OrangeSmile Tours Best destinations around the world - Travel Guide

Bulgaria sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

Bulgaria has everything that vacationers seek in a country – awesome beach resorts, rich historical and cultural heritage, interesting architecture and museums. Sofia is cultural and political capital of the country. Travellers will be particularly interested in the central part of the city as all major landmarks are located there. These are Banya Bashi Mosque, the Church of St. George, Mineral Bath, Theological Seminary, the Church of St. Nicolas, and Sofia Cathedral. The central square of the city is the location of another popular landmark, the Museum of History, which exhibits the Panagyurishte Treasure. The age of the exhibited items is the 6th – 3rd centuries B.C. The treasure was found by archaeologists near Sofia and consists of several gold plates decorated with carvings.
The best hideaways for couples in love, as well as top hotels for wedding and honeymoon.
Read further
Varna is considered one of the oldest cities in Europe. Many buildings there belong to the antique period. Varna Necropolis is the most famous sight of the city. Archaeological excavations never stop there. It is possible to see the results of these excavations in the Museum of Archaeology.
Pleven is one more important historic centre of the country. This is a city of glorious past, and guests are welcome to learn more about it in the museum of Pleven Epopee 1877, which is most commonly known as Pleven Panorama. The building of the museum is also worth attention. Many years ago, the building was used for the meeting of Alexander II with Osman-pasha. There is a beautiful park on one of surrounding hills. The park was named after Russian general Skobelev. There is also a museum dedicated to the military events of the 19th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Great attention is paid to the design of hotels and the choice of their style in Bulgaria. In the Park Maxi hotel in Velingrad, the interiors are …
Read further
The city of Plovdiv is another popular tourist destination in Bulgaria. Plovdiv is famous for ancient archaeological landmarks, the most prominent one being the Ancient Theatre built in the 2nd century during the reign of Trajan. Other sights of antiquity in the city include the City Forum, several ancient thermae and old basilicas. The clock tower, which is located in the central square of the city, was proclaimed the oldest tower of its type in whole Europe.
Bansko-The old town Veliko Tarnovo is a prominent Bulgarian city that is home to three magnificent sanctuaries – Holy Forty Martyrs Church, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Church of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki. There is an interesting fact connected with these buildings. Their architect, Nikolai Finchev, was a self-learning master, but in his works he managed to overcome many famous architects of his time. The Marine Park, which is located in Burgos, is also worth visiting as besides entertainment there are beautiful monuments and sculptures in the city.
Bulgaria is considered a country with democratic prices for recreation. Despite this, at its resorts you can find unique fashionable hotels, the rest …
Read further

History and Entertainment

The first written references to the country on the territory of modern Bulgaria data back to 618. At that time, it was the Bulgarian Kingdom. At the beginning of the 11th century, it was conquered by the Byzantine Empire governing the territory until 1185. After becoming independent of Byzantium, the country had managed to maintain independence for over 200 years. The end of the 14th century was characterized by bloody battles between the Bulgarian Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire.
„Sunny Beach“ на север In 1396, Bulgary fell before Ottoman troops. The period of Ottoman Bulgary was one of the longest and ended in 1878. Bulgary became officially independent of the Ottoman Empire only in 1908. The country gained a status of the republic after the Second World War, in 1946.
The first in the list of favorite holidays of the Bulgarians with certainty can be designated Christmas. On the night before the holiday, it is …
Read further
Some of the main values for tourists are beach resorts in Bulgary. They are characterized by the well-developed infrastructure and affordable prices. The noisiest and liveliest beaches are Golden Sands and Sunny Beach. Young people mainly relax here. Local resorts will suit those who have long dreamed of doing water sports and who like having fun all day and night long. Fans of calm recreation and travelers with children often visit Sozopol and Tsarevo. Their resorts are distinguished by a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
On the territory of Bulgaria, there are several excellent ski resorts targeting beginners and travelers with children. The largest winter resort is Borovets. The total length of its ski routes is about 40 km. In the surroundings of the resort, there are a lot of unique nature attractions, such as pine reserves and lakes. It will be very interesting to visit Borovets in summer.
Bulgaria is famous for its nature and national parks. At any time of the year you can find a picturesque corner for rest. Situated in the center of …
Read further
During the year, a lot of interesting holidays are celebrated in Bulgary. For instance, on 25 May is the Rose Festival held. For local residents, breeding of essential oil roses is one of the main national “crafts”. Rose oil is actively used in cosmetics and perfume production. This beautiful national holiday always includes festive processions, theatrical and folk bands’ performances and concerts. The crucial point of this traditional holiday is the final of the beauty contest. The winner gains a title of the Rose Queen.
Bulgaria guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Bulgaria

Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks of Bulgaria
♥   Nature Park 'Bulgarka' . On the map   Photos
♥   National Park 'Centralen Balkan' . On the map   Photos
♥   Nature Park 'Persina' . On the map   Photos
♥   National Park 'Pirin' . On the map   Photos
♥   World Heritage Site 'Pirin National Park' . On the map   Photos

Famous and uniques places in Bulgaria from our review series

Plovdiv

From the series “Remains of the First Ancient Cities”
The charming Bulgarian city of Plovdiv is officially recognized as the oldest city in modern Europe today. The earliest organized settlements were formed on the territory of the city in the 6th Millennium BC. The ancient city reached its heyday during the rule of the Thracians. It was called Eumolpiada at the time. The reign of Philip II of Macedon was the next bright turn in the history of the city. His army captured the city in 342 BC. It was renamed Philippopolis after that.

The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans influenced the city's culture later. This leads to a rich historical and cultural heritage More than 200 objects located on the territory of the historical city are under UNESCO protection today. There are many buildings of ancient times among them. Guests of Plovdiv will have … Read all

Veliko Tarnovo

From the series “Amazing Cities on the Rocks”
The beautiful town of Veliko Tarnovo is located on a mountainside in Bulgaria. It was founded in the 5th century. The town, located in the valley of the Yantra River, was the capital of the state in ancient times. It attracts travelers with its outstanding architectural monuments today. The town is located in an incredibly difficult mountainous area. It was built on the slopes of a winding gorge. The ancient fortress remains its main symbol. The historic district is perfectly preserved in the town.

Its buildings are located in a cascade on terraces. Many historic buildings are the location of museums and art galleries today. Guests of Veliko Tarnovo will have the opportunity to visit the historical museum. A rich collection of archaeological artifacts is stored there. You can also visit … Read all

Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky

From the series “The Most Astonishing Orthodox Churches”
Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky is one of the main sightseeing places in Sofia. The cathedral has appeared there only in 1912. The creator of this tremendous temple is a Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev. This Orthodox Church is one of the largest in the whole world. Its area is 3 170 meters and it can hold about 5 000 people inside. The most interesting part of the cathedral is the bell tower. It has 12 bells and their weight is about 23 tones.

For several hundreds of years this wonderful cathedral with azure and golden cupolas stays one of the main symbols of Sofia. At the beginning of the 20th century, the church was the highest building in the city. It has placed 552 meters above the sea level. Today its main-golden cupola is possible to see from every city street. The … Read all
All unique sightseeing Bulgaria
Country maps Maps of Bulgaria
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Car rental in Bulgaria
Map of cities Cities map of Bulgaria
Map of regions Map of regions in Bulgaria
Map of sights Map of sights in Bulgaria

Saudi Arabia to Open 38 Hotels in Diriyah

Diriyah is one of the first mega projects in Saudi Arabia. Hotels and other infrastructure will start opening next year, and all works are expected to end in 2026. The first 18 restaurants in Bujairi Terrace will start operating already in early 2022. Read this

19.03.2024

Sightseeing in popular cities of Bulgaria

Balchik
Before the foundation of Balchik, a Greek colony was located on this site. The Greeks founded a city in this area yet in the 5th century BC. They believed that the great goddess Aphrodite, who was famous for her beauty, was born from the sea foam here. They called their settlement Krounoi which meant “spring” in Greek. There is an explanation for such a name choice. There are many healing springs in the area. The second name of the town is connected to Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and … Read more
Sunny Beach
In the southern part of the resort, a popular Luna Park Sunny Beach is situated. It also serves as a great place for a family holiday. Here, you can spend an enjoyable day. The park offers attractions for children of different ages and a large rest area with an outdoor pool. Guests can visit a small wellness center, equipped with a sauna and jacuzzi and then come by a restaurant or a bar. Luna Park is greatly focused on visitors with children. In high tourist season, it employs a team of … Read more
Bansko
An acquaintance with local gastronomic traditions is an essential part of any vacation. Hearty meat dishes are typical for the traditional cuisine of Bansko. Meat is usually roasted or steamed. Many restaurants and markets also offer delicious homemade sausages that are produced nearby. Traditional taverns are also very usual at the resort. As a rule, they are run by locals. These dining venues usually offer dishes cooked in accordance with old family recipes. Affordable prices are another … Read more
Sofia
In the immediate vicinity of Sofia is an interesting religious landmark - the Boyana Church. In 1979 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. The erection of the church took place in the 10th century. For hundreds of years, it has been reconstructed several times. Despite a thorny destiny, many valuable artifacts have been preserved in it. Now visitors can admire the unique frescos of the 11th century and see fragments of medieval paintings. Somehow, the temple managed to survive thousands of … Read more
Ruse
The first settlement on the site of modern Ruse existed yet during the prehistoric time. The Thracians were the first inhabitants in this region. Later, the Thracian town turned into a Roman settlement named Sexaginta Prista. This was a fortress settlement and a port that had enough space for sixty ships. The original settlement was destroyed several times during the invasions of Goths and Gets. In the 9th century, the Bulgarians built a new fortress on the ruins of the old settlement. They … Read more
Golden Sands
The resort has an excellent dolphinarium, which will be interesting to visit for travelers with children. Every day, there are shows with trained dolphins, and for an additional fee, visitors can swim with dolphins in one pool. A nice addition to the rest will be a memorable photo session with these amazing sea animals. A popular place for walks among tourists is the “seaside park”, in which you can also find a lot of interesting sights. Here is an exact copy of the Eiffel Tower - a … Read more
Varna
In the immediate vicinity of Varna is an interesting natural attraction, the Stone forest. As you can guess by the title, the main feature of this area is the diversity of stone columns. Looking at this amazing stone landscape, it is difficult to imagine that it was formed solely by the actions of natural forces. It is noteworthy that the researchers failed to pinpoint the cause of the appearance of the stones. Some scientists believe that these are fossilized trunks of ancient trees, while … Read more
Plovdiv
The XIX Century tavern has become a true landmark of the city. The tavern looks like an old house and a visit to it can simply turn into an interesting and exciting excursion. The dining venue exhibits many historical items. For example, there are antique rifles and hunting trophies attached to the walls. One can also see an interesting collection of old photographs. However, numerous gourmet visitors come to this legendary tavern with one purpose – to taste the signature dish called … Read more

Map of travel guides to Bulgaria cities

Address/Sight name City/Region Country Within radius, km
 Types of touristic objects to search for
Hotels & Car rental
Carhire locations
0 star
1 star
2 stars
3 stars
4 stars
5 stars
Touristic places
Art galleries
Churches/Temples
Museums
Castles/Palaces
Monuments
Touristic areas
Sightseeings
Attractions
Attraction parks
Casino
Theaters/Cinema
Disco/Clubs
Parks
Zoo
Aqua parks
Transport
Airports
Train stations
Bus stations
Metro
Parkings
Fuel stations
Ports/Ferries
Open the list of object types
Health/Sport
Open the list of object types
Food/Money
Open the list of object types
Shopping
Open the list of object types
Beauty/Medicine
Open the list of object types
City services
Open the list of object types
Useful services
OrangeSmile.com - online travel reservation expert providing reliable car rental and hotel booking services. We feature more than 25.000 destinations with 12.000 rental offices and 200.000 hotels worldwide.
Secure Server
Head office
Weegschaalstraat 3, Eindhoven
5632 CW, The Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | OrangeSmile.com | Under the direction and management of IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered at Kamer van Koophandel (KvK), The Netherlands No. 17237018