Travel to Bulgaria completely without tourist traps: Here you will find the top 10 sights in Bulgaria. Read which highlights and attractions you must not miss on vacation in Bulgaria!
Bulgaria welcomes its guests with an extremely diverse offer. Whether it is swimming and partying on the Gold Coast, walking through fascinating nature, monumental fortresses, richly decorated monasteries and imposing architecture in the capital Sofia - Bulgaria has the right answer for every field of interest.
Table of contents
Rila Monastery
The Rila Monastery impresses pilgrims and visitors with its richly decorated appearance. The Rila Monastery is located in a picturesque valley of the Rila Mountains and is the largest Orthodox monastery in the country. It is considered a national shrine in Bulgaria and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Black Sea Gold Coast
The Gold Coast on the Black Sea is located about 18km north of the Bulgarian city of Varna and is just under 4km long. The Gold Coast delights vacationers with its shimmering golden sandy beach and has become a popular party destination for young vacationers in recent years.
Nessebar old town
The old town of Nessebar is located on a tiny peninsula on the Black Sea coast and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum town with beautifully restored houses, ancient churches and millennia-old excavations exudes the flair of the Bulgarian Revival.
Article: Old town of Nessebar
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Thracian tombs and royal tomb of Sveshtari
The famous Thracian tombs are part of the archaeological complex "Sboryanovo". The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari was laid out in the 3rd century B.C., is almost completely preserved and miraculously spared even from grave robbers. In 1985, the Tsar Tomb of Sveshtari was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Article: Thracian tombs and royal tomb of Sveshtari
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Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia
The magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. It is the seat of the Bulgarian Patriarch, the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The monumental domed building on Alexander Nevsky Square is considered a landmark of Sofia.
Article: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia
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Rose Valley near Kazanlak
The Rose valley near Kazanlak is the most important production site of rose oil in the world. White, pink and red roses are grown here in kilometer-long beds. From the beginning of May to mid-June, the roses are in full bloom and the entire valley smells absolutely irresistible. The Festival of Roses, which always takes place on the first weekend in June, is especially worth seeing.
Article: Rose valley near Kazanlak
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Plovdiv - Capital of Culture 2019
Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, impresses with an excellently preserved old town with imposing legacies of the Romans and Ottomans. The entire historical center of Plovdiv is under monument protection and resembles a journey to various peoples of the past. For 2019 Plovdiv was chosen as the European Capital of Culture.
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Veliko Tarnovo and Tsarevets Fortress
Tsarevets Fortress in the Bulgarian town of Veliko Tarnovo is a massive fortress complex from the Middle Ages. Excavation work has uncovered churches, monasteries, palaces, houses and castle walls. The ruins of the fortress were renovated in the middle of the 20th century and are an important sight in Bulgaria. Veliko Tarnovo itself is also extremely worth seeing. The former capital is often called the most beautiful city in Bulgaria.
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Perpericon
Perperikon is one of the oldest megalithic sites in Bulgaria. The findings of the ancient rock sanctuary Perperikon date back to the Neolithic period 5000 BC. The oracle of Dionysus from Greek mythology is believed to be here as well as the cult place around the Thracian singer Orpheus.
The fascinating legacy of Thracians, Romans, Goths and Byzantines can be explored on marked trails with or without a guide.
Article: Rock city Perperikon
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Belogradchik rock and fortress
In the middle of the spectacular rocks of Belogradchik, in the northwest of Bulgaria lies the imposing Kaleto Fortress. The fortress was built by the Romans from the 1st century and was often destroyed by the Byzantines, Bulgarians and Turks. The monumental sandstone formations stretch for about 30 kilometers and surround Belogradchik on three sides.
Article: Rocks and fortress of Belogradchik
Photo gallery: Rocks and fortress of Belogradchik
