Bulgaria: the Black Sea Coast, Sofia and Plovdiv — Where to Go and What to Try

The Black Sea: beaches and old towns

The Black Sea coast stretches in sandy beaches from Varna to Sozopol. Old Nessebar stands on a rocky peninsula: its stone houses and ancient churches are on the World Heritage List. Sozopol is a quiet town of artists, while Varna is a large seaside city with a park by the sea and an archaeological museum.

Sofia and Rila Monastery

Sofia is a capital with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman ruins right in the centre and views of Mount Vitosha, which is easy to reach for a walk. From Sofia people take a day trip to Rila Monastery, the country's best-known monastery, with painted galleries set among forested mountains.

Plovdiv and the Valley of Roses

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe, inhabited since ancient times. A Roman theatre has survived here, and the Old Town is lined with colourful Revival-era houses. Nearby lies the Valley of Roses around Kazanlak, where in late spring roses are picked for the famous rose oil.

The mountains: Bansko and Borovets

The Pirin and Rila mountains are the place for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. Bansko is a ski resort with an old centre and cosy tavernas, and Borovets is one of the oldest resorts in the country. In summer, mountain trails lead up to the Seven Rila Lakes.

What to try

Bulgarian cuisine is simple and delicious, with plenty of vegetables and cheese.

• Shopska salad — tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and grated white cheese.
• Banitsa — a flaky pie with white cheese, a favourite Bulgarian breakfast.
• Kebapcheta — grilled sausages of minced meat.
• Tarator — a cold soup of soured milk with cucumbers and garlic.
• Bulgarian yogurt — thick soured milk that locals are proud of.
• Rakia and local wines.

Good to know before you go

A few simple tips will help you feel at ease in Bulgaria.

• The gestures for “yes” and “no” are often the other way round here: a nod means “no”, and shaking your head means “yes”.
• Signs are written in Cyrillic, and many Bulgarian words will look familiar to speakers of Russian and other Slavic languages.
• Cash comes in handy in small cafés and at markets.
• Buses are a convenient way to travel between cities, and on mountain roads it's best not to rush.
• On resort beaches sunbeds are often paid, and quieter spots can be found a little further from the centre.

Staying connected

In Bulgaria you need the internet from the very first minutes: to open a map, call a taxi, check the bus timetable, or show your hotel booking. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so after landing you won't have to hunt for a SIM card at the airport or stand in queues. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before you pay: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in your phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.