Bulgaria

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Romania & Bulgaria

$24.99

Shop Book

Exterior of the Orthodox Rila Monastery in the Rila Nature Park.
1160109394
ancient, architecture, attraction, autumn, beautiful, blue, building, bulgaria, church, city, clouds, courtyard, culture, destination, europe, exterior, facade, fall, famous, heritage, historic, history, journey, landmark, medieval, monastery, monument, mountains, national, national park, october, old, orthodox, park, religion, religious, rila, rila monastery, rila nature park, sky, structure, tourism, tourist, town, travel, unesco, vacation, vibrant, visit

©Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock

LONELY PLANET’S RECOMMENDED eSIM

Stay connected in Bulgaria

with

Saily is an affordable eSIM service that helps you stay connected and secure, anywhere in the world.

Get your eSIM

Overview

Soul-stirring mountains rival golden beaches, while cities hum with nightlife and art. Within Bulgaria’s beguiling blend of nature and history, unforgettable adventures are guaranteed.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Tsarevets Fortress

Veliko Târnovo

The inescapable symbol of Veliko Târnovo, this reconstructed fortress dominates the skyline and is one of Bulgaria’s most beloved monuments. The former…

Aleksander Nevski Cathedral

Sofia

One of the symbols not just of Sofia but of Bulgaria itself, this massive, awe-inspiring church was built between 1882 and 1912 in memory of the 200,000…

Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari

Bulgaria

The highlight at this Unesco-protected Thracian settlement is a nearly perfectly preserved three-chamber burial tomb from about 300 BC. The high quality…

Etâr Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

Bulgaria

If ambling down cobbled lanes with a stick of halva in hand sounds like an agreeable foray into Bulgaria's past, a day in Etâr will delight. Nearly 50…

Dryanovo Monastery

Bulgaria

A history of destruction and revolution, as dramatic as its cliff-backed location, entices visitors to Dryanovo Monastery. Originally founded in the early…

Roman Amphitheatre

Plovdiv

Plovdiv’s magnificent 2nd-century AD amphitheatre, built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, was uncovered during a freak landslide in 1972. It once held…

Summer Palace of Queen Marie & Botanical Gardens

Black Sea Coast

At the far western end of the seafront, this palace was completed in 1926 by King Ferdinand of Romania for his English wife, Queen Marie, when Balchik was…