MestalaMestala
HomePlacesMapMy tripBlogAboutFAQ
EN|БГ

Discover Bulgaria with Mestala.

AboutFAQLicensePrivacy
EN|БГ
HomeBlog

Blog

Guides and travel stories from Bulgaria.

AllCities & Towns52Beaches & Coast9Mountains & Hiking19Ski & Winter6Itineraries & Road Trips21Culture & History37Events & Festivals9Nature & Landmarks37Travel Tips21

96 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
Bulgaria's Monasteries Beyond Rila: Bachkovo, Troyan & Rozhen
Culture & History

Bulgaria's Monasteries Beyond Rila: Bachkovo, Troyan & Rozhen

A guide to Bulgaria's greatest monasteries after Rila: Bachkovo in the Rhodopes, Troyan in the Balkan Mountains and Rozhen near Melnik — their history, frescoes, miraculous icons and how to visit each.

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 20267 min read
Ruse: Bulgaria's 'Little Vienna' on the Danube
Cities & TownsCulture & History

Ruse: Bulgaria's 'Little Vienna' on the Danube

A travel guide to Ruse, Bulgaria's largest Danube port and 'Little Vienna': neo-Baroque architecture, Freedom Square, the Sexaginta Prista Roman fortress, and day trips to the Ivanovo rock churches, Cherven fortress and Basarbovo monastery.

16 July 20268 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 20265 min read
Smolyan: Gateway to the Rhodopes — Bulgaria's Highest Regional Capital
Cities & TownsNature & Landmarks

Smolyan: Gateway to the Rhodopes — Bulgaria's Highest Regional Capital

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

14 July 20267 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
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 20266 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 20268 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 20268 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
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 20269 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
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
Previous1234Next