We might earn fee from affiliate hyperlinks →
Written by Marilyn from A Soul Awakening.
Bulgaria has a lot to supply. The nation is a pure bridge between East and West, offering pure magnificence and cultural origins from each areas. This turns into evident while you arrive and end up within the nation’s capital, Sofia.
Suppose you solely have 5 days to spend in Bulgaria. In that case, the next solutions are actually worthwhile highlights from my very own time in Bulgaria (additionally, take a look at these relaxed, small-town itineraries).
Expertise a style of Sofia’s wealthy structure and cultural historical past, and luxuriate in touring the open roads for brief drive day journeys exploring additional afield to search out your self in awe and expertise Bulgaria’s wealthy historical past, wonders, and wonder. What is going to you determine?
Getting To Bulgaria – Begin In Sofia
Your Bulgaria itinerary will most probably begin in Sofia should you arrive by aircraft. Hiring a automobile or taxi from the airport is simply a 20-minute drive to Sofia metropolis middle. Alternatively, a practice service takes slightly below half an hour. Or for others touring by bus is an choice, as many bus service suppliers have connections from different Jap European cities that journey to Sofia.
There’s quite a bit to see and recognize in and across the metropolis middle, and it’s best skilled on foot. Nevertheless, touring the subway can also be an choice and an thrilling expertise in itself. The metro and practice providers run incessantly; nonetheless, there’s a lack of signage within the metro/practice stations to information you to the best platform.
The place To Keep In Sofia
Day 1 – Sofia
Right here is how one can spend 72 hours in Bulgaria. First cease, a day exploring Sofia. Listed here are a couple of highlights:
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The outstanding domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral stands as a noteworthy spiritual landmark in Bulgaria and is one in every of Europe’s most vital Orthodox Christian Cathedrals. The outstanding domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral stands within the coronary heart of town middle. Development of the Cathedral commenced in 1904, with completion in 1916 in honor and reminiscence of the hundreds of lives misplaced all through the revolt in opposition to the Ottoman Empire from 1877 – 1878.
The Byzantine spiritual structure from the 11thcentury is adorned with ornate gold leaf domes and offers sanctuary for 5000 worshippers. It’s value stepping contained in the dimly lit inside to admire the ornamental work of excessive columns and detailed frescoes.
Church of St Nicholas, the Miracle Maker – ‘Russian Church’
This candy and ornately designed and coloured church, aptly named the ‘Russian Church,’ was constructed following Bulgaria’s liberation and the top of Ottoman rule.
The 17-century Moscow architecture-designed church has 5 golden domes and symbolizes mild in itself. On the onset of WWII and seeing the Bulgarian Monarchy being overthrown by the Russian Communist Get together, main to just about 50 years of Communist rule in Bulgaria. Throughout this time, Bulgarian folks have been unable to attend any church providers.
Nevertheless, the foresight of the then-presiding Bishop, Vladyka Seraphim, labored arduous and shaped a committee that gained him help for these in want. Throughout his sermons, he appealed to parishioners to donate to help others who required meals, well being providers, and housing, thus turning into identified for his present of being a ‘miracle maker.’
Ivan Vazov Nationwide Theatre
Amongst the numerous stunning architecturally designed buildings in Sofia, one that’s putting is the Ivan Vazov Nationwide Theatre. Bulgaria’s nationwide theatre.
You’ll discover the Ivan Vazov Nationwide Theatre, positioned and adjourning the big leafy treed Metropolis Gardens. The theatre’s neoclassical design is the oldest within the nation. There’s a alternative of cafes; nonetheless, why not seize your self a takeaway choice and calm down within the gardens listening to the sounds of the dancing ballerina water fountain?
As you roam the internal metropolis middle that’s outlined by yellow-painted cobbled stone pavements and the broader metropolis middle, pay attention to the numerous different stunning architecturally designed buildings, just like the Sofia College, Sofia Metropolis Artwork Gallery, Central Navy Membership, Nationwide Gallery of Theatre and Movie that was previously a Palace and too many extra to listing.
Additionally, word the numerous diversified statues, monuments, and artwork buildings dotting town middle. You’ll additionally discover a number of open inexperienced areas and public parks all through town middle – a really inviting place to be.
The place To Eat In Sofia
For a tasty breakfast, look no additional than an area bakery. Many promote freshly baked conventional Bulgarian pastry, Banitza, a standard breakfast snack.
Made In Blue
For a seasonal style sensation, make your strategy to ‘Made In Blue’ on Yuri Venelin 6, within the coronary heart of town. The distinctive retro and artsy fashion décor brings new life to restoring an outdated conventional deserted house, with the buildings, a namesake blue exterior, and a pleasant terrace backyard.
The cafés quirky and quaint, and the welcoming ambiance looks like house. But, you gained’t discover conventional Bulgarian, Italian, French, or Turkish meals. The menu affords a mouth-watering choice of tasty selfmade dishes from the Center East and different in-season salads.
Diwan Iraqi Restaurant
The aroma of Arabic spices fills the air as you make your means via Sofia’s largest, busiest, and 140-year-old market, Zenski Pazar (Girls Market), in Sofia’s Arabic neighborhood –Automobile Simeon.
After roaming the native markets and experiencing all of the market has to supply, you’ll little question really feel a bit hungry. Situated on a nook near the market’s most important thoroughfare, you’ll discover a extra conventional Center Jap restaurant, Diwan Iraqi restaurant, simply off a small lane.
It’s a easy menu in a easy setting and good worth scrumptious meals.
Confetti Gelataria
And to fulfill your candy tooth, make a cease at Confetti, a wonderful conventional selfmade Italian Gelataria, and restaurant. The restaurant affords a large alternative of wholesome meals in a relaxed ambiance. They provide an in depth choice of conventional Italian gelato flavors to significantly decadent ice-cream creations which might be extra like a murals.
Strawberry-topped salted caramel gelato with amaretto biscuits and a swirl of amaretto liquor. Hmmm, mmm, deal with your style buds.
Now it’s time to discover additional afield, and a good way to journey in Bulgaria is by automobile. You will get to those sights with a car – all of them are very simple day journeys from Sofia.
Day 2 – Rila Monastery – Rupite Scorching Springs- Rupite Village – St Petka of Bulgaria Memorial Temple
These areas are approx. 1 hour aside. You might have time to spend a couple of hours at every location.
Rila Monastery
Staying in Sofia as a base offers a superb alternative to expertise a number of different completely different and numerous areas inside Bulgaria. Bus providers can be found (with for much longer journey occasions) and guided day excursions are additionally out there. On my Bulgaria itinerary, I made all of those day journeys famous beneath in a rent automobile from Sofia.
Take a 1 ½ hour drive south in the direction of the Bulgarian/Greek border alongside the A3, then exit in the direction of and thru the luxurious inexperienced Rila Mountains to go to Rila Monastery. The most important Orthodox Monastery in Bulgaria.
Initially, the monastery was constructed as an schooling middle for college kids following the spiritual instructing by the hermit St. John of Rila. At the moment it is a crucial cultural and religious middle of the Balkans and is pictured on Bulgaria’s 1 lev banknote.
Rupite Pure Scorching Springs
A automobile is the one accessible means to go to these lesser-known pure open-air scorching springs (apart from native information). Round a 1 ½ hour drive south in the direction of the Bulgarian/Greek border alongside the A3 and following indicators to Petrich.
Then word indicators to the Historical Metropolis of Heraclea Sintica. The pure springs are positioned roughly 2 km from the village of Rupite on the foot of Kozhuh Mountain, an extinct volcano.
RupiteVillage – St Petka of Bulgaria, Memorial Temple
In the world, take a 5 min drive from the pure scorching springs and go to the Memorial Temple, St Petka of Bulgaria.
The non-traditional designed church was constructed throughout the grounds now often called the “Vanga Advanced” in 1994 from cash supplied by the prophet Vanga, born as Vangeliya Gushterova. Through the prophet’s childhood years, native legend claims that she misplaced her sight in a storm and subsequently had her first imaginative and prescient, unlocking what is alleged to be her exceptional prophecies. Initially from the small village of Rupite, it’s also claimed that the prophet discovered the world across the pure scorching springs supplied a therapeutic vitality supply that enhanced her intuitive insights.
The prophet Vanga is well-known by the Bulgarian folks, and the St Petka Memorial Temple attracts hundreds of worshipers looking for solace. Along with many vacationers from different international locations worldwide, go to the small museum exhibiting photographs of the prophet’s life and her modest house the place she lived her final years and meet with folks looking for her assist. As you stroll the grounds, benefit from the outside backyard areas, calm down in one of many backyard’s gazebos, or picnic on the manicured grass lawns.
The prophet’s grave will be seen on the foot of the bell tower adjoining to the church.
Day 3 – Plovdiv
Properly value taking a scenic drive to expertise Plovdiv’s magnificence and spend a complete day right here (that is the longest day of the three days).
1 ½ hour from Sofia, within the western area of the Higher Thracian Valley, you’ll discover one of many oldest cities in Europe and Bulgaria’s second-largest metropolis – Plovdiv.
Plovdiv’s outdated middle is wealthy in historical past and was titled the European Capital of Tradition in 2019. Proof reveals that early habitation dated again to the Stone Age and was discovered within the Bronze and Iron Ages. Round 400BC, the folks often called Thracians based the land of recent Plovdiv below the title Eumolpius.
The continuing centuries present tumultuous change, change, and extra change with Greek state rule, Roman rule, Slavic settlement, Byzantine rulering Greek Constantinople, varied rebellious uprisings, and defeats of Ottoman rule. Change continued with Bulgaria coming below Russian communism following WWII and the previous 45 years till the collapse in 1989. In 2004 Bulgaria joined NATO and later joined the EU; nonetheless, it retained its nationwide foreign money – the Bulgarian Lev.
With the numerous modifications between buddies and foes, Plovdiv is now house to a cultural combine left by the assorted ruling occupations. At the moment, town’s attraction, open public parklands, and a mix of Empire-ruled structure all through its historic previous contribute to town’s prosperity.
With its distinctive mixture of cobbled stoned streets, Plovdiv Outdated City, lined with 150-year-old superbly restored, painted residences, and its well-preserved Roman Historical Stadium, along with Dzhumaya Mosque, oozes an enthralling, charismatic, and calming really feel.
The Historical Roman Stadium runs below the principle procuring road of the Outdated City. Constructed with fourteen tiers of marble blocks to supply seating for as much as 30,000 spectators throughout the 2ndcentury, it is among the most notable landmarks within the metropolis middle.
Throughout from the traditional stadium within the coronary heart of the pedestrian zone stands Dzhumaya (translated as Friday) Mosque, one of many oldest and most outstanding within the Balkans. The Mosques’ pink painted minaret stands at a towering 23 meters, and the dusky pink brickwork signifies the Mosque was constructed throughout the 14thcentury.
The Roman Stadium, the Dzhumaya Mosque, and different ornate architecturally designed buildings close by make for a really contrasting 360°view.
Plovdiv’s Outdated City middle has an array of locations to eat, and like different cities and bigger townships throughout the nation, it has beautiful outside public parklands. Sit some time and watch the locals enjoying board video games, or benefit from the environment of the luxurious inexperienced lawns and shady bushes.
Day 4 – Bansko (Outdated City & Ski Resort) –Blagoevgrad Province Day Journey
Subsequent in your Bulgaria itinerary is to absorb the sights of the Outdated City, expertise lunch in an area/conventional mehana, and maybe take a chance to deal with oneself to a day spa remedy.
A 1 ½ hour drive south in the direction of the Bulgarian/Greek border alongside the A3 and following indicators to Bansko, positioned on the foothills of the Pirin mountains.
In current years, the township of Bansko has change into house to one in every of Bulgaria’s prime vacationer locations for snow snowboarding and snowboarding. It’s additionally quick turning into one in every of Jap Europe’s extra fashionable ski resort areas.
As a ski resort location, Bansko is good throughout the winter; nonetheless, it’s also a pure haven for outside climbing fans throughout the hotter months within the Pirin Nationwide Park.
Bansko’s location, nestled within the Razlog Valley, additionally offers an plentiful provide of water reserves flowing from the numerous tributaries of the Mesta River and the pristine glacial lakes. You too can discover plentiful choices to benefit from the many scorching springs and day spas in Bansko and the encircling space.
For the historical past fanatic, Bansko’s outdated city won’t disappoint. The world’s wealthy and historic previous has archaeological proof exhibiting that the Bansko and the Razlog Valley inhabitants date again to 100BC and intervals of the Roman Empire.
End up strolling down the principle pedestrian-only thoroughfare of Bansko Outdated City and admire the distinctive structure dotted between many shops and a really trendy monument positioned in Vazrajdane sq.. The monument was in-built honor of the Bulgarian thinker Paisiy Hilendarski in 1976 and commemorated his concepts for nationwide self-awareness and liberation from the Ottoman occupation.
As you proceed previous Vazrajdane sq., you’ll discover a excessive enclosed wall surrounding a easy and well-maintained backyard surrounding the church of “Sveta Troitsa” – Saint Trinity, a Bulgarian Orthodox Christian church.
The standard exterior can seem misleading; nonetheless, step inside from the facet entrance and feast your eyes on the ornate, colourful, and beautiful inside. Chandeliers mild the inside and shine a golden glow on the gold-gilded frames housing icon photos.
This humble church was constructed throughout Ottoman rule, taking almost 45 years to finish each the church and the free-standing clock tower within the backyard. The native church founders paid heavy taxes to the Ottoman rulers throughout this era, extending the church’s building past regular.
There are various selections of conventional eating places, often called mehana, within the outdated city. You’ll additionally discover bars, cafés, many creperies, boutique clothes, and naturally, many ski put on shops and conventional ceramic wares and souvenirs.
Day 5 – Sofia
There’s simply no means you may see all of Sofia in at some point – so you should definitely use day 5 to discover the components you missed.
Further Concept!
We’ve coated 5 days in Bulgaria, however when you have time and are in Bulgaria in June, take a look at the Rose Valley.
Rose Valley
Through the first weekend of June, the Central Bulgaria township of Kazanlak is blossoming with roses and the annual rose pageant and harvest time are underway. The pageant boasts a practice of gathering roses early within the morning by folks wearing conventional clothes, with people dancers, singers, and musicians performing within the rose fields.
Driving from Sofia to Kazanlak is approx. 2 ½ hours; nonetheless, you should definitely go to the Damascena Ethnographic complicated of Kazanlak, a brief drive on the outer areas of the city middle. Take pleasure in studying extra in regards to the manufacturing of pure natural rose important oil. Expertise the rose distillation course of and the candy scent of delicate Damascenaroses. Cease by the present store and purchase your self a present to take house.
I belief you’ll take pleasure in your brief 5-day keep experiencing Bulgaria’s capital – Sofia. Absorbing and admiring town’s magnificence, historical past, and mix of uniquely superbly designed structure. Together with sampling a few of the regional highlights and treasures.
MORE BULGARIA TRAVEL BLOGS
Share