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Guides and travel stories from Bulgaria.

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70 articles

Bulgaria with Kids: A Family Travel Guide
Itineraries & Road TripsTravel Tips

Bulgaria with Kids: A Family Travel Guide

How to pick a base by your children's ages, the drive times that make or break a family trip, which caves and beaches actually work with young kids, and rainy-day fallbacks.

22 July 20265 min read
Christmas Markets in Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv & Bansko
Events & FestivalsSki & Winter

Christmas Markets in Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv & Bansko

Sofia's German market by the National Theatre, Plovdiv's Kapana bazaar, Bansko's ski-town lights and the coastal markets — when they open and what to expect.

22 July 20265 min read
Devetashka Cave & the Lovech Karst: Bulgaria's Cave Country
Nature & Landmarks

Devetashka Cave & the Lovech Karst: Bulgaria's Cave Country

A guide to the karst country around Lovech: the vast film-famous Devetashka Cave, the turquoise Krushuna Falls and the God's-eyes Prohodna Cave — three of Bulgaria's natural wonders in one day trip.

16 July 20264 min read
Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & the Rusenski Lom Valley (UNESCO)
Culture & HistoryNature & Landmarks

Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & the Rusenski Lom Valley (UNESCO)

A travel guide to the Rusenski Lom valley south of Ruse: the UNESCO Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches and their medieval frescoes, the Cherven fortress, the working Basarbovo rock monastery, and how to combine all three in one day.

16 July 20266 min read
Silistra & Srebarna: Bulgaria's Quiet Danube Corner
Cities & TownsNature & Landmarks

Silistra & Srebarna: Bulgaria's Quiet Danube Corner

A travel guide to Bulgaria's far northeast: the Danube town of Silistra with its Roman tomb and Medzhidi Tabia fortress, and the UNESCO Srebarna Nature Reserve — a pelican-filled lake and one of Europe's great birdwatching spots.

16 July 20264 min read
Trigrad Gorge & the Devil's Throat Cave: The Wild Western Rhodopes
Nature & Landmarks

Trigrad Gorge & the Devil's Throat Cave: The Wild Western Rhodopes

A travel guide to the Trigrad Gorge and the Devil's Throat Cave in the Western Rhodopes: the vertical marble canyon, the roaring underground waterfall, the nearby Yagodina Cave and the Eagle's Eye viewpoint.

16 July 20264 min read
Krushuna Falls: Bulgaria's Turquoise Cascades
Nature & Landmarks

Krushuna Falls: Bulgaria's Turquoise Cascades

How to visit Krushuna Falls, Bulgaria's largest travertine cascade: the eco-trail loops, entrance fee, best season for full water, photography tips and pairing it with Devetashka Cave and Prohodna.

14 July 20265 min read
Prohodna Cave: Bulgaria's "God's Eyes"
Nature & Landmarks

Prohodna Cave: Bulgaria's "God's Eyes"

How to visit Prohodna Cave near Karlukovo — the Eyes of God rock formation, Bulgaria's longest cave tunnel: getting there from Sofia, best light for photos, bungee jumps and pairing it with Devetashka Cave and Krushuna Falls.

14 July 20265 min read
The Rhodopes: A Complete Travel Guide to Bulgaria's Mystical Mountains
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

The Rhodopes: A Complete Travel Guide to Bulgaria's Mystical Mountains

Everything you need to plan a Rhodope Mountains trip: Smolyan, Pamporovo, Trigrad Gorge, Shiroka Laka, Perperikon, caves, spa towns, food, itineraries and when to go.

14 July 202611 min read
Smolyan: Gateway to the Rhodopes — Bulgaria's Highest Town
Cities & TownsNature & Landmarks

Smolyan: Gateway to the Rhodopes — Bulgaria's Highest Town

A travel guide to Smolyan, the highest town in Bulgaria: the Smolyan Lakes, the planetarium, the Canyon of Waterfalls, day trips to Pamporovo, Shiroka Laka and the Trigrad caves.

14 July 20266 min read
Best Day Trips from Plovdiv: 8 Trips into Central Bulgaria
Itineraries & Road TripsCities & Towns

Best Day Trips from Plovdiv: 8 Trips into Central Bulgaria

The best day trips from Plovdiv: Bachkovo Monastery, Asen's Fortress, the Rose Valley, Buzludzha, Koprivshtitsa and more — with distances and how to go.

8 July 20265 min read
Best Day Trips from Sofia: 9 Great Escapes
Itineraries & Road TripsCities & Towns

Best Day Trips from Sofia: 9 Great Escapes

The best day trips from Sofia: Rila Monastery, the Seven Rila Lakes, Vitosha, Koprivshtitsa, Plovdiv and more — with distances, travel times and how to go.

8 July 20265 min read
Botev Peak & Raysko Praskalo: Hiking the Central Balkan
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

Botev Peak & Raysko Praskalo: Hiking the Central Balkan

How to hike Botev Peak (2,376 m), the highest summit of the Balkan Mountains, from Kalofer — past Raysko Praskalo, the highest waterfall in the Balkans.

8 July 20265 min read
Cherni Vrah: Hiking Vitosha's Summit from Sofia
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

Cherni Vrah: Hiking Vitosha's Summit from Sofia

How to hike Cherni Vrah (2,290 m), the summit of Vitosha above Sofia — routes from Aleko, the lifts, difficulty, season, and Bulgaria's easiest big peak.

8 July 20264 min read
The Kom–Emine Trail: Bulgaria's Great Balkan Traverse
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

The Kom–Emine Trail: Bulgaria's Great Balkan Traverse

A guide to the Kom–Emine trail, Bulgaria's ~600 km E3 traverse of the Balkan Mountains from Kom Peak to the Black Sea: route, duration, difficulty and season.

8 July 20264 min read
Malyovitsa: Rila's Most Iconic Day Hike
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

Malyovitsa: Rila's Most Iconic Day Hike

How to hike Malyovitsa (2,729 m), the cradle of Bulgarian mountaineering in northern Rila — the route from the hut, difficulty, season, and where to stay.

8 July 20264 min read
The 7 Highest Peaks of Bulgaria: A Summit-by-Summit Guide
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

The 7 Highest Peaks of Bulgaria: A Summit-by-Summit Guide

The highest peak of every major Bulgarian mountain — Musala, Vihren, Botev and more, with elevations, difficulty, base towns and how to climb each.

7 July 20266 min read
Climbing Musala: Bulgaria's & the Balkans' Highest Peak
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

Climbing Musala: Bulgaria's & the Balkans' Highest Peak

How to climb Musala (2,925 m), the highest peak in Bulgaria and the Balkans: the Borovets gondola, the route, huts, distances, season and what to pack.

7 July 20265 min read
Vihren & Koncheto: Hiking Pirin's Marble Summit
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

Vihren & Koncheto: Hiking Pirin's Marble Summit

How to climb Vihren (2,914 m), Bulgaria's second-highest peak, from Bansko — the route, the fearsome Koncheto ridge, huts, season and what to pack.

7 July 20265 min read
Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress: NW Bulgaria's Wonder
Nature & LandmarksCulture & History

Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress: NW Bulgaria's Wonder

A guide to the Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress: how to get there, what to see, the Magura Cave, parking, family tips, distances and where to stay.

4 July 20263 min read
Borovets: Ski Slopes, Lifts & Hiking Musala
Ski & WinterMountains & Hiking

Borovets: Ski Slopes, Lifts & Hiking Musala

A complete guide to Borovets: ski sectors Sitnyakovo and Yastrebets, gondola tips, night skiing, lift passes, hiking Peak Musala, and accommodation.

4 July 202610 min read
Bulgaria's Natural Wonders: Top Caves, Waterfalls & Rock Formations
Nature & Landmarks

Bulgaria's Natural Wonders: Top Caves, Waterfalls & Rock Formations

Discover Bulgaria's top natural wonders: Prohodna Cave ('God's Eyes'), Krushuna Waterfalls, Belogradchik Rocks, earth pyramids, and Pobiti Kamani.

4 July 20267 min read
Bulgarian Festivals & Traditions: Kukeri and Baba Marta
Events & FestivalsCulture & History

Bulgarian Festivals & Traditions: Kukeri and Baba Marta

A guide to Bulgaria's festivals and traditions: Kukeri mummers, Baba Marta martenitsi, the Kazanlak Rose Festival and Nestinarstvo fire dancing.

4 July 20267 min read
One Week in Bulgaria: The Ultimate 7-Day Travel Itinerary
Itineraries & Road Trips

One Week in Bulgaria: The Ultimate 7-Day Travel Itinerary

The complete 7-day Bulgaria travel itinerary: explore Sofia, Rila Monastery, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, and the Black Sea coast with distances and travel times.

4 July 20267 min read
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