Old Town, its delicious restaurant scene, and its beautiful Roman ruins. But unlike some museum cities, Plovdiv doesn't shut down after dark! In fact, Plovdiv nightlife is vibrant and easily accessible. Here are our picks for the...
How to Get from Sofia Airport to City Center, Easily & Hassle-Free
If you're landing at Sofia Airport, you're in luck: there are actually several ways to get from Sofia airport to the city center, and none are that expensive. In fact - the cheapest is less than one euro! We'll go over all the ways you can get from the Sofia airport...
Photos from Pope Francis’s Visit to Sofia
Pope Francis visited Sofia, Bulgaria today, giving a public prayer at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and holding a full public Mass in Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square. Which, full disclosure, even after being in Sofia for so long I had no idea that the wide portion...
The 17 Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria
I can't believe our website is just over one year old and we've yet to write a comprehensive post about all of the best places to visit in Bulgaria! After all, Stephanie and I both know this country extremely well, having called it home since 2017 and 2018...
7 Lovely Things to Do in Melnik, Bulgaria
I've visited a lot of Bulgaria, but a visit to Melnik always eluded me. It was just a bit out of the way for most of the day trips I did, and I knew it deserved at least a weekend so that I could explore the thriving wine scene down in Melnik. When it came time to...