Cheap Hotels in Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Bulgaria borders the Black Sea, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia, and Romania in South Eastern Europe. Since 1999 Bulgaria has consisted of 28 provinces all named after the provincial capital, with the national capital of Sofia itself forming a separate province.

The south west of the country is mountainous with Rila and Pirin, two alpine ranges. Rila Mountain includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, which runs west to east through the middle of the country. The Rhodope Mountains further east, although lower are much more extensive. Hill country and plains are in the Southeast along the Black Seat Coast and across Bulgaria’s main river, the Danube in the north.

Around 84% of the population are Bulgarian. The two largest minorities are Turks and Roma. Bulgarian is the only official language spoken by around 85% of the population, but some Turkish and Romany are also spoken in correspondence with the ethnic breakdown. Most citizens are associated to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, although there are a number of Bulgarians belonging to other religious denominations most notably Islam, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Although at the time of Liberation around 40% of the population was Muslim, due to emigration this percentage has dropped down to around 10%.

Bulgaria has enjoyed a growth in income from international tourism due to the quality of resorts at lower prices than those found in Western Europe. Beach resorts have become popular with visitors from Germany, Russia, Scandinavia and the UK. The ski resorts are a particularly popular tourist destination with English tourists.

Places to Visit in Bulgaria

Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo are winter ski resorts, and summer resorts are on the Black Sea at Sozopol, Nessebur, Albena, St Constantine and Helena among many more. Each mountain has its own characteristics and appearance, from crystal blue lakes, small picturesque villages, soft green slopes and forests. Pamporovo is one of the most popular destinations due to the beautiful Rhodope Mountains and is also a good spot for snowboarding, hikers and all holidaymakers who value nature.

Bulgaria has more than ten major national parks and many reservation areas. Pirin, Rila and Central Balkan are among the largest and most valuable protected areas in Europe. Rila’s National Park covers nearly half of the Rila Mountain Range. The breathtaking scenery is home to bears, wild boar, red deer and several species of eagle. Due to the influence of the Mediterranean climate, the Pirin National Park is rich with vegetation and fauna. The Pirin lakes are surrounded by an area of Macedonian Pine, Silver fur, Spruce and plenty of animal life. This park is also listed as a World Cultural and National Heritage site. Located north east to Sofia, the Central Balkan Park is home to the highest waterfall in Bulgaria. Nine nature reserves can be found within this park and a lot of the park still remains unexplored. The Central Balkan is also home to 150 protected animal species and 50 protected plant species.

Sunny Beach and Golden Sands have become increasingly popular resorts along the Black Sea Coast. Golden Sands is set in sloping woodlands with two miles of beach and is close to Varna which is Bulgaria’s third largest city also making it a popular destination. The area is famous, having the purest sand on the Black Sea coast. Sunny Beach features natural dunes among which 16 rare plant varieties grow, a calm sea, clean water and sloping sea bottom. This area is ideal for many water sports including surfing, water skiing and sailing.

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and features over 250 historic landmarks and architectural monuments. Dating back to the 8th century, Sofia is also one of the oldest capital cities in Europe. Historic landmarks and places of cultural interest to visit include the 10th century Boyana Church, Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Slaveykov Square’s outdoor market, the NDK and the Ivan Vazov National Theatre.

Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria. It is well appreciated for its history with a preserved amphitheatre and many revival style Bulgarian homes. The city also boasts a shopping promenade and many parks. Museums here not to be missed are the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Historic Museum, the National Museum and the City Art Gallery. The old town of Plovdiv is a historic preservation site known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style. There are several eastern orthodox style 19th century churches to be visited, the largest being St ludovic.

Tsarevets Citadel one of the major attractions in Bulgaria is located in the eastern part of Veliko Turnovo. Tsarevets was the centre of Bulgaria’s medieval Second Kingdom and is almost completely surrounded by a loop of the river.

Cuisine in Bulgaria

Due to Bulgaria’s geographical position and long history, the cuisine has become a mixture of Slavonic, Greek and Turkish cuisine. Famous for its rich salads with every meal, hot and cold soups are also noticeably popular.

Climate in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has a temperate continental climate with four clear seasons. Summers are typically hot and dry, and winters cold although not bitter. There is some Mediterranean influence in the southern regions making seasonal differences much harsher. The groups of mountains play a significant part in the countries regional differences.

Bulgaria Embassy

For your convenience we have listed Bulgarian embassys below. Embassys can provide you with information regarding visas and other important travel information.