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

45 articles

Chepelare: Bulgaria's Quiet Ski Town in the Rhodopes
Ski & WinterMountains & Hiking

Chepelare: Bulgaria's Quiet Ski Town in the Rhodopes

A practical guide to Chepelare: the Mechi Chal ski area, Snezhanka Peak, getting there from Plovdiv, parking, where to stay, and why it beats Pamporovo on price.

30 August 20268 min read
Best Day Trips from Burgas: Nessebar, Sozopol & Ropotamo
Itineraries & Road TripsCities & Towns

Best Day Trips from Burgas: Nessebar, Sozopol & Ropotamo

The best day trips from Burgas: Nessebar and Sozopol old towns, the Pomorie salt pans, Ropotamo reserve and Strandzha, with bus and driving tips.

25 August 20269 min read
Eurovision 2027 Burgas Itinerary: A Day-by-Day Schedule
Events & FestivalsItineraries & Road Trips

Eurovision 2027 Burgas Itinerary: A Day-by-Day Schedule

A day-by-day plan for Eurovision 2027 week in Burgas: semi-finals, the Grand Final, free-day trips to Nessebar and Sozopol, and the fan zones.

25 August 20267 min read
Eurovision 2027 Tickets: Sale Waves, 9 Shows & Scam Advice
Events & FestivalsTravel Tips

Eurovision 2027 Tickets: Sale Waves, 9 Shows & Scam Advice

Eurovision 2027 tickets in Burgas: the nine ticketed shows, how preview rehearsals work, Eurofan registration, ticket tiers and avoiding scams.

25 August 20266 min read
Getting Around Burgas: Buses, Terminals, Taxis & Bike Hire
Travel TipsCities & Towns

Getting Around Burgas: Buses, Terminals, Taxis & Bike Hire

How to get around Burgas without a car: Burgasbus routes, the South and West terminals, buses to Sunny Beach and Nessebar, taxis and bike hire.

25 August 20266 min read
How to Get to Burgas for Eurovision 2027: Flights & Trains
Events & FestivalsTravel Tips

How to Get to Burgas for Eurovision 2027: Flights & Trains

The best route to Burgas for Eurovision 2027: direct flights to Burgas Airport (BOJ), the Varna alternative, and trains or buses from Sofia.

25 August 20267 min read
Where to Stay in Burgas for Eurovision 2027: Best Areas
Events & FestivalsTravel Tips

Where to Stay in Burgas for Eurovision 2027: Best Areas

Where to stay in Burgas for Eurovision 2027: the City Center, Sea Garden, Sarafovo and Meden Rudnik compared, plus Pomorie and Nessebar overflow.

25 August 20268 min read
North-West Bulgaria Road Trip: 4-Day Itinerary & Driving Guide
Itineraries & Road TripsNature & Landmarks

North-West Bulgaria Road Trip: 4-Day Itinerary & Driving Guide

A complete 4-day road trip itinerary through Bulgaria's least-visited region: Iskar Gorge, Vratsa, God's Bridge, Chiprovtsi, Belogradchik Rocks, Magura Cave, and Vidin.

9 August 20266 min read
The Central Balkan Road Trip: Veliko Tarnovo to the Rose Valley
Itineraries & Road TripsCulture & History

The Central Balkan Road Trip: Veliko Tarnovo to the Rose Valley

A complete 4-day driving itinerary across the Balkan Mountains: Veliko Tarnovo, Dryanovo, Tryavna, Bozhentsi, Etar, Gabrovo, Shipka Pass, and Kazanlak.

9 August 20265 min read
Bulgaria in Autumn: Things to Do Beyond the Beach
Nature & LandmarksTravel Tips

Bulgaria in Autumn: Things to Do Beyond the Beach

Grape harvest in the Struma and Thracian valleys, Rhodope forests turning gold in October, the last safe hiking window, and a coast without the crowds.

22 July 20267 min read
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
Bulgarian Food: The Dishes Worth Seeking Out
Culture & HistoryTravel Tips

Bulgarian Food: The Dishes Worth Seeking Out

Shopska salad and rakia to open, banitsa from the bakery, the mixed grill, clay-pot stews and the fasting dishes that make the country quietly vegetarian-friendly.

22 July 20268 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
Digital Nomad Guide to Bulgaria: Visa, Tax and Where to Base
Travel TipsCities & Towns

Digital Nomad Guide to Bulgaria: Visa, Tax and Where to Base

Bulgaria's new digital nomad visa, the 10% flat tax, and how Sofia, Plovdiv and Bansko actually compare for remote work — internet, coworking, cost of living and community.

22 July 20266 min read
What to Pack for Bulgaria: A Season-by-Season List
Travel Tips

What to Pack for Bulgaria: A Season-by-Season List

Master the art of layering for a country where temperatures can swing from a 30°C afternoon in Sofia to a freezing morning on Mount Musala. Includes plug types, monastery dress codes, the winter tyre law, and what you can buy locally.

22 July 20266 min read
eSIM & SIM Cards in Bulgaria: Staying Connected (2026)
Travel Tips

eSIM & SIM Cards in Bulgaria: Staying Connected (2026)

Which Bulgarian network to pick, whether you need a SIM at all as an EU visitor, eSIM options, passport rules, and where coverage actually drops.

21 July 20266 min read
Bulgaria Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Travel Tips

Bulgaria Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)

Bulgaria is a full Schengen member. Who needs a visa, how the 90/180 rule now applies, the biometric EES checks, and what ETIAS means for late 2026.

21 July 20266 min read
Burgas Airport Transfers: City Center, Sunny Beach & Nessebar
Travel TipsCities & Towns

Burgas Airport Transfers: City Center, Sunny Beach & Nessebar

A complete guide to transfers from Burgas Airport (BOJ): Bus No. 15 to the city, direct Bus No. 10 to Sunny Beach and Nessebar, taxis, and fare details.

21 July 20266 min read
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
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
Previous12Next