North-East Bulgaria

North-East Bulgaria combines the northern Black Sea coast with the wheat plains of Dobrudzha, covering the oblasts of Varna, Dobrich, Shumen, and Targovishte. The coast here is wilder and less developed than the south, with dramatic red cliffs, wide beaches, and fishing villages that have kept their character.

Varna, the sea capital, balances ancient Roman baths with a lively summer festival scene. Cape Kaliakra juts into the Black Sea from a 70-metre red cliff, while the Balchik botanical garden and the palace of Queen Marie sit just below. Inland, the plateau town of Shumen guards the site of the first Bulgarian capital, Pliska, and the rock reliefs of the Madara Horseman.