It’s located near the center of the Balkans, almost equidistant between the Black and Adriatic Seas.

As an amazing old-world city, it has made great leaps in modernization in recent years. Sofia is brimming with impressive churches, leftover remnants of Soviet-era architecture, and an abundance of historical sites that are well worth a visit.

Sofia also has a rich art history and a budding food culture that blends a number of international influences into a truly unique and vibrant cuisine.

Below are 15 of the best tours of Sofia, Bulgaria.

1. 3-Hour Food and Cultural Heritage Tour

Source: Takashi Images / shutterstock

Three hours may not sound like a lot of time to experience the essence of Sofia, but previous participants claim to have done just that.

This 3-hour, value-packed tour includes some of the city’s most revered historic attractions, like the National Theater and King’s Palace – but the fun definitely doesn’t end there.

Guests will learn about the city’s intriguing history and culture along the way and visit a few off-the-beaten-path restaurants and cafés, where they’ll sample traditional Bulgarian food and drink.

Of course, baklava is one of the perennial favorites, but you’ll also sample local wines, cheese, and a popular yogurt drink with a name that’s nearly impossible to pronounce.

2. Private Guided Walking Tour of Historic Sofia

Source: Takashi Images / shutterstock

Sofia is a very pedestrian-friendly city; many of its main attractions are close enough to permit energetic visitors to see them in conjunction with one another.

This private city walking tour is a big hit with the international crowd because it’s available in more than two dozen languages.

The tour focuses on downtown attractions like St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral and the Presidential Palace.

Witnessing the changing of the guard at the palace’s main entrance is a truly unforgettable experience, and most visitors are surprised to see churches of many different faiths coexisting peacefully in such close proximity.

There will also be time for shopping along Vitosha Street at the tour’s end.

3. 4-Hour Hidden Bar and Pub Crawl

Source: www.getyourguide.com

Pub crawls are great ways to rub elbows with locals, get the lay of the land, and give yourself one whopper of a hangover.

This 4-hour pub crawl explores drinking establishments that are slightly off the well-worn path. It’s great for singles and small groups because it’s common to meet other travelers from all over the world.

Under the care of your knowledgeable guide, you’ll head out to parts of the city that don’t typically get much tourist traffic, so it’ll be a more unique and memorable experience than it’d be otherwise.

If applicable, entry fees are included, as are complimentary drinks at each stop.

4. Communist Walking Tour

Source: Ana Flasker / shutterstock

Comrades of the world unite…

At least, temporarily, for this quirky and fascinating 3-hour tour of Bulgaria’s communist-era hot spots.

Not a communist, Marxist, socialist?

Fear not; political preferences aside, you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the city’s most unique attractions, like the Bulgarian Communist Party Headquarters, the National Palace of Culture, and a macabre facility where police investigators once interrogated citizens they suspected of subversion.

You’ll learn interesting tidbits of local lore and history at each location, and probably compile a list of things you’d like to check out more thoroughly later.

Food, drinks, and gratuities aren’t included.

5. Afternoon Food and Wine Tasting Walking Tour

Source: meunierd / shutterstock

There’s no better way to spend an afternoon in Sofia than by exploring the city on foot.

For foodies and self-proclaimed wine aficionados, it’s a great way to get an overview of the city’s culinary scene without spending a bundle or setting aside an entire day.

Guests will follow their guide to a number of cafés and enjoy lots of traditional Bulgarian dishes, including soups, salads, sausages, and baklava.

Eager foodies will learn about the places they’re visiting and the food and wine they’re enjoying. Along the way, they’ll see many historic attractions, like St. Joseph Cathedral, Sofia Synagogue, and the Central Market.

6. Discover Bulgaria with Dance

Source: viator.com

It’s been said that if you eat what the locals eat and dance the way they dance, then you’ve successfully immersed yourself into their culture.

If those sound like wise words, signing up for the ‘Discover Bulgaria with Dance’ trip would be a great way to spend an hour while in Sofia.

Guests will learn about the country’s music and dance traditions and have the opportunity to take what they’ve learned and strut their stuff if the spirit moves them.

The tour includes a traditional meal and the chance to take a few photos dressed in authentic Bulgarian dance garb as well.

7. Sofia Alternative Tour

Source: viator.com

Like escape rooms? Treasure hunts?

Scoff at bus tours filled with dozens of tourists intent on seeing every last overcrowded attraction in the city?

If so, read on, because this alternative 4-hour tour may be just the antidote.

It’s perfect for young and active travelers and those who relish adventure.

You’ll trek all over the city following clues and seeing amazing sights, work your way out of an escape room, and have an all-around fantastic time.

Expect to see sides of the city that most tourists never do and get interesting insights into the city’s remarkable past.

8. Sofia Full-Day Tour

Source: Boyan Georgiev Georgiev / shutterstock

With so much to see and do, most visitors to Sofia dedicate multiple days to exploring the city before heading off to other parts of the country.

This full-day tour includes pickup at your hotel and the services of a professional guide and can accommodate a maximum of 20 guests.

Due to its length, it’s a more in-depth experience than you’ll get on shorter tours, so it’s a great fit for serious history buffs and lovers of culture.

Much of the tour is conducted in an air-conditioned minivan, but there will be opportunities to get out, stretch your legs, take a few photographs, and recharge your batteries with food and drink.

9. Sofia Photo Tour

Source: Nataliya Nazarova / shutterstock

Amateur and professional shutterbugs seem to love Sofia for its abundant historic attractions, impressive architecture, and the melding of the old and new worlds that make it truly unique.

This 3 ½-hour is led by a local guide with tons of camera experience who’s dedicated to making each excursion a memorable one.

Not only will you see the city’s sights at just the right time to capture the moment perfectly, but you’ll get helpful pointers and tips that you can use long after the tour is officially over.

You’ll need to bring your own camera.

10. One-day Hiking Trip to Vitosha Mountain Nature Park

Source: phantomlord78 / shutterstock

Though Vitosha Mountain Nature Park is technically outside Sofia city limits, it’s only a 30-minute drive from the city center and is one of the country’s oldest nature preserves.

That makes it the perfect escape destination for those in need of a change of pace from the city’s chaotic urban setting.

Vitosha Mountain’s peak reaches more than a mile into the sky overlooking the Bulgarian countryside, but don’t let that dissuade you if you’re not a seasoned mountaineer; there are a number of trails, and many of them are appropriate for beginners.

The tour lasts six hours and begins and ends in Sofia.

11. Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

Source: Dennis van de Water / shutterstock

The Rila Monastery and Boyana Church are two of Bulgaria’s icons, and they recently celebrated their 1,000th birthdays.

Yes, they’re that old, and they’re part of a sprawling complex tucked into a particularly beautiful portion of the countryside outside the city.

It’s a two-hour drive each way, but en route, you’ll get an engaging and educational narration from the tour’s guide, and the scenery will be nothing short of breathtaking.

While onsite, guests will have ample time to explore on their own and learn about the country’s fascinating religious history.

Transportation to and from Sofia are included in the cost of the tour.

12. Guided 3-Hour Culture Tour

Source: Pani Garmyder / shutterstock

Sofia is a relatively easy city to explore on your own, but to make the most of your limited travel time, it may be a good idea to experience it with a guide.

This 3-hour interactive tour couldn’t be more different than most tours, largely because the providers strive to make it a wonder for the senses.

The city is full of unique sights, sounds, and smells, in addition to historic attractions, and they all add to the overall experience.

You’ll learn about Bulgarian customs and holidays, taste traditional food, and even try your hand at local dancing and conversing in the native tongue.

13. Traditional Food and Wine Tour

Source: viator.com

Created by foodies and wine lovers for foodies and wine lovers, this traditional combo tour is a great fit for those who love a full stomach and that warm, all-body buzz that only wine can provide.

You’ll start the tour with a traditional Bulgarian yogurt breakfast and by getting acquainted with your guide. From there, the tour will head out to four special food and wine venues.

Guests will sample several local wines, as well as cheese, meat, fresh vegetables, and homemade bread.

It’s a good fit for either diehard meat eaters or those who prefer plant-based sustenance, and there will be plenty of sweets on-hand as well.

14. The Valley of the Roses and Koprivshtitsa

Source: nikolay100 / shutterstock

Roses have always played some important roles in Bulgarian society, and the Valley of the Roses is the country’s most productive growing region.

It’s also remarkably beautiful, and relatively close to Sofia as well.

On this guided tour, you’ll learn more about roses than you’d ever thought possible, and see them in all their natural splendor.

The tour also includes a number of historic attractions, like a temple constructed to memorialize the birth of Christ and a centuries-old tomb in Kazanlak.

Transportation to and from Sofia in an air-conditioned van is included, but the tour isn’t accessible for those who use wheelchairs.

15. Self-Guided Sofia Sightseeing Tour

Source: elRoce / shutterstock

Do-it-yourselfers have lots of easy options when visiting Sofia, and those who choose to take advantage of this self-guided tour can relax, because all the hard work has already been done by the tour’s creators.

The package includes the locations of the city’s most notable attractions, directions, and a brief overview of each.

For most, that’s just enough to get started. Once at each site, participants will have the luxury of spending as much or as little time as they’d like.

For those who do things strictly by the book, the tour usually takes about a half-day.

The post 15 Best Sofia Tours appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The endless sandy beach and nightlife are matched with a water park and amusement park, and by day you’ll also find a range of activities available, like diving and day trips.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Sunny Beach:

1. The Beachfront

Source: flickr

The scene at Sunny Beach is one you’ll know from the most popular Mediterranean beach resorts.

There’s a long and very wide golden sandy beach that reaches out for several kilometres next to Flower Street.

All along you’ll be able to hire a parasol and sun lounger, and after that you can rest easy, safe in the knowledge that all the amenities and services you could want are just a few steps away.

For young party animals there are beachfront bars with djs, while kids won’t be able to resist the playgrounds and bouncy castles next to the promenade.

2. Irakli

Source: sunnybeach-guide

Move away from the main strip and follow the coastal road round towards Cape Emine, and you’ll come to Irakli Beach.

This is the perfect antidote to the mayhem of the Sunny Beach strip.

There’s little sign of civilisation in the wooded hillsides that rise behind the beach’s golden sands and if you like you can take a walk along the sand beneath the tall bluffs that mark Irakli’s eastern boundary.

On a clear day the sea at Irakli is almost transparent, and the moderate currents will be safe for most swimmers.

3. Nightlife

Source: nightlife-cityguide

Sunny Beach is now well-established as one of Europe’s wildest party destinations, up there with Malia and Kavos for the 18-30 crowd.

The resort has some 15 bars and nightclubs, many of which are huge venues that can pack in a few hundred partygoers, and put on themed nights with paint and foam.

There are also several companies in Sunny Beach that organise bar crawls at night, and all sorts of activities and parties by day.

So if you’re a party animal you’ll be pretty pleased with what you find here.

4. Turkish Bath

Source: realtb2010

For those visiting Sunny Beach for a Stag holiday or a week of clubbing, a couple of hours at a Turkish Bath may be the perfect therapy if you’re worse for wear.

The Erma Spa in the centre of the resort is a Hammam, where you’ll enter a “hot room” before washing off in cold water and taking a massage.

Women can also indulge in cosmetic treatments and mani-pedis, so by the end of a visit everyone should be feeling a little more like themselves again!

5. Action Aquapark

Source: travelwithbender

Bulgaria’s first water park, Action Aquapark has been around since 2001 and gets bigger with each new year.

There are 30 water attractions in all here ranging from extreme plunges to more relaxing rivers and pools.

If you’re up for some action then you’ll want to make straight for the Free Fall, with speeds of up to 70 km/h, or the ominously-named Kamikaze, which starts at a height of 18 metres.

The Kids Zone is where the little guys and girls can make a splash in shallow pools or clamber through the various rope bridges and nets of the pirate-themed Adventure Island.

6. Sunny Beach Luna Park

Source: hotelharmony

Sunny Beach has its own large amusement park, with a host of funfair rides and games.

Big kids and adults can strap themselves into white-knuckle rides like The Booster, in which they enter one of two pods and will be flung at high-speed at the end of a rotating arm.

There’s also a roller-coaster with loops, all joined by the classic fairground games that we know from our childhoods.

Smaller children aren’t forgotten either; there are carousels for little ones, as well as the Family Apple Coaster with a caterpillar theme.

7. Diving

Source: tripadvisor

Nearby Nesebar is home to Angel Divers, a five star PADI dive resort.

The centre can offer courses and excursions for all levels of experience, and organises trips all along the Black Sea coast.

So whether you’ve always wanted to head beneath the waves for the first time, or want to get qualified, or are a seasoned diver who wants to explore a new sea, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

If wreck diving is your thing then there are tonnes of vessels on the seabed off Sunny Beach, including no fewer than three German u-boats!

8. Karting Track

Source: stag-sunnybeach

Sunny Beach has a go-karting track just off the Burgas-Varna road outside the resort.

It’s more family-friendly than you might think as the track puts speed restrictions on children’s karts, so kids as young as eight or nine will be able to take part.

But the karting track is a day out that will appeal to 20-somethings looking for an alternative to the beach and waterpark.

The 400-metre track is well looked-after, while the staff are friendly and helpful.

9. Day cruises

Source: reisgraag

For the ultimate day of relaxation you could spend a day aboard a luxury catamaran, sunbathing and indulging in great food and drink.

On a typical cruise you’ll board the boat in the morning and then lie back as you make a serene voyage to a remote beach.

The captain will drop anchor here and you’ll be free to go swimming or snorkelling in these tranquil waters.

Climb aboard for lunch and if you want you’ll be able to take the wheel and steer the catamaran for a while.

10. Off-road tours

Source: tripadvisor

In the countryside it also pays to call on someone who knows the terrain.

In Sunny Beach there are a couple of businesses that organise 4×4 excursions along the coast and into the backcountry.

If you aren’t renting a car during your trip to Sunny Beach, this represents the easiest way to see the landscapes around the resort.

You’ll visit a windswept lighthouse, a medieval orthodox church, swim at a deserted cove and explore Cape Emine the rugged and undeveloped headland just up from the resort.

The whole trip will be interspersed with little activities like walks, archery and rides on a horse and cart.

11. Bulgarian food and drink

Source: tripadvisor

Sunny Beach is replete with kiosks and food joints with international menus where kebabs appear alongside pizza and hamburgers.

Food is a bit more affordable at Bulgarian resorts compared to those on the Mediterranean.

It might be that you’re in the mood for an authentic night of dining. If so you could make for one of the smaller towns or villages around Sunny Beach such as Nessebar, where there are Bulgarian taverns or Mehanas.

Here a meal will involve lots of meat seared over hot charcoal and served with rakia or Bulgarian Marvrud wine.

12. Nessebar

Source: flickr

This coastal town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is just moments from Sunny Beach.

Nessebar is crammed with churches, some of which date to the years when Christianity was only just starting to spread through the Roman Empire.

The Church of St. Sophia is from the 400s and often listed as one of Bulgaria’s top tourist sites.

Even though it has been a ruin since the 700s three sides of the building are still standing, including the nave.

Take time to explore the rest of the town, stopping by the old fortifications and the distinctive windmill that marks the entrance to Nessebar.

13. Pomorie

Source: wikipedia

A short drive or bus ride south of Sunny Beach will get you to Pomorie a seaside town with a picturesque location at the end of a peninsula.

Of course, you’ll find the hallmarks of a resort here, with sandy beaches and waterfront bars. But if you delve a little deeper you can see wonderful fragments of history here.

There’s a Thracian tomb from the year 200 and the old town has houses built in the traditional wooden style. Also check out the Monastery of St. George, as well as the saline Pomorie Lake, a birdwatcher’s paradise, where salt has been harvested for millennia.

14. Burgas

Source: flickr

South of Sunny Beach the city of Burgas borders the largest lakeland area in Bulgaria.

The shores of these lakes have been inhabited since the Bronze Age when they became a vital Thracian trading post, and new discoveries are being made all the time.

On the shore of Lake Mandrensko there’s ancient Deultum, with mostly Roman ruins that include the detailed hypocaust of a bathing complex.

On a column of land between Lake Mandrensko and the sea is the Poda Protected Area, wetlands that support 46 nesting bird species (with large colonies of herons and egrets) and welcome many more migratory species.

Also see: Things to do in Burgas

15. Varna

Source: flickr

If you have a car then you could also spend the day in the city of Varna, around 90 minutes up the coast from Sunny Beach.

Varna is often described as Bulgaria’s “Summer Capital”, the coastal city that people from Sofia escape to when inland temperatures shoot up in July and August.

What you get a is all the fun of a seaside resort, including a humongous waterfront Sea Garden with a host of attractions and sights, with some serious pieces of culture.

If you do nothing else here, go to the Varna Archaeological Museum where the Gold of Varna is on display.

This is the oldest gold treasure in the world, dating back 6,000 years to the beginning of the Thracian civilisation.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

You can come in winter or summer to pit yourself against nature, cascading through powder on a freestyle ski run or scrambling up a dirt track on a mountain bike.

When you’re not careering through the scenery you can sit back and admire it from the window of a restaurant or cafe in Bansko’s old quarter.

This lofty town was home to a clutch of epoch-defining cultural figures, who helped lay the tracks for modern Bulgaria during the 19th-century Bulgarian Revival.

Let’s have a look at the best things to do in Bansko:

1. Skiing

Source: flickr

Bansko’s 16 ski runs are spread across three peaks, the highest beginning at 2600 metres near the summit of Todorka Mountain.

A network of ski lifts will get you up to the runs, including the high-capacity Bansko gondola that climbs more than 600 metres from near the centre of Bansko.

The resort has an affordable ski school for kids and adults, and a large rental centre to kit you out with all the gear you need.

If you get peckish on the slopes don’t worry because the ski station has eight bars and restaurants.

2. Summer hikes

Source: summerinbansko

These mountainsides that are under a white blanket in winter are ripe for adventure in the warmer months.

This is when you can set off from the ten trailheads around Bansko on routes that vary in difficulty but are mostly accessible to people of all ages.

In all there are 200 kilometres of trails within moments of your accommodation, much more than you could hope to cram into one holiday.

If you want things to get a bit more vertical then  you can also locate the resort’s 21 rock-climbing walls. Indeed, many Alpine climbers come to Pirin to train.

3. Mountain Biking

Source: summerinbansko

In the summer many of those ski and snowboard centres will stock all the gear for you to hit Bansko’s many trails on two wheels.

There are seven trails on Pirin Mountain alone, all well-marked and plotted on maps that you can download onto your smart phone.

One circular route, Ponderosa snakes along for 42 kilometres.

For these tougher challenges it’s usually recommended to set off with an experienced guide, who you’ll be able to hire from the same places you get your equipment.

4. Septemvri-Dobrinishte Line

Source: youtube

If you’re travelling from Sofia or Plovdiv, this 760mm narrow gauge railway serves Bansko from Septemvri.

It’s a journey  you’ll take with you for the rest of your life, gliding up from the Western Thracian Plain into a sequence of mountain chains culminating with the vast Pirin range that dominates Bansko.

The line was constructed in sections between 1921 and 1945, and Avramovo Station at 1267 metres is Balkan’s highest railway station.

Between Avramovo and the previous stop at Sveta Petka there’s an elevation differential of 227 metres, which is achieved by four spirals, and on this section the train changes direction no fewer than six times.

5. Ice skating

Source: flickr

This might sound a bit mushy, but it doesn’t get more romantic than ice-skating under the stars, even if you don’t have Olympic skills on the ice.

Bansko’s rink, one of the largest in Bulgaria, has been open for every winter season since 2010 and is an affordable 10 leva for adults and 5 leva for kids.

The rink stays open well after sunset, so it’s a fun, family-friendly way to fill the hours between coming down from the slopes and heading out to dinner.

6. Other summer fun

Source: cloudninechalets

Aside from hiking and mountain biking there’s more than enough around the resort to entertain a family for a few days.

At the resort there’s tubing, mini golf and even a giant table-football pitch if you don’t mind looking a bit silly.

You could also rent a bike to explore the roads and trails at a more sedate pace or catch the gondola lift up the mountain and see the best panoramas of the Pirin National Park when it’s painted with dark evergreen hills in summer.

7. Vihren

Source: flickr

For rugged, outdoorsy types the ultimate challenge round these parts is Mount Vihren, which tops out at almost 3,000 metres.

Although it’s not a climb to take lightly, most people who do it are surprised at how achievable it is. There are a couple of companies in Bansko that will send you up there with expert guides.

Most people make the climb in spring and early-summer and it’s essential of course that you come with the proper gear, as even as late as May there’s snow up here.

The walk is an experience you won’t soon forget; not far from the peak are glassy alpine lakes with perfectly reflective waters.

8. Pirin Street

Source: tripadvisor

This is old Bansko’s high street where winter sport shops vie for your attention alongside bars, restaurants, cafes and a number of souvenir shops.

This is also near where many of the hotels and ski lodges are located, so on winter evenings Pirin Street thrums with activity and a party atmosphere.

Restaurants will even try to draw you in by grilling kebabs in their shop-fronts! By day in winter or summer of you gaze down the street you’ll have those astounding views of the Pirin Mountains.

9. Velyanova House

Source: flickr

Velian Ognev was a 19th-century artist closely associated with Bansko, composing  several icons and frescoes that you’ll see in the Holy Trinity church listed below.

His home has been kept as it was when he was alive so is a monument to Bulgarian Revival architecture. Velian Ognev painted the bright murals that you’ll see throughout the building’s interior as well as on the upper section of the external walls.

These paintings depict Europe’s major cities, which reflects the spirit of the times in Bulgaria as the country looked beyond its borders and towards the west in particular.

10. Holy Trinity Church

Source: flickr

In the 19th-century Bulgarian Revival the country regained a sense of national identity after centuries under Ottoman dominion.

Bansko’s main church is a product of that time and was designed in a neo-byzantine style with three naves.

It was commissioned by a wealthy local merchant and everything you’ll see was the work of craftsmen and artists from the area.

The icons and frescoes were created by Velian Ognev and the Brothers Dimitar and Simeon Moleovi, all in the mid-1800s. More of their works can be seen at the Icons Exhibition close by.

11. Neofit Rilski House Museum

Source: flickr

One of the pioneering figures of the Bulgarian Revival, Neofit Rilski, was born right in Bansko.

Rilksi made the first popular translation of the bible into modern Bulgarian and also wrote the first grammar book for the Bulgarian language.

You can check out his birthplace right next to the Holy Trinity Church. It’s a traditional rural home known as a “Benina” and dates to the 1700s.

On display are authentic artefacts relating to his work, including an edition of his Bulgarian grammar book and sections from a Greek-Bulgarian dictionary that he also made.

12. Nightlife and restaurants

Source: skichalets-bansko

You can’t have a ski resort without an après ski, and Bansko has a couple of nightspots close to the main gondola station.

Happy End is a nightclub and music venue that has welcomed some half-decent performers in its time, like the French House DJ Bob Sinclair. Sing Sing is a cocktail bar that also has a live music stage, and both venues are open well into the night during the busy winter season.

Food-wise Bansko is surprisingly international, with an Italian ristorante (creatively named “Soprano’s”) and a sushi bar complete with Bulgaria’s only tepenyaki grill.

13. Icons Exhibition

Source: flickr

This permanent exhibition is inside Bansko’s oldest building, a former convent dating to 1749.

Within there’s a collection of painted icons, each accompanied by a label giving details about the painter and the subject.

Most are local works by the school that produced the paintings for Bansko’s church.

Winter or summer this meditative attraction offers a few minutes of reflection before you get on with your action-packed holiday.

14. Mehanas

Source: bansko-guide

The best way to warm up after a brisk day on the pistes is at a Bulgarian Mehana, or tavern, where Bulgarian cuisine is grilled over open charcoal fires.

Authentic Bulgarian Mehanas also put on dancing and live music to accompany your meal and ensure you come away better acquainted with the regional food and folk culture.

To start you’ll normally get shopska, a light salad with cucumber, peppers, onion and parsley.

Follow this with warming stews or a variety of kebabs, roasted vegetables and meatballs paired seared over flames and served with a local red wine.

Mehana Chanove is the pick of Bansko’s taverns .

15. Rila Monastery

Source: flickr

It may take a bit of an adventure to reach this 10th-century monastery enveloped by the steep slopes of the Rila Mountains, but the trip is worth it both for the upland beauty along the way and the magnificent destination.

Rila Monastery is UNESCO-listed and was visited by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

The residential part of the monastery boasts medieval fortifications and a loggia (or cloisters) with four tiers of arches.

The tiling all around is in the classic byzantine style, while if you visit the church you can take in the sumptuous 19th-century murals that seem to cover every available surface.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Bansko (Bulgaria) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The Roman Theatre is one of the most complete you’ll ever see, while the city’s hillside Old Town is a kind of outdoor museum littered with ancient churches and mansions built by wealthy merchants from the city’s past that open their doors to the public. It all makes for an enchanting place where western and eastern cultures have interacted for centuries.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Plovdiv:

1. Ancient theatre

Source: wikipedia

One of the world’s most intact Ancient theatres, this building is still in use almost 2000 years after it was constructed.

There’s capacity for up to 7000 here and the structure cuts into the side of Taksim Tepe, one of Plovdiv’s six hills, and as you step down the slope towards the terraces the views of the city and the Rhodope Mountains behind are astounding.

The theatre was only rediscovered in the 1970s after a landslide had taken place on the hill.

If you’re in town in the summer don’t miss the chance to see an opera or theatre performance at this dreamy setting.

2. Plovdiv Roman Stadium

Source: flickr

At one time this 2nd-century stadium could seat 30,000 spectators, although today you can only see fragments of this structure.

It sits beneath parts of Plovdiv’s Old Town and like the city’s Roman theatre was only excavated in the 20th century.

The best views can be had from Dzhumaya Square where you can look over the railings down to a large section of the stadium’s seating.

Walk down and you can navigate a vaulted passageway that runs underneath the northern curve.

Drop by the visitor centre that will fill you in on the stadium’s history.

3. Plovdiv Old Town

Source: flickr

The car-free cobblestone streets of old Plovdiv are a joy, where traditional homes blend with Plovdiv’s roman ruins.

Most of the houses in this part of the city, particularly on Ulitsa Saborna, are half-timbered and some of the richer examples are painted in vivid colours.

Take the House of Stepan Hindliyan, dating to the mid-1800s, which is blue with characteristic delicate sgrafitto designs around its window frames.

You can enter this lovely old house, and several others in the Old Town, to see the extravagant interior decorations.

The murals in just one room in Stepan Hindliyan’s House took six months to paint by hand!

4. Bachkovo Monastery

Source: flickr

Just past Plovidiv’s southeastern reaches, outside the town of Asenovgrad, is this monastery  founded in 1083.

Bachkovo is the second-largest and oldest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and brings together Bulgarian, Georgian and byzantine religious traditions.

The oldest part of the original complex to survive is the ossuary, a few hundred metres from the main buildings.

Here there are frescoes from the 1300s, one depicting Tsar Ivan Alexander of the Second Bulgarian Empire.

Inside the Holy Virgin Church there’s an icon of the Virgin Mary that was brought here from Georgia in the early-14th century.

5. Regional Ethnographic Museum

Source: flickr

This Old Town attraction is in another merchant’s house built in the mid-19th Century, this one belonging to Argir Kuyumdzhioglu who was originally from Bulgaria.

As you enter you’ll notice the ornate baroque sgraffito above the entrance and the undulating curves  of the building’s roof.

The attraction has gathered more than 40,000 items relating to Bulgarian folk culture over the centuries.

You’ll see authentic musical instruments, fabrics, clothing, handicrafts and farm tools.

You can also contrast rural village life in the Rhodope room with urban opulence in the Plovdiv guest room.

6. Ancient Philippopolis

Source: romanplovdiv

Next to Plovdiv’s post office are the remnants of the city’s Roman forum that intersected the two main streets, cardo maximus and decumanus maximus.

This would have been magnificent in its day, when you would have stepped through three grand archways or propylae to enter the square.

What you’ll see now are evocative pieces of Doric columns. Just next door is the odeon where Plovdiv’s council would have met, underlining the city’s importance to this region.

Here you can look down on a semi-circular arena with several rows of seating completely undamaged.

7. Mevlevi Hane

Source: visitplovdiv

This building belonged to the Mevlevi Order of Sufis, which makes it kind of a rarity in Bulgaria.

The Mevlevi order was around during Ottoman times but died out in Plovdiv at the end of the 19th century.

All that is left is the hall, or ‘tekke’, where the sufis performed their famous liturgical dances. It dates to the renaissance period but also displays Ottoman modifications.

The Hane is especially worthwhile because it backs onto the old city’s defences, and some of the artefacts that have been pulled out of digs can be seen downstairs in the Puldin restaurant.

8. The Clock Tower

Source: flickr

Crowning Sahat Tepe, one of Plovdiv’s six hills, is this fortified tower and one of the city’s emblems.

You’ll be able get up here in no more than a few minutes from the Roman Stadium, and the building with its conical lead roof atop a gallery is at least 300 years old.

A few small changes have been made down the years: In 1883 the large clock that you can see today was fitted, having been purposely crafted in Vienna.

9. Asen’s Fortress

Source: flickr

A short drive or bus ride southeast of Plovdiv will take you to a medieval castle that teeters on the edge of  ridge over the Asenitsa River.

As you approach by road you’ll see this impressive building, stark against a landscape of limestone rocks and pine brush.

The walls of the fortress zigzag down the precipitous mountainsides, guarding a perch that has been a stronghold for as long as 6,000 years, back to the time of the Thracians.

What you see today is from the 1200s, and the best-preserved section is the Church of the Holy Mother of God with beautiful if partially damaged murals from the 14th century.

10. Church of St. Konstantin and Elena

Source: visitplovdiv

Part of the Acropolis is one of Plovdiv’s oldest pieces of Christian heritage; a church that dates all the way back to the 4th century.

Records show that it was erected around 30 years after the martyrs Severin and Memnos were decapitated on this spot for their Christian faith when paganism was still prevailing.

The interior is from the Bulgarian National Revival in the 1800s and decorated in a lavish neo-baroque style.

11. Dzhumaya Mosque

Source: flickr

After the Ottomans took the city in the 1300s they built this mosque over the top of a cathedral that had stood here before.

After a couple of hundred years this building was updated during the rule of Sultan Murad II, which is what you see today.

On small but arresting addition took place in the 1800s when the north side of the mosque was refurbished with wooden kiosks.

12. Plovdiv Aviation Museum

Source: blazingbulgaria

After a day or two touring ancient ruins and historic churches you may need a change of pace.

And this attraction at the city’s airport will catch the interest of anyone intrigued by Bulgaria’s communist past and Cold War history.

There’s a fab outdoor collection of migs and yaks here that you can get right up close to.

But surely the most valuable plane is the Arado 196 A-3, a German seaplane manufactured in 1938. It’s the last surviving model in the world.

13. Walk Plovdiv’s Hills

Source: flickr

Plovdiv’s six hills rise like big humps from the body of the city.

There used to be seven, but one, Markovo Tepe, was quarried for its syenite stone in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In fact, most of the paving around Plovidv is made from this syenite, so if you walk the city streets you could say you’re walking on Markovo Tepe!

The taller of the remaining six hills are forested, and locals will tell you that you have to climb all of them to see the sunsets from each one.

You might not have time for that, so try Dzhendem Tepe, a natural landmark and the tallest at more than 300 metres.

14. Traditional Bulgarian fare

Source: programata

For international cuisine and fast food Plovdiv definitely holds its own, but since you came this far you should pop in at an authentic restaurant.

At a Bulgarian Mehana there will be traditional dance performances from a stage or courtyard while you eat.

This isn’t just for tourists; it’s just the way many people take their meals in this part of the world. Megdana in Plovdiv is one of the best for this.

Dinner hear means big cuts of chargrilled meat, clay pot stews, mushrooms on skewers, halloumi cheese, yoghurt and fresh shopska salad, made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers.

15. Mavrud Wine and Rakia

There are two local drinks in Plovdiv, and it has to be said that one is a bit more refined than the other.

First up is the powerful Rakia, which is “enjoyed” across the Balkans, and tends be slightly different depending on where you go.

This stuff has been brewed in Bulgaria since at least the 1000s and is best paired with a typical light shopska salad.

There are also tour operators in Plovdiv offering trips around the Thracian Lowland wine region surrounding the city. You can find a list of available tours right here.

This is where the indigenous Mavrud red grape is grown, which is often blended with other grapes but also makes it s own varietals, and is served at restaurants in Plovdiv.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

It’s a fairly new settlement that was developed in the 19th century, but the shores of the lakes close by have been trading posts for thousands of years and witnessed one of the earliest civilisations in Europe.

Holidays in Burgas mean beach-time, family outings to the huge Sea Garden, excursions to museums and archaeology sites, as well as day trips to the many exciting destinations that lie up along the Black Sea coast.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Burgas:

1. Sea Garden

Source: flickr

Among the many great things about Bulgarian coastal cities are their giant seafront parks, where amusements, sports facilities, gardens and cultural sites all come together in one attraction.

You’ll find yourself returning over and over to the Sea Garden during your stay, simply because so many of the city’s attractions are found here.

Within these 72,000 square metres are wooded parkland, elegant promenades with fountains, playgrounds, cafes, ice cream stands, an open air theatre, tennis courts – the choice of things to do just goes on and on, and in the summer evenings you can come down for a classical concert.

2. Poda Protected Area

Source: flickr

Here’s a waterfront park of a wilder variety: Poda is a wetland reserve just south of the city.

The low-lying setting around Burgas makes for large saline and freshwater lakes, and big swathes of marshland such as Poda, which is between the sea and Lake Mandrensko.

People come to catch a glimpse of the rich birdlife that is supported by the wetlands.

Despite the park’s relatively small area, some 265 bird species have been sighted at Poda, 46 of which nest here.

There are large colonies of all sorts of herons and egrets, as well as spoonbills and gloss ibises.

3. Holy Cross Armenian Church

Source: flickr

A further reminder of how Bulgaria is a nexus between cultures is this Armenian Orthodox church from the mid-19th century, listed as a Bulgarian cultural heritage monument.

Armenians are the country’s fifth-largest minority, although there are now fewer than 7,000 still living here.

If you peek inside you can see a poignant memorial to the 1915 genocide, and the church’s pointed dome and unembellished architecture is in keeping with the Armenian style.

Opposite the church is a typical Armenian cafe, so you can round off your visit with a typical cup of strong, syrupy coffee!

4. Ethnographic Museum

Source: bulrent

If you’re from western or northern Europe you might be unfamiliar Bulgarian cultural traditions so this is a handy way to get up to speed.

The museum is housed in a stately home built for the local 19th-century bigwig Dimitar Todorov Brakalov.

The original first floor interior has been preserved, so you can get an idea of local design, as well as upmarket women’s fashion thanks to a textiles exhibit.

Upstairs are large displays of traditional costumes from every ethnographic group to have populated the region around Burgas, with daily clothing alongside the costumes that were worn for rituals and religious events.

5. Archaeology Museum

Source: gotoburgas

The Ancient Thracians dominated this region and left behind a whole load of artefacts you can peruse this handsome 19th-centruy former schoolhouse.

One of the most must-see exhibits features the treasures discovered in the tomb of a Thracian princess.

An entire Bronze Age settlement has also been discovered underwater close to Burgas, and you’ll see maritime tools recovered from this site.

There are also Minoan bronze ingots on display, indicating trade between this area and the Minoans, who held sway in eastern Greece and on Turkey’s Aegean coast.

6. Deultum

Source: flickr

Set on the western shore of Lake Mandrensko is the village of Deabelt, which has Thracian origins but flourished in Roman times.

For amateur historians the Deultum excavation site is the big story here. Deultum was a free Roman colony founded in the 1st century by retired legionaries, and over time it became one of the richest towns in the Balkan region, especially after the capital switched from Rome to Constantinople.

The most arresting of these ruins are the remnants of the bathing complex, with a large section of the intricate hypocaust heating system visible.

7. Mosta

Source: e-burgas

There’s a stark beauty to Burgas’ pier, which stretches from the tree-lined edge of the Sea Gardens out into the Black Sea for almost 300 metres.

It might be Burgas’ most recognisable structure, not least because of its distinctive T-shape.

Locals and holidaymakers of all ages will come to take romantic walks and look back at the view of the coast from the elevated viewing platform at one end.

In summer fishermen will cast their lines over the railings and brave young lads will jump off into the water several metres below.

8. St. Anastasia Island

Source: gotoburgas

In July and August you can catch a boat from Mosta to this island a few kilometes southeast of the city.

This is Bulgaria’s largest inhabited island, which isn’t saying a lot as St. Anastasia is very small: There’s only a handful of buildings here including a restaurant, museum , guesthouses and a lighthouse.

For much of the 20th century St. Anastasia was an offshore prison, but there had been a convent here since medieval times.

This is a place to get a change of airs and a little seclusion: You can even rent a room at one the guesthouses to stay overnight.

9. Sozopol

Source: flickr

A Black Sea resort 35 kilometes down from Burgas, Sozopol also has a history that goes back to the Thracians and is one of the oldest towns around.

It was founded as Apollonia in the 7th century BC, named after its temple to Apollo which boasted a huge statue of the God that was taken to Rome and displayed in the Capitol.

Take a look at the traditional carved wooden buildings in the Sozopol’s Old Town where you’ll also find intriguing fragments of the town’s ancient past.

You can take a mini tour of the town’s restored medieval fortifications, and if you need to cool off you can choose between little rocky coves or the golden sands of Piasachni diuni, just around the Stolets Peninsula from the town.

10. North Beach

Source: flickr

Bordered by Seaside Park, North Beach is where Burgas comes to sunbathe, swim and take part in a host of activities both on land and in the sea.

The beach is 1700 metres- long and the broad strip of sand is cleaned daily and complemented by bars and restaurants as well as all the attractions of Burgas’ Seaside Park.

There are also beach football areas, volleyball courts, together with changing facilities and showers for swimmers.

In short, you’ve got all you need close at hand, and families and couples can nest here for the day and take it easy.

11. Traditional Mehana

Source: burgas-guide

Even in a modern resort like Burgas you should still take the chance to try typical Bulgarian cuisine in the typically Bulgarian setting of a mehana, or tavern.

These are restaurants that serve all the Bulgarian classics like kebabs and a range of other grilled meats, stuffed peppers and the famous shopska salad.

Get some rakia or Bulgarian red wine to go with you meal, and while you dine you’ll be treated to traditional Bulgarian musicians and dancers in folk costume.

Finish up with baklava or sweetened yoghurt and you’ll know you got an authentic taste of Bulgaria, in more ways than one.

12. St. Ivan Island

Source: archaeologyinbulgaria

In the bay off Sozopol is this island named after John the Baptist (Ivan in Slavic languages).

What’s really fascinating is that a sarcophagus containing relics were discovered on this uninhabited island in 2010, and they were dated to the 1st century AD and deemed to have belonged to a man who lived in the Middle East.

History aside, St. Ivan Island is a blissful nature reserve, a nesting site for more than 70 birds and one of the last habitats for the extremely rare Mediterranean monk seals.

Get there by boat from Sozopol in summer.

13. Burgas Galleria

Source: kempsarchitecturallighting

When the mercury rises you could retreat to the air-conditioned confines of this new three- storey mall.

It’s on the western edge of the city but has a bus transfer link with the centre that runs all day-long.

Inside are all the international high-streets brands you’ll know, like H&M, Zara and Benetton.

Shopping can be hungry work and you can hit the food court on the second floor where kids will be pleased to find fast-food chains.

14. Strandzha

Source: panda

Bulgaria’s far southeastern corner, hugging the border with Turkey is one vast natural park.

The landscape is low forested mountains and bucolic hillside farms that roll out to the horizon.

Hidden in this scenery are villages and hamlets where you can check out the traditional Bulgarian stone and wood houses, and see modes of life that haven’t changed much in centuries.

The climate in this pocket of Bulgaria is surprisingly humid, with rain that nourishes deciduous forest and gives rise to plenty of green pasture where livestock graze.

15. Nessebar

Source: flickr

Just 35 kilometres north along the coast is a UNESCO-listed town that pulls together all the fun of the seaside with sites of immense historical wealth.

On the cobblestone streets of old Nessebar you’ll be confronted by a beautiful old church at almost every turn.

The most valuable here go back to the 500s: St. Sofia has lain in ruin since the 1700s, but it’s easy to make out the nave and the Byzantine arches of the walls are mostly intact.

If you have the energy there are at least ten other ancient and medieval churches to seek out, but you can also see the city fortifications and the emblematic windmill that marks the Nesebar’s entrance.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Burgas (Bulgaria) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The oldest gold treasure in the world (6k years-old) is on display at the city’s archaeology museum and if that’s not enough you can see fantastical natural rock formations, hike through a real desert, travel back to communist times or spend hot days chilling on a sandy beach by the Black Sea.

Here are the best things to do in Varna:

1. The Sea Garden

Source: flickr

A massive park that runs along the seafront and cuts into the city for quite a way too, the Sea Garden is a national monument of landscaped architecture.

This is where Varna’s citizens come to relax and have fun at attractions like the Dophinarium and zoo for families, and casino for grown-ups.

The Sea Garden has plenty to see and do, but on a blistering day nothing beats an easy restorative wander along the broad promenades, next to flowerbeds and in the shade of the palms and deciduous trees.

As you walk see if you can find the statue of Yuri Gagarin in the Alley of the Cosmonauts: Gagarin himself inaugurated this part of the garden in front of large crowds in 1961.

2. Archaeological Museum

Source: dickschmitt

Varna’s Roman heritage has given the city a trove of precious artefacts, but the Gold of Varna exhibit pushes the Archaeological Museum up the list of must-sees.

This is what most visitors come for: A collection of gold and precious items recovered from the Varna Necropolis, where  Thracian graves date back an amazing 6,500 years.

This makes the Gold of Varna the oldest gold treasure in the world. These artefacts have toured the word and contain numerous pieces of jewellery, utensils and other decorative items.

One tomb at the necropolis, probably belonging to a chief or priest, was loaded with 1.5 kg of gold!

3. Aladzha Monastery

Source: varna

Just beyond Varna’s northeastern suburbs is an astounding Orthodox cave monastery complex that is part of a protected natural area just in from the coast.

These caves are man-made and have been purposely carved from the face of a 25-metre-high karst cliff. It’s one for the sure-footed, as some of the terrain can be tough! Inside the monastery you can see boasting mosaics that have survived very well, and medieval frescoes that have been partly lost.

From there you can walk the short trail through the forest to get to two catacombs.

4. Varna Cathedral

Source: flickr

The shining copper domes of this majestic church form one of the city’s postcard scenes.

The cathedral was built not long after the Bulgarian Liberation from the Ottomans by the Russians in the late-19th century, and was modelled on the temple at Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg.

More than 50 of the icons that you can see in the church’s cavernous interior were donated by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II in the early 20th century, and much of the other decoration that you can see inside was added in stages because of war.

For instance, the huge stained-glass windows weren’t installed until the 1960s.

5. Battle of Varna Park Museum

Source: varna.bg

This museum marks the site of one of the pivotal moments in European late-medieval history. At Varna in 1444 a Hungarian-Polish Christian Army was defeated by Sultan Murad II’s Ottoman Army.

This gave way to several centuries of Turkish dominance in the region, leading right up to the late-19th century.

The park is set to the west of Varna and its buildings feature a permanent exhibition of 15th-century weapons and armour picked up from the aftermath of the battle.

Take time to explore the rest of the park, because the city’s mausoleum is here as well as Thracian barrows containing tombs from 4,000BC.

6. Stone Forest

Source: flickr

A little further on from the battlefield is a strange natural phenomenon at what is the only desert in Bulgaria.

The Stone Forest is a field of stone columns, some seven metres high covering an area of about 13 square kilometres.

These columns are hollow and have been formed by a process known as methane oxidation caused by tiny organisms, but it’s difficult to believe they’re not man-made.

The columns well worth a few snaps, but you can also have a look around the only desert on the European continent apart from Tabernas in Spain.

7. Varna Roman Baths

Source: flickr

Just to the southeast of Varna is a bath complex that once belonged to the Roman city of Odessus.

These baths date back to the year 100: They’re among the largest Roman Thermae to survive in Europe, and only second of all those outside Rome.

One section of the building is 25 metres tall and you can clearly make out all of the original facilities.

You can even see the remnants of the typocaust, which heated the baths via a network of underground pipes. Elevated walkways give you a bird’s eye view, and the baths are unforgettable at night when they’re all lit up.

8. Retro Museum

Source: bulrent

For a blast from the not too distant past, Varna’s Retro Museum sheds light on the city during socialist times.

The museum is set in the Grand Mall and has curated pretty much every aspect of daily living from the 20th century that you could care to think of.

There are Bulgarian cigarettes, kitchen utensils, vacuum cleaners and cosmetics. These are next to wax figures of the most prominent public figures, like the singer Emil Dimitrov, and of course Todor Zhivkov, the head of state throughout this time.

The marquee attraction here though is the collection of 50 cars, with boxy Skodas, Trabants and Volgas, plus a Chaika limo that transported Politburo members.

9. University Botanical Garden

Source: Visit Varna

If you’ve brought the whole clan with you to Varna this is an afternoon out that everyone can get behind.

You could visit the peaceful surrounds of this 360-hectare park and arboretum for a simple stroll or to take a picnic in the shade.

The Botanical Garden opened in 1977 and contains 300 species of plants and bushes.

If you come in early-summer you’ll be treated to the lovely spectacle of the gardens’ 250 species of iris and 30 rose species in bloom.

10. The Wonderful Rocks

Source: trekearth

These weird rockforms were awarded “National Phenomenon” status by the government in 1949.

Like the Stone Forest it’s a landscape that needs to be seen to be believed.

Here are what you can only describe as 50 metre-stone needles that stand on the riverside like the towers of some great abstract fortress.

The rocks are limestone and their alien shapes are the upshot of eons of wind and water erosion.

Rock climbers love these bluffs, though if you’re just a casual walker you’ll get a great view of the needles by following the tunnel that cuts beneath them.

11. Barite Complex

Source: flickr

This unusual attraction helps both tourists and Varna residents get in touch with Bulgaria’s old ways.

It can best be described as an open air museum that you can stay in.

There are five traditional houses here, as well as a restaurant built from stone and wood sourced locally.

You can see the area’s typical crafts and clothing at the ethnographic museum and you can also catch performances of traditional dance, songs and various rituals rooted in Bulgarian folklore.

The complex is in a true country idyll, next to a river and beneath green hills dotted with cattle that even provide the milk for yoghurt served at the restaurant.

12. Museum of the History of Medicine

Source: varna

The University of Varna hosts the only attraction dedicated to the history of medicine in the Balkans.

It’s not just for budding doctors; there’s a chronology of medical practice in Bulgaria since Ancient Thrace through the Ancient Greeks, Romans and the early days of Bulgarian independence, each era represented by authentic artefacts discovered locally.

The museum displays some 4,000 medical volumes, as well as natural history exhibits covering the timeline of human development in the region.

Modern medicine is also covered, in the form of an x-ray machine and ultrasound scanner.

13. Euxinograd

Source: vizts

This was once a monastery, but in the in the years that followed the Bulgarian Revival, the head of state Prince Ferdinand I hired architects from France to design the formal gardens around a French-style chateau.

He imported plant species like the Atlantic cedar for the grounds, and greenhouses were put up to winter the gardens’ exotic plant species such as palms.

A winery was also built in the monastery’s converted cellar, complete with a small bottling plant.

Today the palace is a summer residence for the president, but visitors can take a turn around the gardens with their topiaries, and visit most of the palace’s outer buildings.

14. Golden Sands

Source: flickr

In summer the temperatures in Varna soar to the high-20s, but luckily you’ll always have the option of cooling off at this Black Sea resort a quick drive or bus ride up the shore.

A quiet, family-friendly choice is the private Nirvana Beach with an undeveloped seafront equipped only with a beach bar.

The main beachfront of the resort looks a bit like a Mediterranean destination such as Marbella, with high-rise apartments, hotels over bars and nightclubs, next to a broad strip of the golden sand that gives this resort its imaginative name!

15. Amusement Park Varna

Source: flickr

One for the little guys, Varna’s Amusement Park is part of the Sea Garden and will help kids burn off some of that excess energy.

It’s a series of little attractions and rides, including bumper cars, carousels, mini-roller coasters, a lake with dinghies, a Ferris wheel and trampolines with a kind of bungee rope contraption that kids will want to bounce on for hours.

Older children and teenagers won’t find too much to entertain them, but this park is ideal for the littler members of the family.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Varna (Bulgaria) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Many of the buildings you’ll see are from the Bulgarian Revival in the late-19th century, when the country reclaimed its independence from the Ottomans. And always to the southwest looms the monumental Vitosha Mountain.

Here are the best things to do in Sofia:

1. St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

Source: flickr

The scale of this building will blow you away. Inside St. Alexander Nevski has room for 10,000 people and it’s the second largest cathedral in the Balkan region.

As with a great deal of Sofia’s grand architecture, the city’s cathedral dates to the 1880s.

This was directly after the Ottomans were overthrown and the state of Bulgaria was re-established.

It was originally dedicated to the Russian soldiers that lost their lives in the course of this liberation.

When you’re inside, look up at ceiling of the main cupola, which has a mural of the Lord God Sabbath.

The crypt here is open to visitors and has a big collection of icons.

2. St. George Rotunda

Source: flickr

The heart of ancient Serdica and the oldest building in modern Sofia, this red brick church was built all the way back in 300s.

It’s a wonder that this building has survived unscathed for such an amount of time, and all around are interesting little details that hit home the great age of the site and civilisations that have passed though.

Step inside to view the detailed medieval frescoes that had been painted over by the Ottomans when the church was converted to a mosque in the 1600s.

These were only rediscovered and restored in the 1990s. Outside you can see the flagstones of a Roman street and other remnants of Ancient Serdica.

3. Vitosha Boulevard

Source: flickr

The fanciest street in the city, Vitosha Boulevard is where all the posh boutiques and fashion houses are clustered.

If you’re not an upmarket shopper then you can just console yourself with those arresting views of Vitosha Mountain which is capped with a dusting of snow for much of the year and framed by the street’s tall buildings.

It’s a thoroughly pleasant place to spend a couple of hours; the cafes along the pedestrian street have outdoor seating and in recent years the lampposts, benches and kiosks have been redesigned into an elegant art nouveau style, recalling the early years of the Bulgarian Revival.

4. St. Sofia Church

Source: wikipedia

It was this church that gave the city of Sofia its name in the 1300s during the Second Bulgarian Empire.

This unassuming red brick building goes right back to Byzantine times and was founded in the 500s on top of the ancient city of Serdica’s necropolis, as well as an older church from a century before.

When you visit you can see the remnants of this ancient church and the tombs that date back more than 1500 years.

For two centuries after the Ottoman invasion this was a mosque, but was abandoned after one earthquake in the 1800s brought the minaret down and another killed the Imam’s two son’s.

5. Boyana Church

Source: flickr

On the lower slopes of Vitosha Mountain (which we’ll come to next) is this UNESCO heritage site.

The location of this medieval church is almost dreamlike, in a grove of tall softwood trees in a quiet suburb of the city.

Boyana Church was built in three stages from the 1000s to the 1800s, but the most important additions were made during the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 1200s.

This is when the fabulous interior frescoes were painted, depicting some 240 historical and biblical figures in a realistic style 200 years before renaissance artists were doing the same.

The paintings, by an unknown artist, include contemporary portraits of two Bulgarian rulers, Tsar Konstantin Assen and Tsar Koloyan, next to their wives.

6. Vitosha Mountain

Source: flickr

Climbing to more than 2,200 metres behind Sofia’s southwestern suburbs is Vitosha, a monumental peak in a nature park, promising more adventure than you could ever cram into one trip.

The easiest way to access Vitosha is via Aleko, the mountain’s ski resort, which is where the Simeonovo gondola lift will drop you off.

From there the walk to Vitosha’s Black Peak is surprisingly light when then weather’s good in spring or autumn, as the peak is part of a large plateau that seems to go on forever thanks to its shallow gradient.

Of course, you don’t need to go that far for an incredible, vertiginous view of Sofia.

7. National Institute of Archaeology

Source: myvacationitineraries

Ferdinand I was on hand when this museum was inaugurated back in 1905 as a way of bring all of the important archaeological finds scattered around Sofia and Bulgaria under one roof.

And the roof they chose was that of the city’s former Grand Mosque, decommissioned following the Bulgarian Revival.

The main sections here are Prehistory, Main Hall (containing items from classical civilisations), Medieval Section and Treasury.

The last on that list has the Valchitran and Lukovit Treasures, two breathtaking hoards of Thracian Gold.

Discovered in 1953, the Lukovit Treasure dates to the time of Alexander the Great’s invasion of Thrace in 400BC.

8. National Historical Museum

Source: flickr

This museum’s home is also a piece of Bulgarian history in its own right.

The National Historical Museum is housed in the former dictator Todor Zhivkov’s residence.

It’s a hulking slab of Stalinist architecture fronted by a massive open yard.

The collection at the museum is gigantic; the 65,000 items on display is just one tenth of what is held behind the scenes in its archives.

The variety of items here is also mind boggling, going from 20th-century space research equipment to treasures belonging to the Odrysians who held sway in Bulgaria until they were conquered by the Romans in the 1st century.

9. Ivan Vazov National Theatre

Source: flickr

The Viennese architects Helmer & Fellner, responsible for a catalogue of extravagant buildings across Central Europe, built this theatre in 1909.

True to form the Ivan Vazov National Theatre is a grand neoclassical structure that remains the last word in Bulgarian culture to this day.

The building with its towering portico is an iconic sight for Bulgaria, appearing on banknotes, and is most famous for its drama productions.

Chief Director here is Alexander Morfov, responsible for acclaimed Bulgarian and Russian language adaptations of Don Quixote and Shakespeare plays in here and in Russia.

10. Borisova gradina

Source: wikimedia

Sofia’s most famous park was landscaped in the 1880s right after the Bulgarian Revival, making it the oldest one in the city.

It was developed over the next 50 years by three different designers: the Swiss Daniel Neff, the Alsatian Joseph Frei and then the Bulgarian Georgi Dutev (when the park’s Soviet monuments were installed).

But what’s impressive is that all the landscapers worked within the original plan, and the upshot is a pleasing sense of coherence for such a big project.

It all makes for a refreshing afternoon amble, and if you’re here on a summer evening there are free concerts to catch.

11. Serdica Amphitheatre

Source: arenadiserdica

Sofia’s own Roman amphitheatre wasn’t discovered until 2004.

In its day it was one of the largest in the Roman empire, holding gladiator fights and grisly battles pitting men against wild beasts.

What’s also interesting about this arena is the way it had three lives: First it was a theatre, then an amphitheatre that was sacked by the Goths.

In the 400s the arena was rebuilt but was abandoned not long after.

After it was unearthed it became integrated into the design of the Arena di Serdica hotel, but visitors off the street are free to look down at the ruins from the hotel’s specially-designed gallery.

12. Central Mineral Baths

Source: flickr

Sofia has a lot of spring activity, and these waters have drawn visitors since medieval times.

The Ottomans developed their own hammam at this site, and when it was destroyed following the Bulgarian Revival a new city bathing complex was built.

The Central Baths date to 1913 and were in use up until the mid-80s.

It’s one of Sofia’s most photographed buildings, constructed in the neo-byzantine style with a large dome behind an impressive vestibule.

The gardens are open to the public and the fountain at the centre is fed by the hot natural mineral water.  You’re free to try it if you’re brave enough!

13. Park Vrana

Source: deviantart

These are the grounds of the stately home of the aristocrat Simeon II, who was Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943-46 before going into exile.

After returning he was prime minister from 2001-05.

The estate is only open on weekends and you can’t enter any of the buildings, but the landscaped gardens are one of the most tranquil settings in Sofia.

Multilingual guided tours take place every hour and offer fun snippets about the palace and its grounds.

For instance the estate once had an exotic menagerie, including Bulgaria’s first elephants, which were used for yardwork in the grounds!

14. The Synagogue

Source: wikipedia

Sofia has the largest synagogue in the Balkan region, and the third-largest in Europe.

It was built for Sofia’s sizeable Sephardic Jewish population in 1909 and Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria was here when it was inaugurated.

More than 1,000 people can fit inside this cavernous building which is in the Moorish Revival style inspired by the old Sephardic temple in Vienna, destroyed in 1938.

Step inside to see the permanent exhibition about the history of Bulgaria’s Jewish communities.

15. Banya Bashi Mosque

Source: flickr

If you arrive outside prayer times you can drop in to tour Sofia’s only mosque.

It was designed by Mimar Sinan, the epoch-defining Turkish architect responsible for spectacular works across the Ottoman Empire during this period.

Banya Bashi is from 1576, built at the very beginning of the city’s Ottoman period.

The name comes from Sofia’s mineral baths, which had attracted visitors throughout the region during the 1500s.

The mosque can fit 700 worshippers, and if you pass on Fridays you’ll notice many stragglers outside listening via the mosque’s external loudspeaker.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Sofia (Bulgaria) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

In this guide to the 15 best places to visit in the country, we take a look at all the major hotspots that should be on anyone’s Bulgarian bucket list this year.

1. Varna

Source: Valentin Valkov / shutterstock

The sun-splashed favourite of local Bulgarians heading out of Sofia and Plovdiv for the summer, Varna is much more than just your run-of-the-mill resort town on the edge of the Black Sea. Yes sir, with a long and enthralling history, oodles of crumbling Roman bathhouses and elaborate Orthodox architecture (like the almost unpronounceable Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral), the city appeals to history buffs and culture vultures as well as sun seekers.

Of course, the beaches are still a big factor, and one bustling sand-side promenade beckons travelers with oodles of seafood restaurants and cocktail bars, while lively clubs erupt right on the edge of the shore after dark.

2. Veliko Tarnovo

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The legendary City of the Tsars stands aloft on the edge of the rising foothills of Bulgaria’s northern mountains. Bisected by the S-shaped meanders of the Yantra River, the town’s setting is nothing short of breathtaking, with terraces of terracotta-coloured roofs looming over the waterways below.

The pretty cobblestone lanes and half-timbered homes of this one’s old town are prime examples of what’s now known as the Tarnovo school, which developed as the Second Bulgarian Empire boomed in the Middle Ages.

That means travelers here experience a mixture of natural beauty – courtesy of the wild coniferous woods that blanket the landscapes all around – and unbridled culture and history, oozing from the Tsarevets capitol and the clutch of gorgeous Byzantine churches.

3. Sofia

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The sprawling capital of Bulgaria is something of a patchwork of its own past. Around its edges rise the great brutalist monuments to Soviet rule; endless streams of cookie cutting high-rises.

Closer to the centre and the ancient remains of the Serdica Fort and the Roman-Byzantine Church of St George sit in the shadow of Stalinist municipal buildings.

And then there are the iconic Orthodox domes and gilded edifices of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which glisten under the snow-packed tops of Vitosha Mountain in the distance.

It’s all very eclectic, and rarely fails to impress travelers that opt to linger here a little while.

4. Zheravna

Source: Svetla Momchilova / shutterstock

A showcase in all things Bulgarian National Revival, Zheravna is a rustic and raw picture of one of the country’s most iconic architectural styles of old.

The town itself sits nestled at the base of the mighty Balkan Mountains, between dense thickets of Bosnian pines and white elms, where it seems almost organically formed in its timber-clad, stony appearance.

The cottages that pepper the cobbled streets all come beautifully restored, with more than 150 examples of the typical hardwood facades on display.

Amidst the buildings, sites like the Yordan Yovkov House and the icon-packed St Nicholas Church draw the biggest crowds, while others will head for the August Dobromiritsa Rural Park nearby, where festivals celebrating Bulgarian folk costumes and music erupt throughout the year.

5. Burgas

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Burgas is one of the favoured gateways to the southern stretches of the Black Sea Coast. A far cry from the ancient and historic centres that pepper the country elsewhere, it’s a largely modern affair of Art Deco rises and manicured parks on the edge of the sea.

It’s also home to some of the most lively music festivals in Bulgaria, like the rollicking Spirit of Burgas that erupts each year in the summer.

North Beach is the most popular stretch of sand in the town, while Burgas also has another trick up its sleeve: the majestically beautiful trio of lakes that range from the bird-spotting paradise of Vaya to the west to the saline waters of Atanasovsko to the north.

6. Rila Monastery

Source: Dennis van de Water / shutterstock

Perhaps the most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in the world, Rila has risen and risen to become a veritable symbol of the Bulgarian nation.

It entered the UNESCO World Heritage List way back in 1983, hailed for its curious intermingling of Mamluk, arabesque, Byzantine and Romanesque styles, and resplendent iconostases walls, carved meticulously and inlaid with shimmering gold leaf.

An on-site museums helps travelers unravel the more than 1,000 years of history that coalesce at the site, while endless courtyards and peristyles decorated in murals and medieval scenes mean there’s plenty of art and architecture to draw the eye.

7. Bansko

Source: Nataliya Nazarova / shutterstock

Prep the salopettes and wax the skis, because Bansko is Bulgaria’s most prized winter sports resort. With countless expansions and new lift projects at its back, the dual ski fields of the Chalin Valog and Shiligarnika that make their home between the fir forests here have become some of the most lauded in all of Eastern Europe.

And even if you won’t be hitting the 70 kilometers of groomed runs on offer, Bansko’s rugged setting in the Pirin ranges and wealth of luxury hotels, hedonistic bars, jazz joints, cross-country trails and Bulgarian tavernas is sure to hit the spot!

8. Pamporovo

Source: Mila Drumeva / shutterstock

Encompassed by endless seas of pine trees that oscillate between verdant green and ice-caked white with the turning of summer and winter, the popular mountain resort town of Pamporovo makes its home amidst the undulating ridges of the southern Rhodope Mountains, just a short jaunt away from the borderlands with Greece.

And while the warmer months here do mean fantastic hiking opportunities along the trails of Smolyan, it’s the snows that really draw the crowds, when the slopes (all 36 kilometers of them) open and chairlifts creak and rattle to the tips of Rhodope with skiers in tow.

Pamporovo is expanding rapidly too, which means it’s certainly one to watch on Eastern Europe’s line-up of budding mountain resorts!

9. Pirin National Park

Source: Marina Karkalicheva / shutterstock

UNESCO-tagged and rising like a great Balkan bulwark against the borders of Macedonia and Greece, the Pirin National Park is a hinterland like no other in Europe.

Up on high, its snow-spotted summits gather caps of mist, while alpine valleys below are dashed with avalanches of forest-green pine and fir trees, and speckled with the occasional bed of edelweiss.

Meanwhile, deer and bears stalk the woodlands to this day, and wild goats clamber atop the craggy precipices to find shelter in the rocky crevices and caves.

It’s hardly a wonder that this one is hailed as a paradise for hikers and outdoorsy types, with trails soaring to the top of Vihren (the highest peak) and weaving around the whopping 186 mountain lakes!

10. Belogradchik

Source: Nataliya Nazarova / shutterstock

The otherworldly geological wonders that lurk on the edge of Belogradchik town rarely fail to impress travelers who make their way to this far-flung corner of Bulgaria on the northward slopes of the Balkan Mountains.

Known simply as the Belogradchik Rocks, they offer a sprawling display of hoodoos and anthropomorphic monoliths that’s inspired folk legends and local myths aplenty.

But Belogradchik’s draws don’t end there. No sir, not with that colossal Belogradchik Fortress complex dating back to Roman times on the menu, the citadel of nearby Baba Vida and the mysterious pre-historic wall art of the Magura Cave to boot!

11. Plovdiv

Source: Nataliya Nazarova / shutterstock

Draped over seven hills along the courses of the beautiful Maritsa River, Plovdiv runs the gamut of historical sights, encompassing Roman amphitheatres, Thracian fortresses, honorific monuments to Bulgaria’s own Krum the Fearsome, National Revival churches and even the occasional Soviet tenement between city limits.

The piece de resistance has to be the old world historic centre though; a Game of Thrones-esque pallet of stone-clad keeps and winding alleyways, Byzantine arches and hidden squares.

Oh, and Plovdiv’s nightlife beckons partiers after hours, as the coffee culture haunts turn hedonist, fuelling nights with indie, jazz and oodles of Balkan beers!

12. Sunny Beach

Source: trabantos / shutterstock

Throw off the inhibitions and delve into the sun-splashed party town that is Sunny Beach. Bulgaria’s answer to Malia, Ayia Napa and Ibiza, it’s packed with thumping clubs and pubs, chatty promoters offering buckets (literally) of booze for next to nothing, flashing neon, funky ravers, booze cruises and tanned, bikini-clad, Hawaiian-shirt-wearing partiers.

As well as its sleepless edge, Sunny Beach is also home to one gorgeous stretch of sand, which sits lapped over by the Black Sea and backed by the lively Boulevard, where English all-day breakfasts meet Italian pizzas in the international eateries and hotels rise in bursts of brilliant white.

13. Koprivshtitsa

Source: andreyandreevphotography / shutterstock

Perfectly-preserved Koprivshtitsa pops up from between the spruces and pines that cover the valleys of the Sredna Gora Mountains like a beautifully adorned gingerbread carving of a town.

In fact, the whole settlement is a protected national monument, supposed to reflect and define the achievements of the Bulgarian National Revival movement in its wealth of painted facades, realist stone sculptures and shuttered homes.

Visitors who head to the spot today can spy out honorific memorial exhibitions dedicated to heroes of the April Uprising of 1876, while other institutions chronicle the life and works of iconic revivalist writers and artists alike.

14. Perperikon

Source: MarinTodorovMT / shutterstock

With traces of human settlement dating back more than seven millennia and what’s been hailed as the most awesome monolithic structure in the entire Balkan Peninsula crowning its hilltops, Perperikon is a real must for any history buffs and culture vultures making their way through Bulgaria.

Before it was built up and fortified by the Thracian tribespeople, it’s thought that Copper Age priests used the hill for rituals and soothsaying, which legend has it foretold the rise of both Alexander the Great and Imperial Rome under Augustus.

Today, visitors can come and wander the off-the-beaten-track dig site, while relics and findings are best viewed at the local archaeology museum in Kardzhali.

15. Nessebar

Source: Andrew Mayovskyy / shutterstock

Jutting out and sparkling like a Medieval Byzantine pearl between the rollers of the Black Sea, Nessebar is certainly one of the most enchanting and unforgettable cities on Bulgaria’s coast.

It’s famed for an enthralling UNESCO centre where layers of Thracian ruins mix with eye-watering churches built between the 5th and 10th centuries.

There are formidable fortifications too, famed for fighting off both Ottoman Turk and Crusading counts alike, not to mention rows of pretty seaside villas that cascade down neatly to meet the shore, shimmering in whitewash and red-tile as they go. Put simply – this one’s not to be missed!

The post 15 Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.