Things to do in Bulgaria

Marvel at the striped arches and vibrant murals of Bulgaria's most sacred Orthodox monastery, nestled deep in the Rila Mountains.

Admire one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, a symbol of Sofia with its neo-Byzantine silhouette and crypt of icons.

Take a seat on the marble tiers of this remarkably preserved 2nd-century amphitheatre, still hosting performances with breathtaking views over the Old Town.

Trek past each of the seven sapphire lakes strung like pearls below towering alpine peaks, a spiritual highpoint of the Rila Mountains.

Cross the stone bridge into the medieval citadel of Bulgaria's tsars, where evening sound-and-light shows illuminate the hilltop ruins above the Yantra River.

Wander through a landscape of towering red sandstone pinnacles shaped by wind and rain, crowned by a Balcanic fortress with epic valley views.

Peer at the vivid 4th-century BC frescoes inside this perfectly preserved beehive tomb, a masterpiece of Thracian art in the Valley of the Roses.

Glide down long sunny runs beneath granite peaks, then soak in thermal mineral pools and wander cobbled lanes lined with traditional mehanas.

Stride across a high-mountain realm of more than 180 glacial lakes, rare edelweiss and endemic pine, a UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary.

Stroll through a 3,000-year-old peninsula dotted with Byzantine churches, wooden Revival houses and sea-facing seafood terraces on the Black Sea.

Taste the iconic Bulgarian filo pastry filled with sirene cheese and eggs, ideally with a glass of ayran from a neighbourhood pekarna just after sunrise.

Hike through ancient stone rivers and conifer forests to the bald summit at 2290m for a sweeping panorama of the capital and the Balkan range.

Discover the Dormition of the Theotokos and the miracle-working icon inside Bulgaria's second-largest monastery, framed by the Rhodope Mountains.

Walk past brightly painted 19th-century houses where revolutionaries launched the April Uprising, their bullet-scarred wooden gates still telling the story.

Sip a drink under the fig trees as the sun melts into the Black Sea behind the island of St. Ivan, scent of grilled fish and salt in the air.

Spot the enigmatic 8th-century rock relief of a horseman spearing a lion, a UNESCO-protected monument sacred to Bulgars atop a 100-metre cliff.

Enter a 3rd-century BC royal tomb where ten sculpted female figures rise from the walls, an astonishing blend of Hellenistic and Getae art.

Crumble salty white sirene over sun-ripened tomatoes, cucumber and roasted peppers in a cosy tavern filled with embroidered tablecloths and thick pottery.

Join the thumping summer party along the long sandy strip where open-air clubs, DJs and cocktails keep the Black Sea rhythm going all night.

Push above the treeline to the roof of the peninsula at 2925m, where on a clear day you can see the Aegean Sea glinting in the distance.

Step into a 19th-century crafts village where mechanical lathes, potters and woodcarvers use the power of the river to keep folk skills alive.

Climb down a metal staircase into the thundering abyss where the Trigrad River vanishes underground, a mythical cavern said to swallow with its roar.

Join farmers in Kazanlak during May–June to fill woven baskets with pink petals before the morning dew evaporates, the air thick with rose oil.

Creep through a broken door into Bulgaria’s flying-saucer-shaped communist relic, where shattered mosaics of Marx and Lenin glow under a decaying concrete dome.

Follow a steep wooded trail to the small cave where the saint lived as a recluse, breathing the same crisp mountain air that inspired his prayers.