Bulgaria
Sofia, the inland capital, serves as a hub for exploring the Balkans, while Black Sea coastal cities like Burgas feel like summer resort towns. The two areas are quite far apart, so it's best to split your itinerary.
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Bulgaria currency guide — today's rate & payment tips
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Average temperature by month
Based on Sofia · 5-year average
Choose a city
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Sofia
Sofia is Bulgaria's capital and largest city, ranked among Europe's oldest capitals. Its long history, dating back to an 8th-century BC Thracian settlement, can be traced throughout the city.
45 sights 9 guides Sofia Airport (SOF)
Burgas
Burgas sits on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast and is the second-largest city along the Black Sea shoreline. It's a great place to travel and soak up the lively energy of a coastal city.
22 sights 9 guides Burgas Airport (BOJ)
Ruse
Ruse is a border city facing Romania's Giurgiu across the Danube, long prosperous through river trade. Buildings dating from the late 19th century still stand throughout the city, giving it an old-world charm.
13 sights 9 guides Varna Airport
Pleven
Pleven is the administrative center of a province in northern Bulgaria, offering attractions such as a panorama museum and a wine museum. It's a nice place to stroll through Kaylaka Park and learn about local history at the regional museum.
9 sights 9 guides Sofia Airport (SOF)
Stara Zagora
Stara Zagora, a city in southern Bulgaria, has an 8,000-year history and ranks among Europe's oldest cities. Here you can experience both the storied history of the Thracian region and a mild Mediterranean climate.
6 sights 9 guides Plovdiv Airport (PDV)
Top sights in Bulgaria
Museums & galleries
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This Orthodox cathedral is a landmark of Sofia and the second largest on the Balkan Peninsula. It was built to honor the victims of the Russo-Turkish War.
Temples & religious sites
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Sofia is the national church of the Bulgarian people within Eastern Orthodoxy. Steeped in centuries of faith and tradition, it offers a close look at Bulgarian religious culture.
Museums & galleries
Boyana Church
This medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church stands in the Boyana district on the outskirts of Sofia. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers both historical and artistic significance.
Nature
Vitosha
Rising 2,290 meters above sea level on the outskirts of Sofia, Mount Vitosha is a symbol of the city. It's easily accessible by bus and cable car, making it a great spot for hiking and skiing.
Temples & religious sites
Banya Bashi Mosque
This Sunni Muslim mosque is located in Sofia. It offers a close look at Islamic architecture.
Museums & galleries
National Archaeological Museum, Bulgaria
An archaeological museum in Sofia, Bulgaria, housed in a former Ottoman-era mosque building. It brings together archaeological finds gathered from around the city in one place.
Temples & religious sites
Saint Sophia Church
St. Sophia Church is an Orthodox church in Sofia, Bulgaria, built in the 4th century and counted among the city's oldest churches. It served as a mosque in the 16th century before being restored as a church again, and the city of Sofia takes its name from this very church.
Temples & religious sites
Saint Nedelya Church
An Eastern Orthodox cathedral in central Sofia with a history dating back to the 10th century. Rebuilt several times over the centuries, the current structure stands as one of Sofia's leading landmarks.
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Local data
Get an eSIM for Bulgaria before you go
Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.
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