Bulgaria

Click the index button below to see all my posts from Bulgaria.

General

Accommodation
Transportation
Additional Bulgaria Resources

Places

Kalofer
Plovdiv
Sofia
Sozopol
Varna
Veliko Tarnovo

Kalofer

Learn how to make Bulgaria’s yogurt, which is prized as far away as Japan.
Watch as resident artisans make Kalofer Lace — something they’ve been doing for more than a century.
Mingle with Kalofer’s friendly locals and soak up some of their community spirit. We observed community dance practice, chatted with curious grannies, learned how to make fruit brandy (Rakia), and much more.
Time your visit with the nearby Kazanlak Rose Harvest Festival. If you miss it, instead admire the many roses in Kalofer’s gardens.
Hike along Kalofer’s delightful eco-trail (ekoputeka).

Bulgarian Yogurt and Dishes — A homemade jar of Bulgarian yogurt (left) and souvenirs from Bulgaria, including dried lavender, rose petals, a vessel for holding rose oil, and a handkerchief depicting a woman in folk costume.

Monastery Flowers in Kalofer bulgaria — Scenes from the ecotrail: A painting and lantern at the men’s monastery (left) and lavender wildflowers (right).

Plovdiv

Marvel at the Old Town’s colorful National Revival architecture.
Attend a summer concert or opera performance in Plovdiv’s ancient Roman theater, which is said to be one of the world’s best preserved.

Sofia

Take a day trip to the majestic Rila Monastery.

The colorful exterior of the Rila Monastery in Bulgaria. — The colorful exterior of the Rila Monastery (also known as The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila).

Golden mosaic on the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria. — A mosaic adorning the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is bathed in early-evening sunlight.

Sozopol

Bulgaria traditional ceramic dishes — Traditional Bulgarian pottery, for sale in Sozopol.

Varna

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Turnovo Bulgaria — Tsarevets Fortress.

Accommodation

I’ve stayed in apartments, hotels, and hostels throughout Bulgaria. Here are some properties I’d gladly revisit. Please note that some affiliate links follow.

Kalofer – We divided our time between the Iliikova House and the Stara Planina Hotel. At the former, we enjoyed Tony and Stefan’s home’s stunning forest views and pretty garden courtyard. The couple even took the time to show us how to make Bulgarian yogurt. At the latter guesthouse, we appreciated Stoyan’s and his family’s warm hospitality, and their willingness to introduce us to Kalofer residents who shared aspects of Bulgarian culture with us (lace-making and rakija-distilling). The family also shared a bounty of plump, home-grown tomatoes with us, which we joyfully included in the Shopska Salads that we feasted upon several times per week.