Major Tourist Attractions In Bulgaria

The only large city in Bulgaria is the capital, Sofia. It’s a city that combines beauty with utter ugliness and charm with pure downright sleaziness. Much of the city still contains memories of communist days- embodied in typical Soviet-style dull grey apartment blocks and factories. One of Sofia’s most important sights to see, the National History Museum contains a huge- and priceless- collection of art treasures from all parts of Bulgaria, and all ages too. Many parts of the city have, however, been rebuilt in the post-Second World War era, and a good job has been done; you’ll find charming cafés, yellow-brick paved areas and lovely churches (some of them very old) which manage to give the city a beauty all its own.

The city of Plovdiv is the second largest in Bulgaria, it’s one of the oldest cities in Europe, and an important industrial centre. Remains of the Old City of Plovdiv still rise on the side of the river opposite the modern town. 

Within modern Plovdiv itself are a number of sights to see; the National Ethnographical Museum is one of them, as are the Roman Stadium, the Roman Amphitheatre and the National Archaeological Museum.

Veliko Tarnovo, the erstwhile capital of the country (it was the seat of power during the days of the Second Bulgarian Empire), is worth seeing, mainly for its historical significance. It’s full of lovely houses, spread out over the cliffs, but is also known because it’s a university town- and that makes it a rather young and happening place to be in. Another   historical place is Nesebar, which is full of old churches (it was once an important trading town, but is today basically known for fishing and tourism). Nesebar is a quiet and enchanting place, and good for a break from the bustle of Sofia.

Situated amidst dense pine forests and verdant mountain pastures, the village of Koprivshtitsa is one of Bulgaria’s most picturesque places- beautiful, historical, quiet- and just 105 km from Sofia. Koprivshtitsa was established during the 1300s, and from the very beginning had close ties with the city of Venice- historic ties that contributed significantly to the prosperity, art and architecture of the settlement. Even today, many houses in Koprivshtitsa have brightly painted walls, overhanging wooden eaves, spacious courtyards with studded wooden gates, and carved woodwork, all reminiscent of medieval Venice. And not too far from Koprivshtitsa lies another of Bulgaria’s greatest attractions- Klisura, which is the beginning of the Rozova Dolina, the Valley of Roses.

 It is in fragrant, beautiful Rozova Valley that the lovely oleaginous roses grow, from which Bulgaria’s rose water and rose attar (essence) are produced. Try and make it here around May or June- that’s when the roses are in full bloom. 

Varna is Bulgaria’s third-largest city, and one of the most important in the Black Sea Coast area. Today an industrial and commercial centre, Varna was at one time a major shipping port- the Greeks had named it Odessos, and the Romans brought it significance as an important trading port. Even today, much remains of Varna’s past- and a lot of it can be seen in the excellent Museum of History and Art, which houses some of the world’s oldest treasures crafted from gold (dating back to the 4th millennium BC), besides various ancient treasures dating back to Thracian, Greek and Roman times. Elsewhere in the city, you can see Roman public baths, city walls, old fortress walls, cathedrals and more.

Among the areas close enough to Varna to comprise a day’s excursion are Sunny Beach (the largest Black Sea Coast resort, and vastly popular with beachlovers), Sveti Konstantin (the oldest Black Sea resort, and with mineral water springs), Balcik (with its palace and Botanical Gardens), and Nesebar, very historical and quaint.

There are, of course, a lot many other places to visit in Bulgaria- churches dating back centuries; Greek and Roman and Byzantine ruins; lovely mountain villages and seaside resorts. If you’re fond of beaches and sunbathing, then you must head for the Black Sea area; and if you’re interested in history- well, then you can go just about anywhere- Bulgaria’s full of history. But don’t miss Varna, Nesebar, Veliko Tarnovo (a museum city which has lots of wonderful old monuments), Tszarevec (where the tsars once had their palaces), and Plovdiv, with its Roman ruins.