Bulgaria already has many beautiful places that travellers know and definitely want to visit, such as the Rila Monastery, the 7 Rila Lakes, the old town of Plovdiv… and although they are tourist attractions, all of them are valuable. But this time, I want to share with you some of the most interesting and lesser-known Bulgarian travel experiences tourist places in Bulgaria to your bucket list. Without further ado, here are my top 20 recommendations: 

On the Black Sea coast 

1. Tourist Places In Bulgaria Sea Kayaking Near Kavarna 

Instead of heading to the more popular and crowded southern coast of the Black Sea, visit the northern part and add a bit of adventure with an unforgettable sea kayaking experience. Even better if you wake up early and watch the sunrise in a kayak. You’ll enjoy this scene, right? 

Kayak Bulgaria 

2. Visit the most beautiful northern Black Sea coast. 

Less crowded, a little cooler than the south, but very beautiful. The northern coast of Bulgaria on the Black Sea surprised me with its untouched beauty and its high, steep cliffs that are difficult to forget. If you are in this region, you should visit the “Yaylata” nature reserve with more than 100 coastal caves, the beach near Tyulenovo, Cape Kaliakra and Bolata beach. 

Black Sea Bulgaria 

It’s also where you can stumble upon incredible sunsets over endless fields of sunflowers. I was lucky enough to catch one accidentally… 

Bulgaria sunflower sunset 

3. Cape Emine: where the mountain meets the sea. 

A hidden and difficult to access but extremely beautiful place in Bulgaria is Cape Emine. It is the easternmost point of the Balkan mountain range. It offers a spectacular view of the place where the mountain meets the sea. 

Cape Amman Bulgaria 

4. Velka Beach: where the river meets the sea. 

Another beautiful place on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is Veleka beach in Sinemorets, a seaside resort in the south. This is where the Velka River flows into the sea and creates a unique place where you can enjoy both the salt water of the sea and the calm and relaxing river. It’s just adorable… 

• • Velka Beach Bulgaria 

• • In the Rhodope Mountains 

5. Mountain biking in the Rhodopes 

The Rhodope Mountains are very colorful and beautiful. Exploring them by bike was something new for me and I definitely recommend it. During our two-day cross-country bike trip, we visited many uninhabited villages, saw stunning views, reached the highest village in Bulgaria – Ortsevo, ate delicious home-cooked meals, and after the ride, soaked in a hot mineral pool. Dubya… It couldn’t happen. better 

Mountain bike Bulgaria 

6. Working from a hammock in an office in Woods Chapelare. 

And so, the Rhodopes are calling! Located in Chepelare, Office in the Woods is a coworking camp that allows digital workers to recharge from the boring and cold environment of a traditional office. It’s a place where you can work during the day and have lots of fun afterwards: mountain biking, hiking, ziplining… you name it. And what’s more, nothing beats the cleanest mountain air! 

7. Watch a movie on a rock at Momchilova Fortress. 

Momchilova Castle is a completely renovated castle on a high hill in the Rhodope Mountains, near the village of Gradat. Usually every Saturday a short film about the hero of Momchal is shown on a cliff with a spectacular view of the entire Rhodopes. The atmosphere is indescribable and it only costs 2 euros. 

Momchilova Fortress Pamporovo1 

8. Enjoy a weekend in Velingrad, the spa capital of the Balkans. 

Volingrad is a must-visit spa destination in Bulgaria: with 77 mineral springs, each with their own unique and even miraculous healing powers, this city is the perfect choice for your spa and wellness holiday in Europe. The city has many open pools of mineral water with healing and medicinal properties. In addition, Velingrad is home to the largest karst spring in Bulgaria, Kleptoza. 

 

• • Velingrad-Spa-Bulgaria 

• • Photos: Velingrad/www.velingrad-bg.com 

9. Visit a unique carpet factory in Kostendovo. 

The only handmade carpet factory in Europe is hidden in the village of Kostanadovo, on the outskirts of Volinggrad. It is open to sightseeing tours so you can see the actual rug-making process and learn more about the history and present of the factory. More than 30 women work to create exquisite hand-woven rugs not only for the royal family. It takes 4 women to make only 10 cm of carpet a day. A rug is made for at least 4-5 months. You can imagine how difficult and ingenious this task is. Definitely a must see… 

kostandovo rugs 

10.Be masmerized by the Asen Fortress. 

Located near the town of Asenovgrad, Asen Fortress is a medieval fortress perched on a high rocky cliff in the Rhodope Mountains. It is easily accessible by car. The panoramic view from the top, again, is something you must see with your own eyes. 

Asan Castle Bulgaria 

And while you’re in the area, you can also visit the impressive Bachkovo Monastery. An accommodation option close to these towns is the Kosovo Houses complex, located in Pictou. 

11. Best Tourist Places In Bulgaria Famous Rock Phenomenon Karadjov Kamak 

Karadjov Kamak is another interesting phenomenon, also in the Rhodope Mountains: a huge stone trapped between two rocks. It can be reached from Christova Gora, it takes about 40 minutes on foot. There is a slightly dangerous wooden ladder that allows you to climb the rocks and see the rock from a slightly different perspective. 

 

• • Comic Karadjov Bulgaria 

• • In northern Bulgaria 

12. Visit the only left desert in Bulgaria –  Pobiti Kamani rocky phenomenon 

Just outside the maritime capital of Bulgaria, Varna, you can see another impressive natural site: the Stone Desert phenomenon /Pobiti Kamani/. The desert is made up of several groups of sand dunes and natural cliffs between 5 and 7 meters high. A place to remember… 

Stone forest-Bulgaria 

13. Tourist Locations In Bulgaria Overlook Provadia From Ovech Fortress. 

The Ovech Fortress is located near Provadia, a few hours from Varna, in northern Bulgaria. The fort dominates the entire city and its vegetation, making the view from the top simply spectacular. 

Ovitch Fortress Bulgaria 

14. Tourist Attractions In Bulgaria Sunny Beach Unique Rock Hewn Churches In Ivanovo 

The rock-cut churches of Ivanovo are a complex of churches, chapels and monks’ cells carved into the rock during the 13th and 14th centuries. The best preserved and famous church in the complex, and the only one open for guided tours, is “Santa María”. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Other interesting places nearby are the Cherven Fortress and the Besarbovski Monastery. The city of Rousse is also close and worth it. 

churches_excavated_rocks_ivanovo_bulgaria_unesco 

15. Baba Vida – the only completely preserved medieval fortress in Bulgaria 

Baba Vada Castle is the symbol of Vadin, an often overlooked town in northern Bulgaria. The current fortification was built on a Roman fort during the 10th century. It was never conquered by an enemy army. Baba Vada stands proudly next to the Danube River and is often the first thing that catches the attention of visitors to the city… 

Baba-Life-Strength-Bulgaria 

16. Tourist Attractions In Bulgaria Sofia Watch Through The Eyes Of God In The Prohodna Cave. 

Prohodna Cave is one of my favorite natural phenomena in Bulgaria. It is famous for its two large eye-shaped holes in the ceiling and that is why it is also called the Eyes of God. Prohodna is located near Karlovy Vary, just 2 hours from the Bulgarian capital, making it a great option for a day trip from Sofia. Unfortunately, it is only accessible by car. 

Prahudana-cave-of-the-eyes-of-God. 

17.  Tourist Places In Bulgaria  Tryavana 

Tryavna is a small town located in the center of Bulgaria. I highly recommend it if you plan to visit the country and want to see a traditional town that has managed to preserve the typical Renaissance architecture and spirit. It is impossible not to fall in love with this beautiful and charming city… 

 

• • Tryavna Bulgaria 

• • Photo: Andrew Andrew Photography. 

• • In southern Bulgaria 

18. Tourist Cities In Bulgaria Witness a traditional barefoot fire dance ritual – Nestinarstvo. 

The Nestinarstvo ritual is famous for the unique barefoot fire dance performed by the Nestinari. The ritual takes place on June 3, Saint Peter’s Day. Constantine and Helena in the village of Bulgare. Nestinarstvo is a unique blend of Eastern Orthodox beliefs and ancient pagan traditions of the Strandzha Mountains. Definitely a must see… 

19.  Tourist Places In Bulgaria  Hike The Urdini Lakes In Rila. 

Rila is the highest mountain in the Balkans with the Masala peak (2925 m). A wonderful day trip from Sofia took us to the less famous but equally beautiful Arduini Lakes. The hike took us approximately 9 hours and again, every step was worth it with the views… 

Hiking in Bulgaria 

20. Tourist Attractions In Bulgaria Buzludzha Monument – abandoned symbol of communism in Bulgaria 

The Buzludzha Monument is a large abandoned building on a mountaintop in the central Balkans of Bulgaria. It was officially opened in August 1981 and became the headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party until the fall of the regime. Today it is closed to the public and is slowly deteriorating. However, it is still a place worth visiting. 

Travel From Sofia To Bazaldoza Daily4 

From the outside it looks like a UFO. Inside the Buzludzha monument you can see beautiful and colorful mosaics that are slowly crumbling along with the entire building.