Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Bulgaria
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| | | Budget Byzantine break |  | Why go on holiday to Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is a great budget destination where mountains, monasteries, churches and Byzantine ruins can be enjoyed at little expense.
The people have embraced capitalism with good grace and are friendly too. A devalued currency means that even the top ski and beach resorts are extremely cheap.
How much does it cost?
A flight from London to Sofia can cost from as little as £150 but you could pay twice as much. At time of writing, a half board one-week package to a Black Sea resort costs from £350 in midsummer.
When should I go?
Many attractions close down in the icy winters, but summers are invariably hot and dry. Temperatures can reach 27C. Head for the Black Sea area where the dry heat isn't too oppressive.
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| | | Ski the mountains | | What should I do when I'm there?
As well as the usual sightseeing, there's plenty of skiing, mountain climbing and hiking.
Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, is a real mix of old-world charm and new-world angst. The city centre is attractive and airy, but the sinister spectre of concrete-block communism still lurks in the suburbs.
What are the capital's stand-out features?
The 14th-century St Petra Semerdjuska church has an unassuming front but the atmospheric nave boasts some glorious frescoes. The National Museum of History and chic Vitosha Boulevard are nearby.
The neo-Byzantine Alexander Nevski Church is steeped in history, and for a taste of the recent Soviet-dominated past there is the former Party House — a soulless monolith that survived the political uprising of 1990.
South of the city is Mount Vitosha: a skiing centre in winter, the chair-lifts are kept open in summer for sightseers. Avoid going on a Sunday — it will be packed with locals.
What's outside the capital?
Check out the ex-capital, Veliko Tarnovo, 250km from Sofia. It's steeped in history and has great bars. Its picturesque houses cling to the cliffs of the Yantra River gorge.
Stand by the Assumption Patriarchal Church and admire the Royal Palace, Tsaravets Citadel and Execution Rock, where traitors were thrown to their deaths. Tourists flock to Nesebar to see its 2nd-century remnants and cobbled streets.
What's the Bulgarian coast like?
The Black Sea coast teems with British and German package tourists in summer months, but with 378km of sandy coastline it is easy to escape the crowds.
Buses are a cheap way to hop between the sunny coastal towns, which offer great seafood. Sozopol is one of the more picturesque towns in the region, but if you want a bustling holiday resort head for Varna.
Where can I get next to nature?
The Rila Mountains are fantastic for hiking. If you're a hardcore walker, climb Musala Peak, the highest mountain in the Balkan Peninsula.
The nearby Rila Monastery, founded in AD 927 as a retreat for hermits, houses a clock tower dating from 1335, while the three-domed church is a marvel.
For Bulgarian peasant life try the Rodopi Mountains. There are spectacular gorges, rocky slopes, tiered fields and pine forests. Start at the Bachkovo Monastery then move on to the beautiful town of Shiroka Laka.
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| | | Folk dancing and dinner | | Where's good for nightlife?
It depends what you're after. As well as dinner, some restaurants serve up folk dancing and music. Opera buffs might want to visit the State Opera House in Sofia, which is also home to the National Folk Ensemble.
You'll also find nightclubs in Sofia, the major towns, and all the resorts.
What's the food like?
The Turkish influence lives on in much of Bulgaria's food. Try kebache, grilled meat rolls, or kavarma, a meat and vegetable casserole, or drob sarma, liver baked with rice and eggs.
Plakiya is a rich fish stew and you'll have to run a long way to avoid bop — bean soup. Vegetarians should be happy with the specialities like sirene po shopski, a baked dish of cheese, eggs and tomatoes.
What should I buy?
Local handicrafts, wines, spirits and confectionery. The main shopping area in Sofia is Vitosha Boulevard.
What is there for children to do?
Tourism in Bulgaria isn't especially geared towards kids; however the seaside resorts, such as Golden Sands and Sunny Beach, have facilities for children.
Tourist office
Bulgarian Embassy, 186-188 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5HL. Tel. 020 7584 9400.
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| | Available rental properties in Bulgaria |
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| |  | | Chalet Elizabeth, Borovets.
Luxury, spacious ski chalet in Govedartsi, Borovets sleeping 8-11 people .
|  | | VillaChelnik,,,,With HUGE pool!!!
BEAUTIFUL LUXURY MODERN 5 bedroomed villa , HUGE POOL, typical Bulgarian village enviroment, 60 minutes Airport, sea, mountains and Turkey....... . . . .
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR SMALLER PARTIES
|  | | Luxury Villa In Balchik Bulgaria Private Pool
Beautiful LUXURY MODERN 3 bedroomed villa with POOL in country village, exclusive 1.5 ACRE GROUNDS, 20 minutes to sea, 45 minutes airport, sleeps to 8
|  | | Villa Pearl
Large Villa with private pool; Varna/sea-view. Sleeps 14:- 3 doubles + 1 3-bed + detached 3-bed 'teens-den'. Satelite TV. 12km. airport. Village shop/restaurant.
|  | | Villa Lotus
Large Detached villa on the Black Sea Coast, near Varna (20min by bus). 20min walk to sea, 8km Golden Sands.
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