MestalaMestala
HomePlacesMapTripBlogAboutFAQ
EN|БГ

Discover Bulgaria with Mestala.

AboutFAQLicensePrivacy
EN|БГ
HomeBlog

Blog

Guides and travel stories from Bulgaria.

AllCities & Towns42Beaches & Coast9Mountains & Hiking19Ski & Winter6Itineraries & Road Trips19Culture & History30Events & Festivals9Nature & Landmarks32Travel Tips21

58 articles

Driving in Bulgaria: Car Rental, Vignettes & Road Rules (2026)
Travel Tips

Driving in Bulgaria: Car Rental, Vignettes & Road Rules (2026)

E-vignette prices, speed limits, winter tyre rules and rental gotchas — plus an honest answer on whether you need a car in Bulgaria at all.

21 July 20266 min read
Getting to Plovdiv: The Airport, Sofia Transfers & Trains
Travel TipsCities & Towns

Getting to Plovdiv: The Airport, Sofia Transfers & Trains

How to get to Plovdiv: Plovdiv Airport (PDV) routes, train and bus options from Sofia, private transfers, costs, and travel times.

21 July 20264 min read
Sofia Airport to the City Center: Every Transfer Option (2026)
Travel TipsCities & Towns

Sofia Airport to the City Center: Every Transfer Option (2026)

Metro in 20 minutes for €0.80, bus, or taxi from Sofia Airport. Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2, real fares, and how to avoid the taxi touts in arrivals.

21 July 20266 min read
Varna Airport to the City Center & Golden Sands (2026)
Travel TipsCities & Towns

Varna Airport to the City Center & Golden Sands (2026)

Bus 409 reaches central Varna in 20 minutes for about €1 and Golden Sands in 50. Zoned fares, the two operators to tell apart, and taxi costs.

21 July 20267 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
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
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
The Euro in Bulgaria: What Travelers Need to Know (2026)
Travel Tips

The Euro in Bulgaria: What Travelers Need to Know (2026)

Does Bulgaria use the euro? Yes — since January 2026. What changed, the fixed rate, old lev, cards and ATMs, and what it means for travelers.

4 July 20264 min read
Getting Around Bulgaria: Airports, Buses, Trains & Car Rentals
Travel Tips

Getting Around Bulgaria: Airports, Buses, Trains & Car Rentals

A complete guide to getting around Bulgaria: all four international airports, intercity buses, BDŽ trains, car rentals, vignettes, and public transport.

4 July 20265 min read
How Much Does a Trip to Bulgaria Cost? (2026 Budget Guide)
Travel Tips

How Much Does a Trip to Bulgaria Cost? (2026 Budget Guide)

How much does a trip to Bulgaria cost in 2026? Daily budgets, real prices, money tips, and what the switch to the euro means for travelers.

4 July 20265 min read
Is Bulgaria Safe for Tourists? (Honest 2026 Guide)
Travel Tips

Is Bulgaria Safe for Tourists? (Honest 2026 Guide)

Is Bulgaria safe to visit? An honest 2026 guide to crime, scams, solo and female travel, taxis, driving, emergency numbers and practical safety tips.

4 July 20263 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
Rila Monastery: The Complete Day-Trip Guide from Sofia
Culture & HistoryItineraries & Road Trips

Rila Monastery: The Complete Day-Trip Guide from Sofia

Plan a day trip to Rila Monastery from Sofia: driving distances, parking, how long to spend, family tips, what to see, and where to stay overnight.

4 July 20268 min read
Hiking the Seven Rila Lakes: Trail, Lift & Best Time
Mountains & HikingNature & Landmarks

Hiking the Seven Rila Lakes: Trail, Lift & Best Time

A complete guide to hiking the Seven Rila Lakes: the trailhead, chairlift, loop trail, parking, family tips, distances from Sofia, and where to stay.

4 July 20267 min read
10 Days in Bulgaria: The Ultimate Grand Tour Itinerary
Itineraries & Road Trips

10 Days in Bulgaria: The Ultimate Grand Tour Itinerary

A complete 10-day Bulgaria itinerary: explore Sofia, Rila Monastery, Plovdiv, the Rose Valley, Veliko Tarnovo, and the Black Sea coast.

4 July 20266 min read
Vitosha Mountain: Sofia's Backyard Escape
Mountains & Hiking

Vitosha Mountain: Sofia's Backyard Escape

Discover Vitosha beyond Cherni Vrah: UNESCO Boyana Church and waterfall, Zlatni Mostove stone river, Dragalevtsi Monastery, transport, parking, and winter skiing.

4 July 20265 min read
Previous123Next