With beautiful and amazing beaches, mountains with extraordinary views and historic towns and small and traditional villages that take you back to the 19th century, Bulgaria is one of the destinations that has many attractions for tourists. If you are thinking of a different travel destination, go with the sights of Bulgaria.
Important information about traveling to Bulgaria
Bulgaria is located in the southeast of Europe. If you want to know where the capital of Bulgaria is, we must say that the capital of this country is the city of Sofia. Other big and important cities of this country are Varna, Burgas, Veliko and Terno respectively. One of the interesting points about this country is that it has valuable treasures. The oldest golden treasure in the world was found in the Varna cemetery in Bulgaria, which dates back to five thousand years BC.
The Republic of Bulgaria is a secular country, but in the constitution of the country, the religion of the Bulgarian people is Orthodox Christianity. Of course, 76% of the population of this country are Orthodox Christians and 10% of the population are Muslims.
Bulgaria is the country of colorful roses. In general, roses are produced in this country with high quality and they export it to other countries. One of the must-see places in Bulgaria is a valley called the Valley of Roses, which is located 200 km from the city of Sofia and is covered with flowers.
It is good to know that about 76% of the world's rose oil is made in this country. This oil is used to make perfumes and cosmetics and skin and hair care. It should be mentioned that the famous souvenir of Bulgaria is rose oil, which is also called Bulgarian gold.
Neighbors of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country with an area of nearly one hundred square kilometers, part of which includes water. The population of this country is almost seven million people. In the north of this country, the Republic of Romania is located with a common border of 608 km. In the west, it is adjacent to Serbia with a border length of 318 km and Macedonia with a common border of 148 km. In the south, it shares a border with Greece with about 500 km and Turkey with 240 km. Bulgaria reaches the Black Sea from the west, so Dubrich, Varna and Burgas are coastal cities.
Gateway to Bulgaria
First of all, you need to know where to start your trip to Bulgaria. The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia, but most of the flights from Bulgaria are directed to Varna International Airport. In fact, Varna can be considered the gateway to this country. Therefore, to start your trip to Bulgaria, you need to buy a ticket to Varna first.
The best time to travel to Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a subtropical and humid climate. The air temperature in this country varies between minus 1 and 22 degrees Celsius in different months of the year. The coldest months of the year are December and January and the hottest months of the year are July and August.
In autumn, when the temperature is dropping and many parts of the country are covered with snow, the country becomes deserted. During these months, beach resorts are usually closed and ski slopes, which are among the sights of Bulgaria, are activated. In spring, the weather gradually warms up and the snow gradually melts.
The number of tourists this season is more than in winter. Bulgaria's busy season is summer. In hot summer days, hotels and beach resorts in Bulgaria become the most expensive parts of the city, and a flood of domestic and foreign tourists goes to the beaches.
Bulgaria is famous among tourists for its beautiful and spectacular beaches. This issue has made the trip to this country often done in the summer season in order to enjoy the pleasant beaches and sun of this country. In general, the three months of summer are the best time to travel to Bulgaria because you can enjoy the beach resorts of this country. However, it all depends on the type of your trip.
For example, choose the summer season to go to Varna and its beaches, but considering that the city of Sofia is not considered a coastal city, the spring season can be a suitable and quiet time to travel and visit the historical attractions of this city. Although this does not mean that you cannot go to Sofia during your summer trip to Bulgaria, but if you have the right planning, you can easily include many attractions and scenic cities in Bulgaria in your summer travel plan.
Sightseeing in Bulgaria
Traveling to Bulgaria is a popular summer trip among tourists from different countries, and everything starts from the city of Varna in this country. Visiting the sights of Varna in Bulgaria and enjoying its beautiful beaches can be among the places you should visit. . To begin with, we will start from the coast of Bulgaria and Varna.
Bulgarian coasts
Bulgaria's popular beaches are located along the Black Sea and are mostly located in the two cities of Varna and Burgas. The most famous coastal areas of Bulgaria include the following:
Golden Sands
Golden Sands is a coastal area of Bulgaria, located 17 km north of Varna city. You can easily reach this area by taxi from the airport. Since this area is full of beach resorts and hotels, most travelers who go to Varna choose Golden Sands hotels to stay. As its name suggests, the beach of this area has a golden color that you will see with the sunlight shining on the beach sand and with every wave that comes to the beach. This issue has made it known as "golden sand beach".
Golden Sands is approximately 30 minutes away from Varna city center. Therefore, if you stay in this coastal area, you can easily go to Varna city daily for shopping or sightseeing. To travel between Golden Sands and Varna, in addition to the taxis available at the resort, buses will also be available.
Most Golden Sands hotels are full board, meaning they serve three meals. However, there are so many shops and restaurants near the hotels that if you book a cheaper hotel with only breakfast, you can easily buy lunch and dinner at various prices. In addition to this, many Golden Sands hotels also have an outdoor pool and all of them are close to the beach, so that you can reach any hotel within a 10-minute walk.
One of the reasons why Golden Sands is a popular destination for Iranians is its suitable environment for families. In this area, there are various activities for children and families, and you will not have to worry about your child not having fun.
Albena Beach
Another coastal area of Bulgaria, located a short distance from Varna city and Golden Sands area, is called Albina Beach. Beach hotels in this area are more expensive than Golden Sands hotels. For this reason, Albina is a quieter beach compared to Golden Sands. In fact, Albina beach is a luxury beach for special people and is not usually a travel destination for ordinary travelers. However, this does not mean that you cannot go to this beach, but visiting this beach is open to the public, and if you are staying in Golden Sands, you can reach this beach in 15 minutes by taxi. Therefore, you do not need to stay in this area to be able to enjoy the tranquility of its beach.
Sunny Beach Sunny Beach
The largest coastline in Bulgaria is Sunny Beach, which belongs to the city of Burgas. Sunny Beach is one of the best places to relax and enjoy the sun. In the summer season, the temperature on this beach is between 23 degrees Celsius, which is considered an ideal temperature for spending time on the hot but relaxing sands of this beach. Due to the location of this beach in Burgas and since flights to Bulgaria land at Varna airport, this beach is a bit more difficult to access than other beaches.
However, if you have booked an accommodation in this area and want to enjoy only the sun and the beach during your time in Bulgaria, you can choose to rest in the hotels of this area. Note that the prices of Sunny Beach hotels are more expensive than Golden Sands hotels and Varna city hotels, because the hotels in this area are more luxurious and designed with more facilities. At the same time, the Sunny Beach area is not as dynamic as Golden Sands, with lively and happy nights, and it is more suitable for those who are not looking for special entertainment other than visiting the beach.
Tourist attractions in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is not limited to beaches and beach resorts and there are various attractions around it, some of the most popular of these attractions include the following cities and destinations:
Rila Monastery Rila Monastery
One of the attractions of Bulgaria, which is hidden behind its shining beaches, is called the old monastery of Rila. This famous attraction of Bulgaria is also registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although this old monastery is far from other attractions, it will be very attractive for those who are interested in history and architecture. Rila Monastery dates back to the 10th century and is considered the most famous and largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. This holy and ancient place is two hours away from the city of Sofia and can only be reached by renting a car or by intercity tours.
The old city of Nesbar Nessebar Old Town
Nesbar is a small and quiet town in Burgas where you can travel back in time by walking on its cobblestones and looking at old structures from the Byzantine period. In this old town, you will find a church that dates back to the 5th century, and you can taste the taste of local and sea food in the beautiful cafes by the water.
Nesbar old town is close to Sunny Beach, so if you stay in this coastal area, you will reach the old town in a short time. Besides these, Nesbar is also accessible from Varna and Golden Sands. However, using local tours would be a more suitable option. You can also enjoy the beautiful and attractive scenery of your route by renting a car.
Pirin National Park
Bulgaria also has attractions for nature lovers. Pirin National Park is one of the most popular destinations for nature tourists, which has more than 70 ice lakes and old forests in its heart. In fact, Pirin National Park is considered a national treasure of Bulgaria, where animals such as brown bears and gray wolves still live.
Note that not all its areas are free for different people to visit. However, camping by the lakes and climbing the green hills of this national park are among the activities of people who are interested in mountain climbing, cycling and enjoying nature.
Plovdiv Roman Theater
Plovdiv is one of the quiet and old cities of Bulgaria, which, although it is not considered one of its tourist destinations, has a historical and popular attraction in the heart of its old area. An old Roman theater dating back to the 1st century AD. This old theater, of which only a small part remains, played an important role in ancient societies because almost all gatherings, shows and competitions were held in this large stone hall in the past.
Today, this ancient Roman theater is still a place for musical performances, operas and various national celebrations and events, which can accommodate 7,000 spectators.
To visit this ancient attraction, you must travel to Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Plovdiv is considered a quiet and peaceful city that more than any other city depicts the culture of the Bulgarian people and its history. This city was announced as the cultural capital of Europe in 2019. Contrary to popular belief, Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and can be reached by train from Sofia and Varna.
If you are staying in Sofia, you can also take a one-day trip to this destination by bus. Examples similar to this historical stone attraction can be seen in Efsos, Turkey, which is located near Izmir and Kuşadası.
Balchik
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Bulgaria is the small town of Balchik, which is easily accessible by travelers traveling to Varna and Golden Sands. Balchik, like other popular areas of Bulgaria, is located by the Black Sea and has various beaches to enjoy the sun.
But what makes Balchik even more attractive is a vast garden full of colorful flowers, inside which is an old palace, which used to be the queen's summer palace. Walking and exploring this vast and colorful garden for hours without getting tired makes this attraction even more unique.
Alexander Nevski Cathedral
Undoubtedly, the most famous attraction of the city of Sofia in Bulgaria is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Although this church was built at the beginning of the 20th century and is not considered an old and historical attraction, it quickly became known as an important and popular symbol in the city of Sofia. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built to commemorate 200,000 Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Bulgarian soldiers who died in the Russian-Turkish war between 1877 and 1878. This church is considered one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in Eastern Europe, which is mostly known for its structure and golden colored domes.
Vitosha Mountain
Bulgaria is not only a summer destination, but also has its own special attractions for those interested in winter activities. One of these attractions is Vitosha Mountain, which is located near the city of Sofia. If you are into mountaineering, especially skiing in winter, Vitosha Mountain can be a diverse and attractive destination for you. This mountain, which is the fourth highest mountain in Bulgaria, has a beautiful view of the city of Sofia. In addition, Vitosha is considered the oldest national park in the Balkan region.
Sightseeing cities of Bulgaria
The sights of Bulgaria are not limited to pristine beaches and historical monuments. Some cities in Bulgaria are also very popular among foreign tourists. Bulgaria is a country with diverse attractions, from its beautiful beaches and golden sands to historical sights and pristine nature, anywhere in the country you can find a destination according to your interests. Although traveling to Bulgaria is often popular as a summer trip, you can visit the country any other time by purchasing a ticket to Varna and booking a hotel in your destination city.
Varna city in Bulgaria
Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria and one of the most important tourist destinations in this country even for Iranian tourists. Especially in summer and when the beautiful beaches of this city are full of tourists. Having beautiful beaches and cheapness of this city has made Varna a popular destination for tourists. Modern streets, parks, shopping centers and maintaining the old texture of the city in some parts of the city are other attractions of Varna.
Sightseeing places in Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia is the jewel of Bulgaria's cities. This beautiful city is full of small and big shops and stores, and because it has a good transportation system, you can easily explore the city. This city is considered one of the few cities that has a tall mountain with a magnificent peak near its center.
Ancient monument of Bulgaria, Plovdiv city
If you are interested in photography, be sure to visit Plovdiv. The colored houses of this city stand out with attractive architecture in the midst of green nature. Visiting the Roman amphitheater of Philippopolis and the Ethnography Museum, as well as exploring the surroundings of the Jumaya Mosque and the Roman Stadium, will take you to the 19th and 20th centuries.
Historical village of Arbanasi
Arbanasi village is one of the must-see places in Bulgaria. Houses with attractive architecture, pristine views, silence and peace ruling the city and of course tasting the delicious local food are the attractions of this city.
Burgas city in the middle of the salt lake
One of the beautiful coastal cities in the middle of the Black Sea is Burgas. The salt lake of this city has created a beautiful scene for photography with its attractive pink color. People use this lake as a natural spa center.
Frequently asked questions about sights in Bulgaria
1- How many hours is it from Iran to Bulgaria?
The air distance between Tehran and Varna is about 2,000 kilometers and the journey by plane takes about three hours.
2- Which countries can you travel to with a Bulgarian visa?
Because Bulgaria is not a Schengen member, you cannot travel to Schengen countries with a Bulgarian visa.
3- Where is the capital of Bulgaria?
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria.
4- When is the best time to travel to Bulgaria?
Spring and autumn weather in Bulgaria is suitable for travel.
5- Which city in Bulgaria do Iranians go to the most?
Iranian tourists mostly go to the coastal city of Varna and Golden Sands beach.
6- Which are the most famous tourist cities in Bulgaria?
Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas are famous tourist cities in Bulgaria.
7- What century does Rila Monastery date back to?
This monastery dates back to the 10th century AD.
8- Where should we go to experience winter sports and skiing in Bulgaria?
The city of Bansko is the best destination in Bulgaria to experience winter sports.
