Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a country with people that celebrate their heritage with immense pride. Traditions are valued, such as the Traditional Kukeri Festival, a festival where citizens dress up as scary Kukeri monsters and try to scare away any real monsters, a centuries-old tradition that has become an intriguing event in Bulgarian society, and the wide range of beautiful, handmade arts and crafts such as pottery and embroidery amongst many other unique trades.

With their rich traditions and pride for them, Bulgarians are extremely welcoming to visitors in the country, excited to showcase their country and their unique traditions and landscape. If you’re lucky, you may be invited by a Bulgarian to try their national drink rakia. Rakia is a fruity liquor served as an apértif, and it is a common social activity in Bulgaria to sit, sip on the drink, perhaps alongside some pickled vegetables! While it may just seem like an alcoholic drink to some, rakia has become a significant representation of Bulgarian hospitality and friendship, often families sharing their own homemade rakia.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Bulgaria is rich in historical and cultural gems. In fact, Bulgaria is blessed with 10 UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites, 7 of which are cultural, and the other 3 natural. Amongst 11 national parks and 10 UNESCO sites, visitors can pick their choice of historical city breaks, quaint, authentic villages, and dramatic natural landscapes, exploring the most pristine of nature.

The four major geographical regions of Bulgaria are:

The administrative regions of Bulgaria are divided into 27, and each region with its own cultural traditions and variations.

An immense geographical landscape

Bulgaria is a country blessed with an extremely diverse geographical landscape that is without a doubt one of the most captivating parts of the Balkan country. For anyone looking for an escape into nature, the country is filled with natural wonders to explore including mountains, lakes, rivers, and coastlines.

When you think of Bulgaria, it is highly unlikely that your first thought goes to skiing. Well, think again! There are a lot of ski resorts that are great for all levels of skiers, at the foot of the country's mountains, you’ll find various resorts that make for a unique skiing experience! The mountains aren’t just for skiing though. There are plenty of adventurous activities through the many mountain ranges of Bulgaria such as hiking, mountain biking, and climbing. Culture meets nature in the Bulgarian mountain ranges, with many outstanding monasteries being built along and in the mountain ranges like Rila Monastery, a stunning example of an Eastern Orthodox monastery with the Rila mountain range as its backdrop. Speaking of Rila, the Seven Rila Lakes are a natural marvel, clear-waters encompassed by dramatic mountains. The stunning lakes are out of this world and don’t get nearly enough international recognition!

The Danube River runs through Bulgaria, and has created incredible geography that is a gem to explore, especially due to the fact that it is one of the least explored regions in the whole country. The Danube Islands are a unique way to explore the region in Bulgaria. The nature is so wild that there aren’t even regular boat services visiting the island; instead, kayaks may be rented to explore these islands. The islands also come with a backstory, with Belene Island working as a concentration camp during the communist times. Besides some turbulent history involved, many of the islands are just beautiful with sandy beaches, tranquillity, and natural reserves protecting the wildlife.

Cultural Catch-Up

Bulgaria’s cultural makeup is a vibrant combination of different cultures, having been at the crossroads of civilizations. Nowadays, Bulgaria is home to unique traditions and customs as a result. Most notably, the Bulgarian language is a symbol of national identity. Bulgaria is the only country in the European Union that uses the Cyrillic script, and the language has become an important part of the country’s culture, shaping the lyrics of traditional Bulgarian music, and inspiring literature and poetry from greats like Ivan Vazov and Hristo Botev.

Bulgaria’s religious heritage is extremely significant regarding the cultural makeup. The majority of Bulgarians identify as Eastern Orthodox Christians, and monasteries, churches, cathedrals, amongst other religious symbols showcase the exquisite loyalty Bulgarians have to their religion, architecting and creating ornate art and features to exemplify their profound dedication for the church.

With influences from its neighbouring Balkan countries, especially Serbia, Slavic cultures, Greece, and Turkey, the Bulgarian landscape has absorbed countless of different influences and traditions, all while preserving their own unique heritage.

When to go

Bulgaria is great to visit year round. During summertime, visit the coastline to ensure the best weather for the beach. During the colder months, visit cities to avoid the summer crowds and explore the rich history.

Bulgarian is a Slavic language that uses the Cyrllic script, which can be challenging to foreigners who aren’t familiar with this alphabet. The language has a rich literary history, spoken by 9 million people worldwide. The unique language doesn’t have a ton of speakers compared to a lot of other languages, but it has greatly contributed to the Slavic linguistic heritage throughout time.

Less than a quarter of the population of Bulgaria speaks English, so you may run into some times when you need to communicate with a non-English speaker. In that case, here are some important phrases to help you get by in Bulgaria.

Getting There

Getting Around