What to See in Bulgaria

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Bulgaria has nine sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Boyana Church (1979)
This 10th-century church on the outskirts of Sofia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its frescoes and as the most representative monument of medieval art in Eastern Europe.

Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (1979)
Near the city of Ruse, in the eponymous village, this is a complex of churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the rock from the 12th century onward. The site is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.

Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (1979)
This is a Thracian burial site and its frescoes dating from the 4th century BC, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Madara Rider (1979)
This is a large rock relief carved in the 8th century depicting a rider. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nessebar (1983)
North of Burgas, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its old quarter and churches. Very touristy, the listed area has now become primarily a shopping zone.

Pirin National Park (1983)
A stunning UNESCO-listed park in the southwest, known for its landscapes where bears can occasionally be spotted. The site also offers excellent hiking.

Rila Monastery (1983)
The most famous and beautiful monastery in Bulgaria is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located in the mountain range of the same name.

Srébarna Nature Reserve (1983)
This is a significant ornithological area located along the Danube, opposite Romania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (1985)
This is a beautiful Thracian-era tomb classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Coast

Albena
A major seaside resort north of Varna, just after Golden Sands.

Balchik
On the northern coast, this former Romanian town is known for its botanical garden and the summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania. The place is quite popular in season.

Burgas
It's a major industrial port on the Black Sea, whose main appeal lies in the nearby beaches and the old towns of Nessebar and Sozopol.

Kiten
A (small) lively seaside resort not far from Turkey.

Nessebar
North of Burgas, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its old quarter and churches. Very touristy, the listed area has now become primarily a shopping zone.

Primorsko
This is the main seaside resort between Burgas and Turkey, yet it is far less crowded than its counterparts on the northern coast.

Golden Sands
One of the very first seaside resorts on the Bulgarian coast, just a few kilometres north of Varna.

Sozopol
This charming little coastal town near Burgas has become a major tourist destination thanks to its old quarters overlooking the sea and its beaches.

Sunny Beach
Located between Burgas and Varna, it is the largest seaside resort in Bulgaria.

Tsarevo
This is the last seaside resort on the southern coast before the Turkish border.

Varna
Bulgaria's third-largest city. While Varna has a few monuments, its main tourist appeal lies in the many seaside resorts nearby (Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, etc.).

Natural Heritage

Pobiti Kamani
Or the Petrified Forest. These are unusual limestone and sand formations 18 km from Varna.

Kaliakra Nature Reserve
It's a series of cliffs riddled with caves overlooking the sea, almost at the Romanian border, near the village of Kamen Bryag.

The Interior

Arbanassi
A charming little "museum village" near Veliko Tarnovo with many historic houses.

Bansko
A major ski resort in southwestern Bulgaria and one of the gateways to Pirin National Park, where you can go hiking.

Belogradchik
A small town in the northwest of the country known for its fortress and rock formations.

Borovets
It’s the closest ski resort to Sofia, in the Rila Mountains.

Bozhentsi
A charming little village with typical architecture not far from the city of Gabrovo.

Madara Rider
This is a large rock relief carved in the 8th century depicting a rider. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shumen
A city in northeastern Bulgaria with a few old buildings, a fortress, and especially the proximity of the UNESCO-listed "Madara Rider.".

Devin
This spa town in the south is also a good base for exploring the surrounding area (Trigrad Gorge, caves, etc.).

Boyana Church
This 10th-century church on the outskirts of Sofia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its frescoes and as the most representative monument of medieval art in Eastern Europe.

Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo
Near the city of Ruse, in the eponymous village, this is a complex of churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the rock from the 12th century onward. The site is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.

Etara
This site, near the town of Gabrovo, is an "open-air museum" showcasing local architecture and crafts.

Karlovo
This is a town in the center of the country with some charming buildings.

Kazanlak
A small town in the Rose Valley that, in addition to roses and a dedicated festival, is home to several Thracian tombs listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Koprivshtitsa
This is a stunning "museum-village" east of Sofia, renowned for its typical 19th-century architecture.

Lovech
In the northern part of the country, the city of Lovech has quite beautiful architecture.

Melnik
This small town in the far southwest is home to many historic buildings. In the surrounding area, you can also see strange rock formations shaped by erosion.

Bachkovo Monastery
South of Plovdiv, this is one of the oldest Orthodox monasteries in Europe, built in 1083.

Rila Monastery
The most famous and beautiful monastery in Bulgaria is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located in the mountain range of the same name.

Rojen Monastery
Perched high in the Pirin Mountains, this monastery near the town of Melnik is one of the most visited in the country.

Troyan Monastery
It is the third-largest monastery in Bulgaria and one of the most interesting to visit.

Pamporovo
Bulgaria’s main ski resort, located in the Rhodope Mountains. You can hike in the surrounding area in summer.

Perperikon
These are the remains of an ancient Thracian city located in southern Bulgaria, not far from the Greek border.

Pleven
A city in northern Bulgaria with some old buildings and remnants of the 1877 Russo-Turkish conflict.

Pliska
These are ruins dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, once the first capital of the Bulgarian Kingdom. They are located about a hundred kilometres west of Varna.

Plovdiv
Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv is also considered the most beautiful, with its exceptionally well-preserved old quarters.

Preslav
These are the remains of what was the second capital of the First Bulgarian Empire in the 10th century.

Ruse
On the Danube, this city on the Romanian border is visited for the architectural quality (primarily 19th-century style) of its urban centre.

Sliven
The city is best known for the distinctive rock formations that can be seen nearby.

Sofia
Bulgaria’s capital offers "just" a few historical remains and interesting religious buildings. The Vitocha Mountains are nearby for hiking or skiing enthusiasts.

Stara Zagora
It's a large city in the center with various historical remains, particularly Roman.

Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
This is a beautiful Thracian-era tomb classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tatul
In the south of the country, not far from Greece, Tatul is home to several remnants of the Thracian civilization.

Tryavna
A small town in central Bulgaria with many historic buildings.

Veliko Tarnovo
This much-visited city in the heart of the country boasts charming old quarters and a striking fortress.

Velingrad
A tourist and spa town in southern Bulgaria, in the western part of the Rhodopes range.

Vidin
On the borders with Romania and Serbia, along the Danube, the city has two medieval fortresses and various interesting religious buildings.

Vratsa
This northern town is quite picturesque, and its surroundings offer great opportunities for outdoor activities.

Zheravna
This is a charming village that has preserved over 200 of its traditional wooden houses.

Natural Heritage

Raysko Praskalo Waterfall
At 125 metres high, this is the tallest waterfall in Bulgaria.

Trigrad Gorge
These are beautiful gorges located in the Rhodope Mountains, one kilometre north of the village of the same name.

Devil's Gorge Caves
Near the Trigrad Gorge, these lovely caves are a major Bulgarian tourist attraction in the region.

Dragoman Marshes
This marshy area near Sofia (40 km) is home to many bird species.

Rila Mountains
A stunning mountainous region south of Sofia, largely designated as a national park, offering excellent hiking and climbing opportunities. It is also home to the famous UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery.

Mount Vitocha
This mountain, designated as a natural park, overlooks Sofia and offers a great selection of hikes and skiing in a beautiful setting.

Central Balkan National Park
It's a mountain range in the centre of the country with beautiful landscapes.

Pirin National Park
A stunning UNESCO-listed park in the southwest, known for its landscapes where bears can occasionally be spotted. The site also offers excellent hiking.

Bulgarka Nature Park
In the central part of the country, this park is ideal for trekking, climbing, and birdwatching.

Srébarna Nature Reserve
This is a significant ornithological area located along the Danube, opposite Romania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Rhodopes
The Rhodopes are a mountain range running along the Greek border. They offer beautiful landscapes, diverse wildlife (birds, bears, wolves), and various outdoor activities (skiing, hiking).

Rose Valley
This small valley in the centre of the country, between Kazanlak and Karlovo, is known for its rose fields.

What to See in Bulgaria

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The Coast

Natural Heritage

The Interior

Natural Heritage

Must-see & highly recommended

Recommended

Worth a look / Other