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BULGARIA DESTINATION GUIDE

As the world leader in travel experiences since 1947, we connect you to the real Bulgaria in a way like no other. Set on the edge of Eastern Europe, Bulgaria is a bewitching blend of ancient history and landscapes. At first glance, you’ll be captivated by the soaring mountains, glacial lakes and protected forests filled with bears and wolves. Delve deeper, and you’ll discover a story that dates back further than Rome. It’s one of the oldest countries in Europe, with nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and our Bulgaria tours take it all in. See the mesmerising stripes of the 10th-century Rila Monastery and the Tsarevets Fortress from the Middle Ages. Discover the tombs of the Thracians and remnants of Neolithic settlements in the Bulgarian wilderness. Explore the churches of the City of Tsars and the mansions of Arbanasi. From the vibrant cities to the tiny mountain villages, you’ll feel the Bulgarian spirit, preserved in folklore traditions and joyous music and dance. Travel with us and unlock the infinite possibilities thanks to our exclusive Trafalgar Highlights.
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14 Day Trip

14 Cities in

7 Countries

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Balkan Adventure

The Balkans reveal their rare beauty, warm culture and colourful history for all to enjoy. Explore ancient crossroads and delve into the revival of a region once scarred by conflict and communism.

New for 2021

From $3,735 pp

Was  $4,150

New for 2021

From $3,735 pp

Was  $4,150

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Visiting

  1. Albania

    Tirana

  2. Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Mostar Sarajevo

  3. Bulgaria

    Arbanassi Sofia Veliko Tarnovo

  4. Macedonia

    Skopje

  5. Montenegro

    Budva Kotor

  6. Romania

    Bran Brasov Bucharest Poiana Brasov

  7. Serbia

    Belgrade

5 million happy guests and counting

Overall Rating

4.6

Out of 5

Based on 78,929 independent reviews

"Bulgaria is always a welcome surprise for our guests, as they discover one of Europe's oldest countries and some of the region's most stunning natural wonders."

Travel Director
Bulgaria at a glance
A bewitching blend of ancient history and beautiful landscapes, Bulgaria will leave you spellbound by the soaring mountains, glacial lakes and forests filled with bears and wolves. Join your expert Trafalgar Travel Director and discover one of Europe's oldest countries with a story that dates back further than Rome.
Currency
Bulgarian Lev
Winter avg temp
-1°C
Summer avg temp
31°C
Time Zone
GMT+3
Capital City
Sofia
Language
Bulgarian
Good morning
Dobro utro
Good evening
Dobŭr vecher
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Our top 5 things to do in Bulgaria

We’ll reveal the best of Bulgaria, from the dazzling Rila Monastery and the country’s vibrant folklore music, to the ancient treasures of Veliko Târnovo and Arbanasi.

Visit Rila Monastery

Set in a valley in the mountains of Rila National Park, Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by Ivan of Rila, a hermit monk. Today, it’s the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria, and our Bulgaria trips will reveal the incredible architecture and painted frescoes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Get your foot tapping at a traditional folklore show

Traditional Bulgarian music and dance is fast-paced and thrilling, and we’ll take you to a special folklore show where you can see the famous horo dance. With a quick beat and a line of swirling skirts, you can’t help but tap along to the music.
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Visit Veliko Târnovo, the 'City of the Tsars'

Set on the Yantra River surrounded by forested hills, Veliko Târnovo is one of Bulgaria’s oldest towns and the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. We’ll reveal the town’s medieval monuments and ancient architecture, including the Tsarevets Fortress, ul Gurko lane, and Samovodska Charshia market.
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Walk into the Tsarevets Fortress

Set in the historic town of Veliko Târnovo, a tour of the Tsarevets Fortress is one of the most impressive things to do in Bulgaria. It’s the former seat of the medieval tsars and contains the remnants of hundreds of buildings including houses, churches, an execution rock and the royal palace.
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Travel to UNESCO-listed town of Arbanasi

A hilltop village in the Veliko Târnovo Municipality, Arbanasi is steeped in history and ancient architecture. It was once the home of wealthy nobles during the Bulgarian Revival period, and it’s now a living museum with protected mansions, monasteries, churches and cultural monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Best museums in Bulgaria

Our Bulgaria tour packages take you to the country’s top museums, from socialist art and Bulgarian icons, to glittering gems and minerals.

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Located in Sofia, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the largest Christian church buildings in the world. It houses a museum of Bulgarian icons inside the crypt, dating from the 13th to the 19th century. With over 200 icons, it’s thought to be Europe’s largest collection of Orthodox icons.
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Museum of Socialist Art

The Museum of Socialist Art in Sofia is dedicated to showcasing works from the communist period in Bulgaria. You can explore a park with over 70 sculptures, an exhibition hall of paintings, and a video hall with films and newsreels from the communist era.
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Earth and Man National Museum

Founded in central Sofia, the Earth and Man National Museum is one of the largest mineralogical museums in the world. Its collection encompasses 40% of all known minerals, including massive gems, volcanic rocks and sparkling geodes. You can also find man-made ceramics created by Bulgarian scientists.
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Best food in Bulgaria

Our Bulgaria holidays show you the best of Bulgarian food, from cheesy pastries and dried meats, to fiery tripe soup.

Banitza

Banitza is a classic breakfast food, made from a blend of milk, eggs and cheese layered into filo pastry and baked until golden. It can be found in bakeries all over Bulgaria and our Local Specialists will show you the best places to find this delicious treat.
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Lukanka

A traditional food of Bulgaria, lukanka is a semi-dried salami usually made from pork, veal, cumin, salt and pepper. The ingredients are minced together, packed into a dried cow’s intestine and dried for nearly two months, resulting in a delicious snack best served cold.
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Shkembe (Tripe Soup)

Shkembe is a spicy tripe soup seasoned with crushed garlic, paprika, vinegar and chilli pepper. The tantalising mix of flavours is said to have healing powers, and it’s best eaten with fresh bread and a cold beer.
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What to pack for Bulgaria

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Bulgarian phrasebook

Bulgarian is the official language and they use the Cyrillic alphabet, so it will be useful to learn a few phrases, particularly if you’re travelling outside of the major cities.

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Bulgarian lev

The official currency of Bulgaria is the Bulgarian lev, and you’ll need to bring some cash for smaller restaurants, markets and outside cities.

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Comfortable shoes

From hiking the spectacular mountains to walking the cobbled laneways, you’ll need a sturdy pair of shoes for your Bulgaria trip.

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Adaptor plug

In Bulgaria, the power plugs and sockets are of type F, with standard European 2-pin plugs. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

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Layered clothing

The weather can be unpredictable with freezing winters, rainy springs and a scorching Bulgarian summer. It’s best to bring versatile clothing and layers to cover your knees and elbows when visiting monasteries.

Other things to know before you go

Depending on your nationality, you'll need a valid passport and may also need visas to enter. Please check this well in advance of your trip departure date here. Some countries also require passports to have 3-6 months left on them before the given expiry date, so be sure to double check this before booking your travels.

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