Bulgaria
Rila Monastery's striped arcades and frescoed church sit deep in pine-covered mountains, and Plovdiv's old town stacks National Revival mansions above a Roman theatre still used for concerts. Bulgaria adds Black Sea beaches, well-priced ski resorts and serious mountain hiking, and remains one of the EU's better-value destinations even after adopting the euro in 2026.
Overview
Bulgaria layers Thracian gold, Roman theatres, medieval fortresses and five centuries of Ottoman rule into one compact country, with the Rila, Pirin and Balkan ranges dividing it. A first trip usually starts in Sofia, heads south to Rila Monastery and the Seven Rila Lakes, then east to Plovdiv. From there, the Valley of the Roses and Kazanlak's Thracian tomb lead north over the Shipka Pass to Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital. Summer visitors finish on the Black Sea at Nesebar, Sozopol or Varna; winter ones head for the slopes of Bansko or Borovets.
Travel here is easy and inexpensive by western European standards: a good dinner with local wine costs far less than in Britain, and guesthouses and hostels are plentiful. Cyrillic signage is the main hurdle, though major roads and stations also use Latin script. Intercity buses are quicker than most trains, and a hire car opens up villages such as Koprivshtitsa and Melnik. The coast gets very busy in July and August, while the mountains and monasteries are at their best in late spring and September. Many visitors are surprised by the quality of Bulgarian wine, especially reds from Melnik and the Thracian plain.
Map of Bulgaria
Top 5 highlights
- 1Sacred site
Rila Monastery
Founded in the 10th century and largely rebuilt after an 1833 fire, Bulgaria's largest monastery wraps striped arcades around a church covered in vivid frescoes of saints and sinners. Stay overnight nearby to enjoy it after the tour buses leave.
- 2History
Plovdiv Old Town
Painted National Revival mansions, several now museums or galleries, line cobbled lanes on the hills above the city centre. Below them, the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman theatre still hosts opera and concerts in summer, with views over the Thracian plain.
- 3History
Tsarevets Fortress, Veliko Tarnovo
The walled hill of the medieval tsars rises from a loop of the Yantra River, crowned by the rebuilt Patriarchal Church. The town's houses cling to the gorge opposite, and a sound-and-light show plays over the walls on some evenings.
- 4Nature
Seven Rila Lakes
A chairlift lifts walkers towards a chain of glacial lakes between roughly 2,100 and 2,500 metres, linked by a few hours' loop with views down the Rila range. Go on a weekday between July and September to avoid the crowds.
- 5Architecture
Nesebar Old Town
A rocky peninsula joined to the mainland by a narrow causeway, packed with medieval churches of patterned brick and stone and old timber houses. It is UNESCO-listed and crowded by day in summer, so stay for the quieter evenings.
Biggest cities
Sofia
A walkable capital where the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the ruins of Roman Serdica and the Boyana Church's 13th-century frescoes sit beneath Vitosha, a mountain you can hike or ski from town.
Plovdiv
Bulgaria's second city deserves at least two nights: the cobbled Old Town, the Roman theatre and stadium, and the Kapana district's bars and galleries make it the country's most enjoyable base.
Varna
The main Black Sea city has a long seafront park, sizeable Roman baths and an archaeological museum displaying the Varna Necropolis gold, among the oldest worked gold ever found.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Bulgaria
Best time: May–Jun, Sep.
Average climate in Sofia
Festivals & events
- JanSurva, Pernik
On the last weekend of January, thousands of kukeri in huge masks, furs and clanging cowbells parade through Pernik to chase away evil spirits, in one of Europe's biggest masquerade festivals.
- MarBaba Marta
On 1 March Bulgarians exchange martenitsi, red-and-white woollen tokens worn until the first stork or blossom of spring, then tied to a tree.
- JunRose Festival, Kazanlak
Early June celebrations in the Valley of the Roses, with rose-picking rituals in the fields at dawn, folk dancing, a parade through Kazanlak and the crowning of a Rose Queen.
How much does Bulgaria cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Shopska salad
Chopped tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and onion buried under grated sirene, a salty white cheese; its colours echo the flag, and it usually arrives with a glass of rakia.
Banitsa
Filo pastry layered with eggs and sirene cheese, baked until crisp and eaten for breakfast with ayran, a salty drinking yoghurt, or boza, a thick fermented grain drink.
Tarator
A cold summer soup of yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, dill and walnuts, sharp and refreshing on a hot day.
Getting around
Intercity buses link most towns faster and more often than trains, though the BDZ rail network is cheap and scenic on routes such as the narrow-gauge line through the Rhodopes. Sofia has a good metro that reaches the airport. Hiring a car makes monasteries, mountain villages and wine country far easier; road quality varies. Domestic flights connect Sofia with Varna and Burgas. Use reputable metered taxis or a taxi app rather than unmarked cars.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF230V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +359
- Time zone
- UTC+2 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Leave around 10% in restaurants if service is not already included, and round up taxi fares to the nearest euro.
- Etiquette
- Bulgarians traditionally nod to mean no and shake their heads to mean yes, so confirm with words. Give odd numbers of flowers as gifts — even numbers are for funerals.
- Main airports
- Vasil Levski Sofia Airport (SOF), Sofia; Varna Airport (VAR), Varna; Burgas Airport (BOJ), Burgas
Visas & entry for Bulgaria
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Bulgaria, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: as a tourist; to visit family or friends; to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events; for short-term studies or training.
The requirements for working in Bulgaria are different.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Hepatitis BRabiesTick-borne encephalitisTyphoid
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Bulgaria
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Thu 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Eve |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Mon 28 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day (observed) |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Wed 3 Mar 2027 | Liberation Day |
| Fri 30 Apr 2027 | Good Friday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Holy Saturday · Labour Day and International Workers' Solidarity Day |
| Sun 2 May 2027 | Easter |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | Easter |
| Tue 4 May 2027 | Labour Day and International Workers' Solidarity Day (observed) |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Saint George's Day, Day of the Bulgarian Army |
| Mon 24 May 2027 | Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture |
| Mon 6 Sep 2027 | Unification Day |
| Wed 22 Sep 2027 | Independence Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Bulgarian
| English | Bulgarian | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Здравейте | zdra-VEY-teh |
| Thank you | Благодаря | bla-go-da-RYA |
| Please | Моля | MO-lya |
| Excuse me | Извинете | iz-vi-NEH-teh |
| How much is this? | Колко струва това? | KOL-ko STROO-va to-VA? |
Know before you go
- Bulgaria adopted the euro in January 2026, replacing the lev; older guidebooks, menus and websites may still quote prices in leva (лв).
- Learn the Cyrillic alphabet before you go — it takes an hour or two and makes bus stations, menus and street signs far less daunting.
- Ski passes and lessons in Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo cost much less than in the Alps, but book early for Christmas and the February half-term peak.
Bulgaria travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Bulgaria?
The best time to visit Bulgaria is generally May–Jun, Sep. Peak months are May, June and September. Average highs in Sofia range from 3°C to 28°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Bulgaria cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £85 mid-range and £170+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Bulgaria?
Euro (EUR).
What plug type does Bulgaria use?
Type C and F sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Bulgaria?
Traffic drives on the right in Bulgaria, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Bulgaria?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for Bulgaria?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Bulgaria, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Bulgaria before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bulgaria/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Bulgaria?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tick-borne encephalitis and Typhoid sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
