A Guide to Bulgaria: What to Do and Where to Stay

Bulgaria’s great draw is Sofia, a hidden gem of a city nestled in the far west of the country near the Serbian border. The capital ranks ancient monuments and dazzling ecclesiastical treasures among its charms, along with much that’s fascinating to discover about Bulgaria’s communist past. An essential day trip from Sofia is to Rila Monastery, tucked away in deep countryside to the south. Summer is lovely, with pavement cafés doing roaring trade, but so too is spring and early autumn when it’s still warm enough to sit outside in t-shirts. If beaches are your thing, head for the Black Sea Coast.

The best places to visit in Bulgaria

When in Sofia, the jaw-dropping Alexander Nevsky Cathedral should be your first port of call

Sofia’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Of all the places to visit in Bulgaria, start with Sofia - and of all the places to visit in Sofia, the jaw-dropping Alexander Nevsky Cathedral should be your first port of call. Named after the patron saint of Tsar Alexander II, its size alone is mind-boggling: 76 metres long, a 52-metre high belfry with twelve bells, and with the capacity to hold, it is said, up to seven thousand worshippers. Possibly the finest example of a Neo-Byzantine structure in the Balkans, the interior is a riot of brilliantly painted frescoes. Attend a service here to get a real flavour of the atmosphere. There are fabulous views of the cathedral’s bulging domes from the classy Sense Hotel Sofia, a Member of Design Hotels, which offers sleek, design-led rooms and a rooftop bar, making this one of the best places to stay in Sofia.

The Red Flat, Sofia

For a trip back in time – to Communist-era Bulgaria to be precise – look no further than this entertaining new museum in the capital. Courtesy of old TV footage, records and stacks of other Socialist memorabilia, The Red Flat offers you the opportunity to experience what life was like for everyday folk in 1980s Bulgaria – you can even try on 80s-style clothes if you so wish. Informative, engaging, but most of all fun, you won’t forget this place in a hurry. A short walk down the street is the Sofia Hotel Balkan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Sofia, a magnificent piece of architecture concealing a pleasing mix of traditional and boutique-led rooms.

Mount Vitosha

The 290m-high Mount Vitosha, just a few kilometres to the south of Sofia, offers fantastic views, cycling and skiing

Fancy striking out for a big hike, hitting the ski slopes, or going for an adrenaline-pumping bike ride? Then the 290m-high Mount Vitosha, just a few kilometres to the south of Sofia, is where to go. There are several departure points for the mountain, but most fun (and easiest) is the Simeonovo cable car, which whisks you up to the pistes in no time at all; from here it’s a stern two-hour trek to the summit Cherni Vrah (Black Peak). Take a picnic and soak up the marvellous views.

The Black Sea Coast

Golden Sands, part of Bulgaria's summertime playground, the Black Sea Coast

Bulgaria's summertime playground, the Black Sea Coast offers the promise of endless sun and stunningly azure seas. Among its finest beaches are Golden Sands and Albena near Varna, and Durankulak near the Romanian border, while culture vultures can escape to Nessebar, famed for its medieval churches.

What to eat and drink in Bulgaria

It’s said that the main ingredients for Shopska salad were chosen to represent the colours of the national flag (green, red and white)

Shopska salad

In this nation of meat-eaters, it’s interesting that most Bulgarians’ favourite dish is actually a salad. Without question one of the dishes to try when visiting the country, it’s said that the main ingredients for Shopska salad were chosen to represent the colours of the national flag (green, red and white). Whatever the reason, the combination of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions and feta, or Bulgarian sirene (white brine) cheese, is hard to beat.

Gyuvech

Flavoursome gyuvech consists of peppers, beans and aubergines, to which meat (typically beef) is added

Big hearty stews are the way to go all over the Balkans, but few are more delicious than the Bulgarian version gyuvech, which translates as “earthenware dish”, the name of the vessel it’s served in. Consisting of peppers, beans and aubergines, to which meat (typically beef) is added, it packs a truly flavoursome punch and you’ll be suitably stuffed afterwards. Unsurprisingly there are several great places to eat this, though the best is probably Mamin Kolio Tavern in Sofia, a traditional-style inn where a good time is guaranteed.

Melnik and Mavrud

Bulgarian wines are fast gaining a reputation as some of the most interesting in the Balkans, with a veritable treasure chest of great wineries all over the country. Among the best of the reds are the indigenous Melnik and Mavrud varieties, while Dimyat is by some distance the pick of the whites. Of the growing number of wine bars in Sofia, Grape Central stands out, not only for the quality and quantity of its wines, but also for its knowledgeable staff, excellent tasting evenings and scrumptious, tapas-like plates of food.

Top things to do in Bulgaria

An unmissable day trip from Sofia is the tenth-century, UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, tucked away amongst the lush Rila Mountains south of the city

An unmissable day trip from Sofia is the tenth-century, UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, tucked away amongst the lush Rila Mountains south of the city. Beyond its mighty walls lie colourfully painted cloisters concealing the monastic cells, as well as the church itself, the highlight of which is the dazzling, ten-metre-wide iconostasis. Among the best things to do when in town – and the best way to get a handle on the city – is to take a guided walking tour. Ask at your hotel for tour recommendations or check out Sofia Tour, which offers daily two-hour sightseeing walks, as well as more specialist tours like Jewish Sofia and Communist Sofia.

One of the more fun things to do in the capital is to go and inspect the Snail House out in the suburb of Simeonovo; painted in swirls of different colours, this all-curved residential building is made from lightweight materials and is very eco-friendly – a bit like a snail really.

Hidden gems in Bulgaria

One of the best alternative things to do in Sofa is to visit Zhenski Pazar, aka the Lady’s Market. Located a few blocks north of the centre, this is the oldest of the city’s outdoor markets, where you’ll find everything and anything, from fruit and veg to trinkets and items of pottery, which make for great gifts. Sofia is not short on unique things to do, but few are more worthwhile than a visit to The Apartment, which was, yes, formerly a residence but now with a difference; here you can sip on tea whilst reading a book, view some art, or chill out to some of the latest tunes.

Go deeper

Published: October 07, 2024