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

86 articles

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
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
Buzludzha: Bulgaria's Abandoned Communist 'UFO' Monument
Culture & History

Buzludzha: Bulgaria's Abandoned Communist 'UFO' Monument

A guide to the Buzludzha Monument: what it is, how to get there, whether you can go inside, the mosaics, and the best time to visit Bulgaria's UFO landmark.

8 July 20264 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
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
Bulgarian Wine & Melnik: Top Wineries & Travel Guide
Culture & History

Bulgarian Wine & Melnik: Top Wineries & Travel Guide

A complete guide to Bulgarian wine and Melnik: famous wine regions, local grape varieties, Melnik cellars, sandstone pyramids, and Rozhen Monastery.

4 July 20266 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
Things to Do in Nessebar: A Guide to the UNESCO Old Town
Cities & TownsCulture & History

Things to Do in Nessebar: A Guide to the UNESCO Old Town

The best things to do in Nessebar Old Town: medieval Byzantine churches, archaeological sites, where to park, the beaches and trips to Pomorie.

4 July 202612 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
Things to Do in Sozopol: Old Town, Beaches & Apollonia Festival
Cities & TownsBeaches & Coast

Things to Do in Sozopol: Old Town, Beaches & Apollonia Festival

The best things to do in Sozopol: the historic Old Town, the town beaches, the Apollonia Arts Festival and trips south to Primorsko and Sinemorets.

4 July 202610 min read
Bulgaria Thermal Springs: Velingrad, Hisarya & Devin
Nature & Landmarks

Bulgaria Thermal Springs: Velingrad, Hisarya & Devin

Bulgaria's top spa towns and thermal springs: Velingrad, Hisarya, Devin and Sapareva Banya — health benefits, mineral pools, and hotel tips.

4 July 20267 min read
Top 5 Blue Flag Beaches in Bulgaria for 2026
Beaches & Coast

Top 5 Blue Flag Beaches in Bulgaria for 2026

Official 2026 list! Discover the top 5 Blue Flag beaches in Bulgaria. A detailed travel guide with directions, parking info, amenities, and entertainment.

30 June 20266 min read
Previous1234Next