Accommodation in Bulgaria

Overview of the offer

Bulgaria has invested heavily in tourism, so the accommodation options are quite extensive, varied, and constantly growing. What’s more, they often offer excellent value for money given the very affordable rates for Western European travellers, even in coastal areas and during peak season. In summer, it’s still a good idea to book if you want the "best" options.

Hotels

Bulgaria’s hotel scene is quite diverse, with plenty of choices logically found in coastal resorts, cities, and mountain areas where winter sports resorts are located. In recent years, both the capacity and comfort of establishments have improved, and you’ll often find great value for money with high-quality options. That said, there are still a few "Soviet-style" hotels (austere and spartan) in the country, mostly in less touristy cities (since elsewhere they’ve often been renovated).

Price-wise, expect around 20–25 € for a double room in a basic option, and only slightly more for something of very good quality. Note that, just like on the coast, July and August attract crowds in certain areas, making it harder to find the best deals—hence the usefulness of booking ahead, as always.

Monasteries

Some monasteries offer accommodation, often at prices similar to hotels.

All-inclusive

Very common on the coast in resorts like Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, or similar ones 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 fact, the price of these deals can be very attractive, even making the "flight + hotel" cost almost the same as a simple standalone flight to the destination.

Camping

The Black Sea coast has the most campsites, though they vary in quality and can get very crowded in July and August. Most are only open during the season. Some also offer hard-standing accommodation, like bungalows, in addition to pitches for tents, caravans, or campervans. While camping isn’t usually expensive (around 10–12 € on average for a pitch), it’s not necessarily the best option when compared to other types of accommodation, which are also often affordable and offer better value.

In the mountains, particularly in natural parks, there are designated spots for bivouacking (as well as a few mountain huts with dormitories). These are great if you’re equipped and planning a multi-day hike. Meanwhile, though wild camping is technically prohibited, it’s still practised by locals across the country.

Homestays

As in much of the Balkans, homestays are available in Bulgaria. Generally, the rooms offered provide good value for money, with rates between 15 and 20 € for a double room in a basic option, depending on the location and season.

Other options

Guesthouses and mountain huts

Apartments and villas

Which accommodation to choose?

Hotels—and, secondarily, homestays—are often good choices, frequently offering (very) good value for money.