8 Reasons Why Bulgaria Should Be Your Next Active Holiday Destination

Bulgaria consistently ranks among Europe's best value holiday destinations, but value for money is just one of the reasons why this remarkable country is drawing more active travellers every year. From dramatic mountain landscapes to centuries-old monasteries and villages where time seems to have stood still, here are eight reasons why Bulgaria deserves a place on your travel list.

1. Weather

Bulgaria has a temperate-continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. This makes spring and autumn ideal for exploring the lower regions, while the summer months are perfect for walking and cycling in the mountains, much like the Alps. With four distinct seasons, there is genuinely a good time to visit for every type of traveller.

2. Old-Charm Villages

Bulgaria is rich in tiny villages that brim with traditional hospitality, local produce and a way of life that feels genuinely unchanged. Old water mills still in operation, centuries-old methods for producing rakia (brandy), wild berry jams and Balkan brine cheese: this is a country where the past is very much present.

3. Landscape

The unspoiled Balkan Mountains offer outstanding off-the-beaten-track cycling and walking. Hidden within the landscape are the Seven Rila Lakes, the Central Balkan National Park and Bulgaria's highest peak, Musala (2,925m). A network of trails leads through alpine meadows, glacial lakes, sheer cliffs and ancient forests.

4. Religious Sites

Bulgaria is scattered with ancient churches featuring original icons and colourful murals. Several of the country's most significant Orthodox monasteries offer free admission, including Rila Monastery, Glozhene Monastery, Troyan Monastery and All Saints Church. They are among the most impressive religious sites in the Balkans.

5. Historical Towns

Bulgaria's towns are among the most rewarding in the Balkans. A few highlights:

• Veliko Tarnovo — one of the most charming Balkan towns and the former Bulgarian capital
• Bansko — a charming mountain town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, with footpaths leading into bear and wolf country
• Ribaritsa — a popular mountain resort at the foot of the Balkan Mountains, with the Beli Vit River flowing through
• Bozhentsi — a must-visit town noted for its beautifully preserved architecture from Bulgaria's national revival period
• Cherni Vit — famous for its exclusively produced green cheese, known simply as Cherni Vit
• Teteven — considered one of Bulgaria's most picturesque towns, with a collection of historic old houses

6. Local Libations

A pint of local beer averages around 49p, and rakia (Bulgaria's fruit spirit at 40-80% alcohol) is often home-brewed and freely shared. With a winemaking history stretching back 6,000 years, Bulgaria's drinks culture is rich, varied and exceptionally good value.

7. Museums

Bulgaria's museums are excellent and remarkably affordable. The Etar Ethnographic Museum costs around £3 per person, the Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv is £2.50, and the Philippopolis Art Gallery is free. For a country with this depth of history, it represents outstanding value.

8. Hospitality

Wooden carts pulled by horse or donkey, farmers making hay with a pitchfork, villagers genuinely delighted to welcome foreign guests into their homes: Bulgaria offers a warmth and authenticity that is increasingly rare in European travel. In our specially chosen hotels and guesthouses, that welcome is felt from the moment you arrive.

Experience Bulgaria with UTracks

UTracks offers two outstanding ways to explore Bulgaria's mountains, monasteries and villages:

• Bulgaria Mountains and Monasteries Guided Hike — a 7-day guided walk through the Rila and Pirin Mountains, including an ascent of Mt Musala (2,925m), the Seven Rila Lakes and a visit to the magnificent Rila Monastery. From $1,650 AUD per person.
• Balkan Mountains Guided Cycle — an 8-day guided cycling journey through the green valleys, historic monasteries and charming towns of the Central Balkan Mountains, finishing in the medieval capital of Veliko Tarnovo. From $1,890 AUD per person.

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