Things to Do in Bulgaria

The Rila Mountains offer outdoor enthusiasts a perfect play land for exploring Bulgaria’s highest mountain. Nestled within the boundaries of National Park Rila, this area is home to the hottest spring in the Balkans, glacial lakes, four nature reserves and endless stretch of scenic landscape. Avid hikers will find easy access to two of Europe’s longest trail routes—the E4 and E8—which pass through some of the Rila Mountains’ 29 peaks. And hikers hoping for a shorter distance can participate in popular one-day excursions, like walks to the Seven Rila Lakes and Mount Musala, which both typically depart from Sofia. 

Less intrepid travelers can still enjoy the beauty of this epic mountain range at one of the family-run hotels located in foothill villages like Govedartsi, Mala Tsarkva and Madzhare. Visitors can soak in the medicinal hot mineral waters of Sapareva Banya, a popular public bath, or venture to the Rila Monastery—not only the largest in the country, but also the most-visited site in the nation.

Once the favorite palace of the Bulgarian Royal Family, Vrana is found in the suburbs of Sofia, surrounded by 100 hectares of parkland that were acquired by Tsar Ferdinand in 1889 for 56,000 lev. He created a farm and transformed the remaining land into gardens scattered with lakes and meandering pathways, planted with more than 400 exotic trees and shrubs garnered from his travels overseas. By 1906 a two-story wooden hunting lodge had been built by architect Georgi Filov, and this was followed by the Vrana Palace itself; designed by Nikola Lazarov and completed in 1914, it is a gigantic confection of Baroque and Art Nouveau styling. 

With the advent of Communism in 1946, the Royal Family was exiled from Bulgaria and their land repossessed by the state. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the palace and grounds were returned to Simeon, the grandson of Ferdinand (and Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2005), who promptly donated the park back to the city on the understanding that it was opened to the public. It may only be open at the weekend but free, guided tours depart every hour, explaining the history of the palace and detailing the landscaping of the gardens. Today there are many shady walks past wooded copses, flower beds and rock gardens to enjoy but the palace remains closed to the public as it is once again the official home of the former Royal Family.

The oldest church in Sofia and the origin of the city’s name, the St. Sofia Church dates back to the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the sixth century. Built on the site of two fourth-century churches just outside of the city walls, it served as the city’s main cemetery church into the Middle Ages and, during the 12th century, it was likely the seat of Sofia’s bishop. After the Ottoman conquest, the church became a mosque and minarets were added.  It was abandoned altogether after an earthquake struck in 1858 and later restored at the start of the 20th century.

The church building today is a three-aisled Byzantine-style basilica, with walls of exposed brick, a mosaicked floor and icons of historical saints. Fragments of mosaics from the fourth century can be seen in the floor of the south aisle. Outside of the church is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which memorializes the Bulgarians who were killed in World War I.

Named after the mountains that bound Sofia to the south, Vitosha Boulevard is the Romanian capital city’s most prestigious shopping street, snaking through the center of the city. Here visitors will discover all the top-end international designer stores, a massive bookshop, quality restaurants and cool bars, plus a backdrop of imposing civic buildings dating from Sofia’s expansion between the two world wars. As well as the National Palace of Culture, which marks the northern end of Vitosha, the former Communist Party HQ and the Central Department Store (TSUM) stand just off the boulevard and form part of tours of Sofia’s Soviet heritage.

Fully pedestrianized from Boulevard Evtimiy in the south to Alabin Street in the north, Vitosha’s recent facelift has included pretty floral beds, benches to chill on, Art Nouveau kiosks, street cafés and wrought-iron lampstands. The corner of Vitosha and Evtimiy is Sofia’s most popular meeting spot and it’s also worth diving into the side streets off the main drag for more retail opportunities in independent boutiques. Come evening, there’s a whole world of cuisine on tap, with restaurants offering everything from traditional Bulgarian byurek (stuffed filos) to Irish pints.

Set in the western part of Sunny Beach along the Black Sea coast, the Action Aquapark was the first water park to be built in Bulgaria. Covering 36,000 square meters, it boasts more than 30 water attractions, bars and restaurants and features a variety of tropical palm trees, Mediterranean shrubs, geysers and fountains throughout the grounds. Popular rides include a free fall slide that lets visitors plunge at up to 70 kilometers per hours, the 18-meter high Kamikadze slide and the 150-meter long Black Hole slide. Those looking for a more relaxing experience will enjoy floating along the 330-meter Lazy River. For the kids, there is a mini-zoo with pigs, goats, ponies, peacocks and emus, and the H2O Adventure Island, with eight slides, climbing tunnels and rope bridges.

Founded in 1083, Bachkovo Monastery is one of the largest and most important pilgrimage sites in Bulgaria, and is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed monument. The historic monastery also boasts a magnificent setting, perched in the hills around Asenovgrad and overlooking the Chepelare River.

 

The most popular way to visit the Bachkovo Monastery is on a day trip from nearby Plovdiv. Visitors can combine a guided tour of the monastery with the region's other historic sights, such as the medieval ruins of King Ivan Asen's Fortress and the Wonderful Bridges. It's also possible to visit the monastery as part of a cycling tour through the Rhodope Mountains, stopping at Shiroka Laka or the Devin hot springs.

 

 

The monastery is located in the foothills of the Rhodope Mountains, about 4.5 miles (7 kilometers) south of Asenovgrad. Buses and taxis run between Asenovgrad and Smolyan (E86), affording easy access to the monastery. From the main road, it's a 15-minute uphill walk, but taxis can drop you at the top.

 

The monastery is open daily. Tour buses tend to start arriving at 10am, so get an early start if you want a crowd-free photo.

 

Highlights of the monastery grounds include the original ossuary, decorated with ancient frescos and home to a first-floor burial crypt; the cathedral, which houses a statue of the Virgin Mary Eleusa; the Archangels' Church covered in paintings by Joan Mosch; and an expansive garden, tended by the monks who still live and work on the monastery. The small but impressive museum at Bachkovo offers a notable collection of religious artifacts, wood carvings, and historic frescos.

Vitosha Mountain is the fourth highest mountain in Bulgaria. It is just outside of the capital city of Sofia. The mountain is the oldest nature park on the Balkan Peninsula, which was established in 1934 and today covers an area of almost 67,000 acres. In the winter, Vitosha Mountain is a popular place for downhill skiing, cross country skiing, and other snow sports. Ski season here lasts about 120 days. 

In the summer months, Vitosha Mountain offers good hiking and trekking. There are several trails that are good for single day hikes and hikers of all levels. The mountain is home to a diverse number of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Throughout the year, 200 bird species can be seen here, with 120 of them nesting within the park. The longest cave in Bulgaria, at about 11 miles long, is also located at Vitosha Mountain. Other sites located here include a medieval orthodox church called Boyana Church and the Boyana Waterfall.

As the largest and one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria, the Rozhen Monastery sits amongst the Pirin Mountains as a living symbol of the area’s history and spirituality. Archaeological evidence suggests the structure dates as far back as the 13th century, when it was also mentioned in Greek texts.  Destroyed by armies and fires throughout the years, the monastery was most recently restored by wealthy citizens in the 18th century.

With its unique six angle shape, the monastery and residential buildings surround a beautiful courtyard and small church. Frescoes and stained glass windows dating back to the 16th century line the walls of the church’s interior. The “Nativity of the Mother of God” also has an impressive display of carved, wooden altars and iconostases. It continues to be stand as a center of Orthodox Christianity and one of the greatest preserved medieval structures of Bulgaria.

The Sofia Synagogue is the largest synagogue in southeastern Europe and third largest in all of Europe. It is also one of just two functioning synagogues in Bulgaria. Construction began on the synagogue in 1905 and it opened in 1909. Built in a Moorish revival style with Viennese Secession and Venetian elements and an octagonal dome, it resembles the Leopoldstadter Tempel in Vienna, Austria. The interior of the synagogue is richly decorated, with marble columns, colorful Venetian mosaics, decorative wood carvings and a 1.7-ton chandelier that is the largest in Bulgaria. The synagogue has operated continuously since it opened, aside from a period during World War II. Although it can accommodate up to 1,300 worshipers, services today are sparsely attended.

Since 1992, the building has also housed the Jewish Museum of History, which was founded to preserve items related to Jewish culture in Bulgaria. The museum has two permanent exhibitions: The Jewish Communities in Bulgaria and The Holocaust and the Rescue of the Jews in Bulgaria. 

There’s a reason why the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s largest religious structure, is the most visited site in the country. Its cobblestone courtyard, winding balconies, picturesque mountain views and brightly colored frescos transport travelers to a place that is almost otherworldly. Nearly 1 million people find their way to this treasured destination every year. 

Travelers can explore the cloisters, farming buildings and church. The museum, which offers an in-depth look at the monastery’s history and function, also showcases hand-woven national costumes donated from neighboring towns are on display. The nearby cave of St. Ivan of Rila continues to rank among the most popular stops on a tour of Rila Monastery. According to tradition, St. Ivan of Rila, the hermit who founded the monastery, lived in this cave while his students built what would eventually become Bulgaria’s most famous spiritual center. 

Stob Pyramids are a unique series of sandstone rock formations located in the foothills of the Rila mountain range southwest of Sofia. Stretching over 7.5 hectares, these pyramids — some dumpy, some spiky — cluster together up the hillsides and have been eroded over the centuries by wind and snow. Reaching up to around 39.5 ft (12 m) with bases of up to 131 ft (40 m), they come in multiple shades of brown and are more numerous on the southern slopes of the slopes than the north.

First stop for information and directions to the naturally formed pyramids is the visitor center in the ancient village of Stob. A way-marked ecotrail departs into the countryside from nearby St Procopius Church and winds up through lush meadows to the pyramids in around an hour; continue following the trail uphill for fantastic views looking down over their serrated peaks. As winter brings snow, rain and mud to this rural corner of Bulgaria, plan to visit Stob Pyramids in summer.

The Rila Mountains make a spectacular day trip from Sofia for their wild landscapes, hiking around the Seven Rila Lakes and the chance to visit Rila Monastery, founded in 927 by a hermit monk.

The discovery of Tsari Mali Grad (which translates into English as ‘Tsar’s Little Town’) was made in 2007 near the village of Belchin, which is known in Bulgaria for its many therapeutic mineral springs. Dating from Roman times, the Tsari Mali Grad complex had laid forgotten underneath a forested area until it gradually reemerged from the ground on St Spas Hill above the village, when its awesome size and historical significance was appreciated.

At the center of the 10-acre archaeological site lay a vast Roman fort dating back to the rule of Emperor Valens between 364 and 378 AD; it had six watchtowers and walls that were over 400 meters (1,312 feet) in length. Over time, the fort expanded into a fortified town occupied between the fourth and seventh centuries by Thracian, Roman and Byzantine communities; there is also evidence of Thracian shrines, early Christian sanctuaries and the remains of a 15th-century church dedicated to the Ascension of Mary, indicating that the area was of special religious importance. The fort and the church have been painstakingly rebuilt and were opened to visitors in 2013; they are surrounded by spectacular hilly countryside covered in walking trails and can be reached by funicular or 20-minute walk uphill from Belchin.