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Holidayco.co.uk specialises in cheap bulgarian holidays, package holidays and late deals to a huge number of destinations. Find out more about Bulgaria in our guide below.

Holidays in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is an ancient European nation located between Romania and Turkey. It was formed in the 7 th Century when the Bulgars, a tribe from Asia, merged with the local Slavs to create a state. Bulgaria has at times been a major regional power; at others it has been under the dominance of the Ottoman Empire. Modern Bulgaria gained independence in 1908 but became part of the Warsaw Pact of Communist countries after World War II. Since 1990 Bulgaria has once again been a free democratic country.

The capital, Sofia, is in a region that has been inhabited since the Stone Age. It was an important city to the Romans and was first identified by a form of its modern name (Serdica) in the 7 th Century. Since then the city has weathered the turbulent course of history and still contains many relics of its past. These include the ancient castle gates and towers, and the Roman thermal baths.

The Romans noticed the hot and cold natural springs in the city, and built baths to exploit them. Today the same springs flow. In some cases they are still used to feed the same sort of mineral baths and spas.

Bulgaria Facts At A Glance

Area: 110,910 square km.

Climate: Temperate with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: Mountainous with lowlands in north and southeast

Population: 7.45 Million

Languages: Bulgarian

Currency: Lev

Time Zone: 2 Hours ahead of GMT

International Dialling Code: +359

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Places to visit

Sofia has a huge range of restaurants serving Greek, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese and many other speciality menus as well as traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Bulgarians eat a lot of yoghurt, and use the same typical ingredients as other nations in the region – chicken, beef, pork and lamb. What is unusual is that often a meal is cooked in a single saucepan, starting with the meat and gradually adding other ingredients until the dish is ready.

Sofia is not all there is to Bulgaria of course. Each of the other major cities has its own attractions.

Bourgas, Bulgaria’s main seaport, is locatedon the Black Sea coast. It is the fourth-largest of Bulgaria’s cities. It has a rich cultural heritage including art galleries, cathedrals and synagogues. The city receives around 200,000 visitors every year. Close to Bourgas is Sunny Beach, a resort boasting the longest beach in Bulgaria. Sunny Beach is in some ways reminiscent of Bulgarian coastal resorts and is an ideal beach holiday destination.

Varna, also on the Black Sea, has an excellent climate and a fine beach on the calm Varna Bay. As well as being a great destination for a beach holiday, Varna has a rich culture and some lovely parks and gardens. The Natural History Museum is well worth a look.

Yambol on the Tounda River was founded in Roman times. The town has many historic attractions including Roman baths, Christian churches and the remains of Kabile, a Thracian town that pre-dates the Roman arrival in the area.

Bulgaria has some good skiing resorts, most notably Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo. A great deal of money has been invested in Bulgaria’s ski resorts over the past few years. Mountain rescue in Bulgaria is effective but does not have helicopters. If it is necessary to call out rescue services, these must be paid for. It is advisable to ski with an instructor or guide.

Bansko has some very good slopes for advanced skiers. It is situated in a World Heritage listed area of great natural beauty. The resort is large and modern with very good amenities. There are also cultural and historic attractions in the immediate area.

Borovets in the Rila Mountains offers a very good range of winter sports and is located just 2 hours from Sofia. Borovets is a small village but is well equipped with bars, restaurants and other comforts to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

Pamporovo in the Rhodope Mountains is a good choice for beginners, though more advanced skiers will find a few challenges.

Things to do

The Valley of Roses is a must-see. Located between the Balkan and Sredna Gora mountains, the valley is filled with roses, which bloom in May and June. At this time the Festival of Roses is celebrated. Roses and rose extracts have been important to Bulgaria’s economy for centuries, and the festival celebrates the folklore surrounding this most beautiful of flowers.

To get a taste of Bulgaria’s long history, visit one of the many historical monuments or remains in the country. Nikopolis ad Istrum dates from 101AD when it was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan to commemorate victories over the local tribes. More recent is the Tsarevte Fortress, which was at one time the residence of the ruler of Bulgaria. The fortress walls, towers gates and churches remain intact.

There is another fortress near Mezek, dating from the 11 th Century. It is thought that this fortification may be Versinikia, site of victory over a Byzantine army in 813. Perhaps the best-preserved archeological site in Bulgaria is the Sacred City of Perperikon not far from Kurdzhali.

Bulgaria’s history is on display in some fine museums. The National Museum of History in Sophia has over half a million exhibits covering the ancient and medieval history and culture of what is today Bulgaria. The National Museum of Military History is also worth a look. Bulgaria has struggled through some troubled times and this museum chronicles the heroism of her people. Another monument to Bulgaria’s struggle for independence is the steamboat Radetzky, which today is the nation’s only floating museum. The boat was used by Bulgarian patriots to cross the Danube and take part in an uprising against the Ottoman occupation.