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Black Sea coast – Bulgarian Riviera

For travelers who want to experience the beauty of a European beach resort without paying outrageous prices, there’s nothing like the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Bulgarian Black Sea coast has 380km (230 miles) of marvelous beaches, a calm and safe sea, clear water and healthy air, fine golden sand and natural dunes, luxuriant vegetation, mineral water springs, refined modern resorts, lovely ancient towns, holiday villages and campsites. Average air temperature in the summer is about °C28/°F82, water temperature °C25/°F77. There are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September and more than 300 hours in July and August. The most famous resorts are: Zlatni Piassatsi (Golden Sands), Albena, Roussalka, Riviera, Slanchev Den (Sunny Day), St.Konstantin and Elena, Elenite, Slunchev Briag (Sunny Beach) and Dyuni, there is water skiing, wind surfing, yachting, cycling, tennis, golf, horseback riding, hunting, fishing etc. Nessebur (30km north of Burgas) and Sozopol (30km south of Burgas) are lovely ancient port towns with a unique romantic atmosphere, picturesque Byzantine churches and lovely 19th century houses.

The two international airports of Varna and Burgas connects the Bulgarian Riviera to the world.

Mineral Water – Balneological Treatment

Bulgaria has over 500 mineral springs and some 130 spas. Mineral springs with healing qualities flow daily at a rate of 137 million liters. The spas in Velingrad and Narechen in the Rodopoes mountains, Sandanski in the Pirin mountains, Kuystendil west of Sofia, Hisarya in the Sredna Gora mountains, Bankya in the Sofia district, Gorna Banya and Serdika in Sofia, as well as numerous ones at the Black Sea coast, have been the most famous since Roman times.
The cost of treatments and recreation is far cheaper than in Western Europe. Spa package tours in the countryside and along the Black Sea coast are now offered.

Winter Sports – Magnificent Ski Area

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  The Bulgarian resort of Vitosha mountain complex near Sofia, Pamporovo in Rodope mountain, Bansko in the Pirin mountains and Borovets in the Rila mountains offer excellent conditions for all kinds of skiers (sports, beginners or extreme) and make the country a preferred skiing area in Europe.

The skiers season in Bulgaria is from December to the end of March.

Special interest – Active Vacations

Bulgaria offers great possibilities for enthusiasts of active vacations “special interest holidays”. Your favorite hobby combined with your holiday could turn into an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. You will certainly enjoy caving, mountaineering and rock climbing, hiking and walking, horseback riding, mountain biking and cycling, hunting and fishing, bird watching, butterfly watching, rafting, skiing, sailing or surfing.You can get acquainted with old Bulgarian towns, monasteries, Thracian treasures, a large number of museums, picturesque large and small settlements, fine old homes with an unspoiled rural environment and traditional lifestyle, adjoining yards with domestic animals and gardens, ecologically clean regions and pastoral landscapes, well-organized services for guests with typical Bulgarian hospitality, traditional cuisine and, above all, a unique blend of natural scenery with history, national arts and crafts, colorful folklore and mild climate. All of this creates favorable conditions for all types of tourism and makes the country a preferred tourist destination in Europe.

Monasteries – Witness of the History

Bulgaria has a large number of monasteries (161 ), some of which made a vital contribution to keeping the nation’s cultural identity alive during the dark centuries of the Ottoman rule. Their secluded and difficult to reach locations, often deep in the mountains, protected them from the destruction that took place elsewhere. Nevertheless, battles and fires took their toll and many of the original buildings were rebuilt in the early decades of the 19th century, bequeathing their own testimonial to the vitality and talents of the National Revival Movement.

The best-known Monasteries are Rilski, in the Rila mountain, Bachkovski, in the Rodope mountain, Troyanski, in central Balkan Range, Dryanovski, in the Balkan Range, Rozhenski, in Pirin mountain, Preobrazhenski, near Veliko Turnovo and Aladzha Monastery near Golden Sands.

A tour to these places will take you back to the rich history of Bulgaria.

Welcome to Sofia

Our city has an ancient and intriging history.

It is a capital rich in cultural monuments dating from antiquity to the present day. The constantly renewed face of the city is true to its motto: “It grows, but never ages”.

If you are visiting our capital for the first time you will certainly enjoy seeing “St. Sofia” church, “Alexander Nevski” cathedral, “Rotonda of St. George” and “Boyana” church from the XI th century. You can explore the collections of the National History Museum, the Archeological Museum, the National Art Gallery as well as other museums and galleries throughout the city. Most of the Sofia’s main sights are centrally situated and can easily be visited on foot.

If you have already been here before, now you will discover new and exciting hotels, restaurants, clubs, shops and galleries, which will undoubtedly enrich your stay in Sofia.

I sincerely wish you a wonderful time in our capital city.

Boyko Borisov – The Mayor of Sofia

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Remarkable piece of architecture built between 1882-1912 as a further token of gratitude of the Bulgarian people for the Russian help in gaining independence from the Ottoman Rule. It is named after Alexander II’s patron saint, a 13th-century Prince of Novgorod. The Cathedral is decorated with 300 dramatic murals and splendid Venetian mosaics. Try to hear the superb choir. Don’t miss the Crypt below the Cathedral, if you are interested in icons; it is an exceptional museum collection of the most valuable icons and works of BG ecclesiastical art part of National Art Gallery (Crypt)

The area around the Cathedral is the largest square in the city for welcoming foreign dignitaries (the Pope, President Clinton etc.).

Here is an open-air market where visitors can buy souvenirs, antiques, icons, art and embroidery.

“St. Sofia” Church

This is the most notable church, in whose honor the city was renamed in the 14th century, built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor, Justinian between 527-565.

Just outside is the lion sculpture made by the great BG artist Andrei Nikolov (1878-1959) and burns the eternal flame of the Unknown Soldier, this monument was unveiled in 1981.

Russian Church “St. Nikolai”

A small beautifully ornate church with five golden onion domes, built in 1912-1914, named after St. Nikolai (the miracle worker).

Many Bulgarians placed their wishes, written on sheets of paper, below the church, into the sarcophagus of Bishop Serafim (1881-1950) recognized as a saint.

National Art Gallery

Founded in 1892, it now contains a rich collection of masterpieces of BG art from medieval times to the present.

Housed in the former Royal Palace.

Ethnographic Museum

Displaying folk art, particularly costumes, from every region of Bulgaria. Housed in the former Royal Palace.

National Theatre “Ivan Vazov”

Built (1906-1907) by the German company “Hermer & Feldner”. The two towers are decorated with copper sculptures of Goddess Nike made by Fridrih Folk, Botte and Erman. The facade is decorated with a large triangular pediment witha mythological relief of “Apollo and the Muses” made by Ernst Hegenbard.

Sofia City Art Gallery

A rich collection of Bulgarian art – over 3170 paintings, 2711 art prints, and 675 sculptures. The gallery shows works from its own collection and organizes exhibitions.

Archeological Museum

Housed in the former Buyuk (Big) Mosque dating from 1494. Here on display is the Stela of Anaxander, a 6th-century BC gravestone from the ancient Greek colony of Apollonia (now Sozopol-Bulgaria) on the Black Sea coast. Upstairs, past a copy of the enigmatic Madara Horseman, there’s an extensive collection of frescoes plucked from crumbling church walls throughout Bulgaria.

Presidency

The administrative quarters of Bulgaria’s president. Beautifully attired guards of honor stand at the outside entrance. The change of the guards of honor is once every hour.

“Rotonda of St. George”

Just behind the Presidency stands a charming round red brick church dating back to 4th century, the oldest building in the city preserved.

The frescoes can still be seen in three layers, the earliest dating back to the 10th century.

Statue of Sofia and Sveta Petka”Church

At the main intersection is the 24-meter statue of Sofia created by Bulgarian sculptor Georgi Chapkanov and architect Stanislav Konstantinov.

The monument was unveiled in 2001.

At the same place in the subway is located the 14th-century church Sveta Petka Samardzhiska with well preserved frescoes from different periods.

National Palace of Culture

The largest multi-functional complex for cultural, congress and business meetings in South-Eastern Europe. Located near the Hilton Hotel, it incorporates 13 halls and 55 meeting rooms with a capacity ranging from 100 to 4000 seats and exposition area exceeding 15,000 sq.m.

National Museum of History

Bulgaria’s most valuable treasures are concentrated in the National History Museum.

The exhibition ranging from prehistory to the late 19th century includes a token selection of the priceless gold objects from Varna necropolis (4th millennium B.C.), the Panaguriste gold treasure (nine gold vessels, B.C. 4-3 cc), Roman mosaics and artifacts, and early Bulgarian art.

Housed in the Boyana Residence.

The Boyana Church

About 10 km (6 miles) from the city center.

The 11th century church has undergone major restoration and is now open to the public. The remarkable realistic frescoes date back to 1259, earlier than the birth of the Italian renaissance.

Included on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List.