Holidays in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, a miniature state in southeastern Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula, has unlimited possibilities in terms of tourism services provided. Bulgaria is called a country for all seasons - in summer you can enjoy a holiday on the Black Sea coast, improve your health in balneological health resorts, and lovers of winter entertainment will appreciate the ski resorts at very reasonable prices. Well, and, of course, tourists come to the country all year round to see with their own eyes the archaeological, cultural and architectural merits of Bulgaria.

Sights of Bulgaria

Like any European country, Bulgaria is rich in various kinds of architectural finds. In a couple of weeks of rest it will be impossible to visit all the monasteries, temples and fortresses, but they are definitely worthy of our attention.

The Tsarevets Fortress is one of the symbols of the country, built in the historical part of Veliko Tarnovo on Tsarevets Hill. Now the fortress is an architectural and museum reserve, a unique place for tourists who want to get acquainted with the history of Bulgaria.

In the 5th-6th century, a large Byzantine city was located on the site of Veliko Tarnovo, then a Bulgarian settlement arose here. A fortress wall was built in the 12th century; unfortunately, only its ruins have survived to this day. The architectural complex includes the fortress itself, towers, gates, various buildings, temples and monasteries. Some buildings were seriously damaged during the attack of the Ottoman Empire; restoration was completed just in time for the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian state - in the 80s of the last century.

One of the first points in any Bulgarian tourist guide will be the legendary Rila Monastery - the spiritual center of the country and the main pilgrimage site in the entire Balkans.

120 km from the capital, a grandiose architectural complex is hidden in the mountains, it includes: the six-story Hrelyo Tower, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a library, a refectory and other monastery buildings decorated with magnificent ancient frescoes.

The Rila Monastery was built by the followers of the hermit John of Rila, who is revered as a saint in Bulgaria; now his remains are kept in one of the monastery buildings.

Currently, the monastery houses a museum that houses thousands of ancient artifacts.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is another symbol of Bulgaria; it is the largest Orthodox church in the country and the largest in area in the entire Balkans.

The cross-domed frame amazes with its unique majestic appearance; it occupies most of the square of the same name and can accommodate about 5,000 thousand people at a time. The bell tower of the cathedral is crowned with 12 bells, and the decoration uses frescoes, mosaics, stained glass, onyx, marble and gold.

Euxinograd - a modest and elegant palace was once the summer residence of the royal dynasty; now the building framed by greenery is the seat of government. Not only the palace itself, but also the greenhouse, stables, wine house and landscaped park are of historical value.

Asenov Fortress is one of the most visited medieval buildings in Bulgaria, built on a lonely rock in the Rhodope Mountains, on the left bank of the river near Asenovgrad.

Archaeological excavations prove that the first settlements appeared here in the 9th century, when the fortress did not yet have its modern appearance; there was a tower on this site.

In 1231, during the reign of Ivan Asen II, the fortress was rebuilt and was essentially a feudal castle, decorated with frescoes, and was of great strategic importance in the fight against conquerors due to its favorable location.

In the 70s of the last century, restoration work was carried out here and now the fortress is open to tourists.

Of course, on this list of attractions The country doesn't end there, you should definitely visit:

• Church of John the Baptist;
• Bachkovo Monastery;
• Aladzha Monastery;
• National Historical Museum of Bulgaria;
• The ancient fortress of Serdika;
• Varna Aquarium.

Beautiful places in Bulgaria

In the valley of the Tundzha River there is a wonderful place that is called the heart of Bulgaria. All conditions here are favorable for growing the “queen of all flowers” ​​- the rose.

The Valley of Roses is a real paradise on earth; at dawn, a fabulous picture opens up: the sun’s rays fall on fields strewn with flowers, and Bulgarian women collect this harvest, so that later the flowers can be used to produce aromatic rose oil, known throughout the world.

Pirin National Park is another wonderful creation of nature, a natural park located in the southwest of the country between two picturesque rivers. Pirin unusually combines dissimilar natural scenes - majestic coniferous wilds, mountain ranges, crystal glacial lakes and vast alpine meadows. Thanks to all these riches, the park is known throughout Europe and tirelessly welcomes guests from Bulgaria.

The Rila Lakes are glacial lakes cascading in a picturesque valley near the Rila Monastery. Each of the seven lakes has its own name, they are all different widths and depths, but they have one thing in common - the Rila Lakes are natural wonders of nature. The lakes are connected by small streams in which trout live.

Another highlight of this area is the magnificent mountain waterfall Skakavitsa on the reserve’s river of the same name.

The ancient Bulgarian city of Nessebar lies on the Black Sea coast near northern Burgas. Nessebar is divided into two parts - New Nessebar is located on the coast, and Old Nessebar is on a rocky elongated peninsula.

Nessebar is considered the oldest city Europe, according to estimates, its history begins from the first millennium BC, once this place was a Greek colony. To this day, excavations are ongoing here, and part of the sunken city with ancient architecture can be seen from a boat in good weather.

The symbol of the city is an ancient windmill standing on the very shore; a little further away there is a monument to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The ruins of ancient Nessebar, as well as a huge number of churches, attract thousands of tourists at any time of the year.

The best hotels in Bulgaria

Most hotels in the country are concentrated in Sofia and numerous resorts in Bulgaria; the cost of accommodation depends on the star rating of the hotel and location on the coastline, so we cannot evaluate all the comfortable hotels; we will highlight only those that are especially popular among guests.

Helena Park 5* is a hotel located in the Sunny Beach resort, part of the hotel complex and represented by two five-star hotels, surrounded by the greenery of its own park. All buildings here were built in the Renaissance style; the territory has a restaurant, bars, a swimming pool, a spa center and a sports ground. 236 rooms are divided into standard and luxury, apartments are equipped with everything necessary. Great option for holidays with family, entertainment programs are provided for children. Meals are all inclusive.

Flamingo Grahd 5* is a relatively “fresh” ten-story hotel built in 2008, located in the center of the Albena resort next to the sandy beach. In addition to an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a spa, 3 bars, 2 restaurants and a nightclub, there is also a children's area with a swimming pool. The hotel provides two types of meals: “boarding” and “half board”; meals for children are served separately. Spacious rooms are equipped with a kitchen. Recommended for a relaxing family holiday.

Melia Grand Hermitage 5* is a gorgeous place that will exceed all your expectations. One of the largest and most elegant hotels not only in the Golden Sands resort, but throughout Bulgaria. Located on a green hill among its own park. Guests here are offered relaxation in a peaceful atmosphere, quality service and cuisine. The highlight of the hotel complex is the spa center with a variety of services, including high-end therapies and treatments. There are several types of menu to choose from.

Royal Castle 5* at the Elenite resort is one of the newest and most modern hotels on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Built on the coastline on a mountain with beautiful views of the bay, close to the main attractions. The hotel offers an all-inclusive holiday, the rooms are luxurious. A large selection of entertainment - sauna, hammam, bathhouse, jacuzzi, swimming pool, fitness center, spa center, tennis courts and others.

Sol Nessebar Palase 5* is part of the hotel complex and is located just 2 km from the ancient city of Nessebar. The hotel offers guests all-inclusive accommodation, as well as all the amenities in the rooms and entertainment in the water park with slides and an attraction that leads to a swimming pool surrounded by green trees. The hotel's 6 restaurants serve national dishes from several countries.

Resorts in Bulgaria

"Golden Sands" - the most popular and largest resort on the northern coast of the Black Sea. It is known and loved by tourists from neighboring countries, where you can still relax, enjoy the healing air and undergo health treatments (several mineral springs are used for medicinal and health purposes) for a very affordable price.

The resort is a National Park, so cleanliness here is monitored especially carefully, and the cleanliness of water and air is constantly monitored.

Many consider Albena to be the most beautiful resort on the entire coast of Bulgaria - this is a real pearl of the Baltata park-reserve. In addition, this is an ideal place for relaxing with children, general health improvement and improving immunity, because the largest balneological center in the country is located nearby.

“Albena” has the widest coastal strip, so there is never crowding in the resort area. There are forests around, so the air here is surprisingly clean, and the local nature captivates with its beauty.

Despite the developed infrastructure, abundance of bars, restaurants and sea entertainment, the resort is still considered “children’s”, because all conditions have been created for them - playgrounds, kindergartens and centers have been built.

The Sunny Beach resort is the most developed and popular among tourists; it can be called the center of beach holidays in Bulgaria. Any category of guests will find something here - young people are attracted by the nightlife, restaurants, discos and bars. Married couples with children most often settle on the first coastline in hotels with quality service, visit shopping centers and water parks.

The beaches of the Sunny Coast, stretching for 6 km, are known for their pure golden sand, stunning dunes and gentle breezes that never change direction.

Features of Bulgaria

Bulgaria has always attracted Russian tourists, this is not surprising, because despite the individual characteristics of the local residents, their mentality is similar to ours, so there are no special problems upon arrival. Modern Bulgaria, as immigrants from Russia note, is very reminiscent of Russian reality, but 10-15 years ago.

In any case, in order to feel comfortable in a foreign country, it is worth learning about some national characteristics.

• It is important to know that gestures of agreement and disagreement in Bulgaria are different from those we are used to. For them, everything happens exactly the opposite; when they say “no,” they nod their heads up and down, and when they say “yes,” they nod left and right. Of course, in hotels you are unlikely to have problems with staff, but in the outback you should adhere to the basic rules.
• Many Bulgarian words are similar to Russian, but don’t be surprised when you realize that their meaning is sometimes very different, for example, the Russian word “straight” here means “to the right”, so be guided by the gestures, where the person points his hand.
• Often in Bulgarian villages you can see special memorial leaves on the facades of houses so that everyone passing by can pray for the deceased family members.
• Thrift and economy are the national traits of the Bulgarians, this is noticeable even in their homes - windows, doors and furniture have slightly different dimensions than in Russia. Everything that is produced in the country is smaller in size.
• The main national dish is tartor, which is a mixture of cucumbers and sour milk; other dishes are a mixture of features of the cuisine of neighboring countries.
• Even if children and parents live separately, financial affairs are conducted jointly.

How much will a holiday in Bulgaria cost?

Main expense items:

• A last minute tour can be purchased at a very competitive price from 250 euros per person, and the quality of service will be decent.
• Renting a car in Sofia costs 40-45 euros per day plus gasoline; in resort towns the price is half that.
• Prices for trips at travel agencies vary greatly from the most budget (300 euros for two) to the most expensive (3,000 euros for two). Beach accessories will cost 2-3 euros, sea activities - 4-15 euros (for an hour of banana boat or jet ski ride).
• A trip to the most famous Bulgarian resorts   “Golden Sands” and “Sunny Beach” will cost about 1,300 euros for two in the first case and 850 euros in the second. Prices for health resorts in Bulgaria also vary, the average cost is 450-500 euros for two.
• A hearty dinner for two within the resort area will cost 5 euros.
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