8 days in Bulgaria: what to see and do for an amateur photographer?

Hello. Bulgaria—you’ve made a great choice. And Varna too. I was there in September 2023. I didn’t rent a vehicle because of the Cyrillic alphabet, but driving seemed easy. The rules of the road are respected. With a GPS, it should be fine. I got around by bus and bought some excursions. Yes, you’ll be able to take some beautiful photos, especially at sunrise over the Black Sea. There’s a lot of elevation change. Prices: there’s something for every budget—both cheap and expensive. Enjoy preparing for your Bulgarian trip!

Hello and thank you for your message, Could you tell me what excursions you did? Thanks in advance and have a great day

Hi there. Baltchik in the northeast and Nessebar are both worth the trip. Getting around Varna and its surroundings by bus is easy.

thanks so much

Hello there, fellow traveler from Brittany!

It all depends on how far you're willing to go for your photos, but when it comes to the coastline, the wildest areas are generally the northern and southern coasts, heading toward the Romanian and Turkish borders. The central part is more urbanized, with cities and large seaside resorts.

For picturesque villages, starting from Varna, I’d recommend following the Stara Planina mountain range, which crosses the country from east to west. You’ll find ancient villages there—some played a major role in Bulgaria’s history and in preserving Bulgarian culture. To reach them, the roads run north-south. Your options will also depend on the time and mileage you have available.

Thanks so much for the info! I’m thinking of doing around 400 km round trip. If you have the names of those villages, I’d love to have them. Thanks again for your feedback.

Hi there, For picturesque villages, I recommend Koprivshtitsa and Kovachevitsa. For cities: Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo. My favorite region: the Rhodopes (which borders Greece).

thanks so much for your feedback!!!

For these two villages, Koprivshtitsa and Kovatchevitsa, you're looking at over 400 kilometers, especially for the latter, which is at the other end of the country.

Closer by, you can explore the area around Kotel, known for its colorful patterned rugs: with a bit of luck, you might photograph some of the last remaining weavers. Nearby, the village of Jeravna, for example, is one of the few that has preserved its wooden houses. You could also head to Sliven to take the chairlift and discover the Blue Rocks and their panoramic views before heading back to the coast.

I’m not mentioning the other villages farther into the Stara Planina because, from Varna, you’d be well over 400 kilometers.

I’m so sorry for the late reply—I just read your message… [:(] Thanks a ton for the info! I’ll check a map to see if it’s doable… Thanks again for everything!!!!!