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One of the most popular and affordable destinations in Europe for many years has been Bulgaria. This country is best known for its resorts on the Black Sea, but few know that Bulgaria ranks third in the world (only behind Italy and Greece) in the number of UNESCO-protected sites. There are many nature reserves, rivers, lakes, mountains, and over 4,000 caves here.

In this article, we will discuss the landmarks of Bulgaria so that you can learn as much as possible about this amazing country and spend an unforgettable vacation here.

 

Interesting facts

Bulgaria is a country on the Balkan Peninsula. In 2004, it joined NATO, in 2007, it joined the EU, and on March 1, 2024, Bulgaria officially entered the Schengen Area.

The local currency is the lev. 1 euro is approximately equal to 2 leva. The exchange rate in city exchange offices is almost the same, but it is higher at airports and bus stations.

The rose is the symbol of the country. Its oil is one of the most expensive ingredients used in perfumery. Bulgaria is the largest supplier of rose oil in the world, producing half of the global supply of this component. Bulgarian rose is used not only in perfumery and cosmetics but also to make jam, Turkish delight, marmalade, and even alcoholic beverages.

 

Bulgarian cuisine

Bulgarian national cuisine is remarkably delicious and diverse:

•  Banitsa: A traditional Bulgarian pastry made from phyllo dough, typically filled with salty cheese. The dough is either spiraled or layered.
• Gyuvetch: A dish similar to a stew (with pieces of meat or just vegetables), cooked in the oven and served directly from the clay pot it was baked in.
• Tarator: A cold soup resembling okroshka, made from yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, dill, and sometimes walnuts.
• Shopska Salad: A light summer salad made with sirene cheese, cucumbers, and red tomatoes, symbolizing the colors of the Bulgarian flag.
• Sarmi: A dish similar to stuffed cabbage rolls. Grape leaves are primarily used for sarmi. The classic filling consists of stewed meat with fried onions, fried rice, and seasoned with salt and pepper.
• Moussaka: Similar to lasagna, layers of minced lamb are alternated with layers of potatoes or eggplants and dough. The dish is then baked under a sauce, most often a creamy sauce, but there are also variations with tomato sauce. Cheese is added at the end of cooking.
• Garash Cake: A chocolate cake invented in Bulgaria around the early 20th century. It is distinctive because you need no flour to cook it. Ground walnuts serve as the base instead.

Dairy products in Bulgaria are delicious and popular. Among hard cheeses, the traditional one is "kashkaval", which is made from cow's milk. Regarding salty cheeses, "sirene" is prominent, and the variety of fermented yogurts is extensive. These products are made from cow's, sheep's, goat's milk, and their mixes. The familiar sour cheese found elsewhere is not common in Bulgaria, but they have "izvara", which looks similar but tastes different because it is not cheese but a cheese product.

Bulgarian alcohol is also noteworthy. Local vineyards produce over 200,000 tons of wine per year, making Bulgaria one of the largest wine-producing countries in the world. The wine-making traditions in this country are more than 1,000 years old.

Also popular in the Balkans is rakia, a fruit brandy aged in oak barrels, giving it a brandy-like aroma. In Bulgaria, you can find rakia made from plums, grapes, apricots, cherries, and various other fruits and berries. Rose rakia is one of the most exotic and expensive types of Bulgarian alcohol.

 

Holidays on the Black Sea: the most popular resorts

Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria share several common features:

• They are oriented towards family vacations with children.
• Some resorts (which we'll detail below) offer activities and evening entertainment suitable for young adults.
• Clean beaches with umbrellas and loungers. Soft sand, shallow and flat seabed, gradual entry into the sea.
• Mild climate: there's rarely exhausting heat or drastic temperature changes. A gentle breeze blows, and thanks to the comfortable humidity level, even toddlers can easily acclimatize.
• Many comfortable 3-star and 4-star hotels (but you can also rent your own cottage). Hotel facilities typically include pools, playgrounds, cafes, entertainment centers, and spas. Child animators are almost always available.
• Most hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis. However, finding a café or cozy restaurant in town is easy—they're almost everywhere.
• Developed tourist shopping: there are many small shops and souvenir shops at the resorts.
• Affordable prices compared to other European resorts.

 

Albena

Of all the Bulgarian resorts, Albena has gained a reputation as the most ecologically friendly. Here, in the north of the country, you will find yourself surrounded by a lot of greenery, coniferous trees, and clean sea. Albena boasts a large water park with slides of various lengths and heights, two Luna parks, and numerous playgrounds. Adults in Albena can enjoy cozy restaurants, nightclubs, and spa centers. The resort offers all conditions for sports activities for both children and adults: tennis courts, football and field hockey fields, sports halls with exercise equipment. There is also a large balneological center specializing in health improvement with therapeutic mud. Children will enjoy visiting reserves and seeing various representatives of the animal and plant world. The price range for accommodation is quite wide and affordable for families with moderate incomes.

 

Golden Sands

The resort of Golden Sands, located 18 km from Varna, fully lives up to its name. Its main local feature is the beaches, up to 100 meters wide, with fine sand of a gentle golden hue, perfect for sunbathing. Here, you can also fully immerse yourself in vibrant nightlife at clubs, casinos, bars, and other entertainment venues, and rejuvenate at spas and sanatoriums. Many young people come to this resort, so everything is designed for their leisure: water skiing, parasailing, catamaran rides, beach volleyball, tennis. You can also visit the Aquapolis water park and indulge in water entertainment.

 

St. Constantine and Helena

St. Constantine and Helena is a small family resort located in northern Bulgaria, just 10 km from the city of Varna. It is considered the best place for family vacations, especially for preschool-aged children. Resting in St. Constantine and Helena is recommended for travelers seeking peace and relaxation. There are practically no nightclubs, noisy entertainment, or significant landmarks here—only the sea, sandy beaches, and healing air! By the way, the beach here is not as wide and spacious as in Golden Sands, but it is just as clean and with small coves. Thanks to this, even in strong winds, there are practically no waves in the sea. In the resort area, there are many sources of healing mineral water and balneological centers.

 

Elenite

The resort of Elenite has a reputation for being respectable yet accessible for relaxation. It is located 45 km from the city of Burgas, not far from the Sunny Beach resort. Elenite is a typical family resort. Its main features are peace, tranquility, and a mountainous landscape, atypical for the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Tourists here have the opportunity to walk in dense pine forests and engage in active sports such as mini-golf, archery, beach soccer, and volleyball. Nightclubs and loud discos are practically absent. Prices in Elenite are slightly higher than in Golden Sands and Nessebar, but they remain within reach for most tourists.

 

Saint Vlas

Saint Vlas is a resort where you can discover a cozy vacation with children without crowded beaches and noisy parties. It's a small town located 5 km from the famous Sunny Beach. Such proximity is advantageous for tourists of Saint Vlas—they can easily combine a peaceful rest with vibrant nightlife in Sunny Beach. Saint Vlas attracts tourists with its beauty: small cozy bays, white sandy beaches, and the majestic Stara Planina mountains. Prices for vacations in Saint Vlas are much more affordable compared to large and popular Bulgarian resorts. However, in terms of vacation quality and hotel service, this town is not inferior to crowded tourist destinations.

 

Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach Resort is one of the largest and most popular resorts in Bulgaria on the Black Sea. It is located in the province of Nessebar and is known for its beaches with soft golden sand stretching for more than 10 km. For their cleanliness, the beaches of the resort are awarded the "Blue Flag" of the European Union. Tourists here can go water skiing and jet skiing, engage in surfing, and even diving. If desired, you can rent a yacht and go for a cruise or sea fishing. The largest water park in Bulgaria, "Action," is located precisely in Sunny Beach, covering an area of over 36 hectares. The nightlife at the resort attracts young tourists. Here you can visit discos, clubs, bars, as well as shopping centers.

 

Nessebar

Nessebar is a city with a rich and significant history, a true open-air historical museum with outstanding architectural monuments. The city consists of two parts: the old and the new. Most hotels are located in the new quarters, offering a variety of options from budget to luxury accommodations. Old Nessebar is situated on a rocky peninsula about 15 meters above sea level. Here, you will encounter narrow medieval streets dating back to the times of Roman legionnaires, paved with cobblestones, historical buildings from various epochs and cultures. Ancient churches, souvenir shops, and traditional Bulgarian restaurants contribute to the unique atmosphere of Nessebar, where time seems to have stopped in past centuries. Nessebar's beaches may not be as wide as those in other resorts, but they are consistently clean and well-maintained.

 

Sozopol

Sozopol is located in southern Bulgaria, 30 km from Burgas. It is one of the oldest cities in Bulgaria, the successor of ancient Apollonia. To this day, architectural and artistic monuments have been preserved here. Impressive are the ancient stone and wood houses typical of 18th-19th-century Black Sea architecture, narrow green streets paved with cobblestones, houses with roofs made of red tiles, and cozy restaurants in a national style. The old town of Sozopol has been declared a museum. Today, the city is an unofficial "gathering place" for the local cultural elite: actors, writers, musicians, and artists.

There are not many active entertainments here, but there are interesting sights at every turn. Tourists have access to two sandy beaches with shallow shores. There are various activities available along the coast: paragliding, banana boat rides, as well as cafes, bars, discos, and more.

Near Sozopol flows the Ropotamo River, at the mouth of which is a nature reserve. This area resembles a jungle, and at the point where the river flows into the sea, you can see dolphins and seals.

 

Bulgaria for travelers is not just about the sea...

Most tourists are only familiar with the resorts on the Black Sea, but Bulgaria has many other spectacular places. So, if you feel like exploring the country further, hop on a train or bus and head to...

...the town of Balchik, located on the Black Sea coast. There, in the botanical garden, you will see the tallest cactus in the world, reaching a height of 7 meters.

...the town of Kazanlak, to see the largest rose plantation in the world.

...the city of Plovdiv, which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, with a history dating back approximately 6,000 years.

...Mount Musala - the highest point in the country. Its height is 2925 meters above sea level.

...the city of Veliko Tarnovo - the ancient capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the cradle of Bulgarian architecture, painting, and literature. Once, the city successfully competed with Byzantium. Veliko Tarnovo is a symbol of Bulgarian statehood and a source of national pride for every Bulgarian.

...the city of Sofia, which is the second oldest city in Europe. Today, it is the official capital of Bulgaria. The population of the city is over 1.3 million, while there are about 9 million people living in Bulgaria. Sofia is located at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain and has a large number of mineral water sources within its territory.

...the Rila Monastery - the only monastery in Europe that has survived from the first centuries of Ottoman rule to the present day.

...to Bansko, Pamporovo, and neighboring mountain resorts - the so-called "Bulgarian Courchevel" in the Pirin Mountains. The local natural landscapes captivate with their beauty throughout the year, and the mountain coolness helps cope with the summer heat.

...to Rupite, where the world-famous prophetess Vanga lived. Her house in Rupite now serves as a museum. There are also her grave and an Orthodox church with somewhat strange icons, which Vanga built with the funds of her visitors.

 

Mydutyfree and Join UP!: Start your vacation on your way to the dream resort

Interested in Bulgaria and want to spend your summer vacation here? To make thousands of kilometers of road to the long-awaited sea pass unnoticed and as comfortable as possible, choose bus tours from Join UP!

Advantages of Join UP! bus tours:

• Attentive, polite drivers with extensive experience in passenger transportation
• Experienced guides with certificates of first aid training who will advise on any issues that may arise during the trip
• New buses with air conditioning
• Comfortable seats
• USB ports near each passenger seat for charging gadgets
• Wi-Fi
• Option to pre-order food during the trip
• Option to make purchases at the Duty Free shop at the Porubne checkpoint (while passing customs between Ukraine and Romania)
• Option to reserve the most comfortable seat in the cabin
• Bottled water for each passenger
• Availability of toilets on buses, as well as stops every 3-4 hours
• Care for young passengers KIDS FRIENDLY: soft blankets (on request), snacks from Bob Snail, bright scratch drawings or coloring pages from Dodo Toys, and sticker packs from Join UP!™, seats with fastenings for child seats.

Join UP! offers tours to the most popular Bulgarian resorts along the Black Sea coast: Albena, Golden Sands, St. Constantine and Helena, Elenite, St. Vlas, Sunny Beach, Nessebar, and Sozopol.

• Departure from Kyiv:

daily from 01.06.2024 to 22.09.2024 with possible boarding in Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Kamianets-Podilskyi, and Chernivtsi.

• Departure from Lviv:

every Wednesday and Saturday from 01.06.2024 to 28.09.2024 with possible boarding in Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia, and Chernivtsi.

• Departure from Kharkiv:

every Wednesday and Saturday from 08.06.2024 to 28.09.2024 with possible boarding in Poltava, Kremenchuk, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, Izmail, and Tatarbunary.

• Departure from Zaporizhzhia:

every Wednesday and Saturday from 01.06.2024 to 28.09.2024 with possible boarding in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Kropyvnytskyi, Uman, and Odesa.

You can find all the details and book the tour here.

If you are traveling from Kyiv and Lviv, when passing through the Porubne checkpoint at the border between Ukraine and Romania, take the opportunity to make purchases at the Duty Free shop with a 5% discount.

How to make your pre-order:

1. Select goods from the Porubne location catalog on the Mydutyfree website or in the app. For quick access to the site, scan the QR code on the brochure found in your travel documents from Join UP!

2. Complete your preliminary selection in the shopping cart.

3. When completing the shopping cart, specify the date and approximate time of crossing the border.

4. After passing Ukrainian customs control, you will be able to pick up and pay for the selected goods at the Duty Free shop with a 5% discount.

* The Duty Free shop collects orders 1 hour before the specified time and keeps the assembled order for 24 hours.

** The 5% discount is available only after pre-ordering on mydutyfree.net

Enjoy your journey with Mydutyfree and Join UP!