Types of Travel in Bulgaria

Travel Themes

Interests (rated ): Nature ; Adventure ; Culture ; Relaxation-holidays .

Nature and Adventure

Bulgaria is a land of contrasts where nature is very much present and diverse. Beyond the coastline, which can admittedly be somewhat "crowded" with numerous seaside resorts, the interior and its southern and western mountains offer a superb setting for a wide range of outdoor activities, available both in summer and winter.

Culture

With its many Orthodox monasteries (Bachkovo, Rila, Rojen, etc.), its museum-villages (Arbanassi, Koprivshtitsa...), its historic centres like in Plovdiv, its ancient ruins (Svechtari and others), and even the last remnants of the "Soviet era" still visible here and there, Bulgaria has plenty to offer history and culture enthusiasts. Beyond its architecture and museums, the country's appeal also lies, as is often the case in the Balkans, in its mosaic of diverse populations worth meeting.

Relaxation and Holidays

With its 350 km of coastline lined with numerous Black Sea resorts, its countryside, and its mountains, Bulgaria was already one of the major holiday destinations in Eastern Europe during the Soviet era. Over time, and with the arrival of new visitors, this trend has continued and even expanded. The country now has little to envy other European regions, especially with its highly competitive prices...

Independent Travel

Bulgaria is an easy destination for independent travel, though communication can sometimes be challenging due to the Cyrillic alphabet or the limited number of people speaking languages other than Bulgarian, particularly outside resort areas.

Organised Travel

Like most European destinations, Bulgaria is primarily offered for specific activities rather than discovery circuits, which travellers usually arrange themselves by booking services à la carte. In short, you’ll mostly find specialist offers for hiking, skiing, or river and sea cruises.

All-Inclusive

This option is very common along the coast in resorts like Golden Sands or Sunny Beach near Varna or Burgas. As always, if you’re only planning a sedentary beach holiday, it’s worth checking out these offers, especially during promotions. In some cases, the price of an all-inclusive package may even be highly competitive, or the cost of "flight + hotel" could be almost the same as a simple standalone flight to the destination.

Family

To Do

To Avoid

Senior Travellers

Women Travellers

Gay and Lesbian Travellers

Homosexuality is not always well perceived in traditional Bulgarian society. Only the capital, Plovdiv, and the main Black Sea resorts have small LGBTQ+ communities or venues.

Travellers with Disabilities

Despite EU regulations and standards that apply to all member countries, there are very few facilities adapted for wheelchair users in Bulgaria.