Bulgaria People & Culture

Do not get a cab if you are drunk, even if you are sober! They do tend to have ridiculous fares- 3lv/km, when in towns like Sofia,Burgas or Varna it costs 0.60lv/km! If they see you are drunk, they'll try and take advantage of you and charge you even more! Walk (preferably not alone, if you are drunk) or take the bus(if it's still daytime). The resort is not that big so you should be able to get from one end to the other for about 40-45min by foot! Make sure you know your hotel name or at least the names of the hotels around it (even better, carry a map with the hotel circled so that someone can point you in the right direction if you get lost). Trust me, the amout of people I've seen who don't even know where they are staying is ridiculous!
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Veliko Turnovo The gratest city of Bulgaria So far I have been there 3 times, the city is really impressive comparing to the rest of Bulgaria. The houses, stacked one above the other, situated on the slopy hills of the town show a remarkable, unique architectural style. For me it looks sometimes like a small „San Francisco”.The streets going up and down. The bridges, unexpectedly flying over the river, palaces and towers, spectacular museums, ancient columns with writings left by our proud rulers, monasteries with unique murals and the Arbanassi fortress-houses. Not only Veliko Turnovo by itself it’s worth to see. About 30 km from it there are ruins of the Roman Empire in the village Nikipolis ad Istrum. A lot of foreign archeology students are coming there every year. City is full of students, there is something going on every night, a lot of bars , pubs and restaurants are open late at night. Food is great, with lot of fresh vegetable, „shopska” salad is a must to try when you go to Bulgaria. Meat is served usually with delicious spices. The prices can vary, it depends where you will go, in the centre of the city everything is more expensive. One of the biggest attractions in Veliko Turnovo is „Tsaravets” – the castle sourrounded by river and the „sound and light show”. Through the power of music and spectacular illumination, this programme aims to create an unforgettable and emotional image of the Tsarevets Hill and Castle treasuring up the history, grandeur and glory of the ancient capital city of Turnovgrad which has become synonymous with the Bulgarian spirit and national pride. The music, which has been composed specially for the occasion, is a leading element helping to follow the historical events and describe their invisible images. To get to Veliko Turnovo you can take a plane ( there are charter flights from Europe , Asia and Africa ). From the larger Bulgarian cities you can travel to Veliko Turnovo by bus or train. Persoanlly I prefer buses, there are much nicer, safer and comfortable. The travel by bus from Sofia is about 3 hours. One of the best things about Veliko Turnovo is that you can go everywhere by foot! If you do not feel like walking you can always use the public transport. Many regular bus lines operate into the city and to some of the nearby towns and villages. The ticket for the city bus costs only 0.50 leva and can be bought in the bus. It’s not very expensive to go and stay in Veliko turnovo. Here are examples. 1.95 Leva (BGN) = 1 Euro Price Level · 1 beer (0.5l) = 0.80- 1.50 BGN · 1 coca-cola (0.3l) = 0.70 - 1.00 BGN · 1 mineral water (0.5l) = 0.60 - 0.80 BGN · Coffee/ Tea = 0.40 - 0.60 BGN · Main course = 3.00 - 8.00 BGN Lodging · Budget: BGN 15 - 25 · Mid-range: BGN 25 - 45 · High: BGN 45 -65 · Deluxe: BGN 65+ (Cash is easily changed at numerous small exchange offices, usually for no commission. Travellers' cheques are more of a hassle as not every bank will accept them, but still you’ll find enough places to cash them for a commission of around 5%. Cash advances on credit cards might also be a bit of a problem, but ATMs are a common sight around the city. I wish to add Bulgarians are usually very polite and nice for foreigners, the only problem is most of them, especially older people do not speak English. And remember when they move their head left and right it means YES and if they move it up and down means NO. J So do not get confused. Good Luck and have a nice trip.

The BEST city in Bulgaria :) plenty of nice places to see and even more great people to have fun with :)

A friendly city at the brink of opening up to Western capitalism. Cozy small streets, huge constructions at the borders of the city, an exciting place to be right now. Their food is good, their hospitality is kind, the people are authentic and optimistic, I enjoyed being there.

I was there before the Wall came down and all I could think of was that the town seemed gray. Even the people and trees. I was on a train and at one point one of the passengers threw an orange out the window at a soldier. He really hated those guys. I traded him some comic books for his Police tape.

Veliko Turnovo is the most popular city for Cultural Tourism in Bulgaria.

Sozopol is a wonderful town on the West side of Black see. Known since Greek times (Apolonia) the city has always been a hub of culture. Strolls in the old part of the town are a must.

A nice walk to get to know Sofia for a day is from the Orlov most Square straight ahead to Sveta Nedelja place along the Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd. Along the way you'll see: The University St. Kliment Ohridski (to the right), the little garden bearing the same name, the Parliament (again right) with the monument of the Russian king Alexander II (Tzar Osvoboditel) in the center of the square, then you turn right to take a look at St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral (no way to miss it, big thing woth golden domes) and the National Gallery (same square as the Cathedral). Back to the main track - Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd. - on your walk to Sveta Nedelja you'll see the so-called Russian Church (it's a good place to take pictures of) to the right, then the Nature Museum (right again) and after that you'll reach the Alexander Batenberg square. There on the right you have an art Gallery (former king's palace). When you reach it, you turn to the left for a short walk to the national theatre (it's worth it), and when back on track you'll see to the left the National Bank, the Archaeological museum and the Presidency. Nice little fountain there. Then you reach a big square with buildings of the government. If you turn to the right, you'll see an old mosque and a nice building across ("Halite"). Back to the big square (of the Government, Statue of St. Sophia etc.) and a little further straight you'll reach the Sveta Nedelja church, after which the suare is named. Further on the right-hand side is the Palace of Justice and if you go straight along the tram line (two or three stations), you'll reach the NDK (National Palace of Culture). Now you've earned a beer for all the patience you had to read it all ;)

Super Plovdiv ! Une ville super coloré où tout nous apparait comme unique. Son vieux centre est très riche de différente cultures. C'est sans doute la plus belle ville bulgare pour moi.

It's worth taking the bus to Varna - purely for the scenic ride across the plains and mountains that settle aside the Bulgaria Coast. Varna is Bulgaria's third largest city . It's impossible not to be constantly aware that you're in a former communist city with its great, brooding squares. But for the culture vulture there's far more to see and experience than you could ever possibly pack into a single day. Start at pl Nezavisismost and visit the Cathedral of the Assumption, walk past the Navy Museum (its exhibits are huge and can clearly be viewed from outside), perhaps visit the City Art Gallery (there are probably 20 others), see any of the many museums (the Museum of National Revival is a 'must'), the Armenian Church and that of Sveta Atanas and the splendid Roman Thermae.

Don't miss the small local restaurants with live music! Stay at a small old house, better than a hotel if you want to feel the real spirit of the country... Great for a snow Christmas! And if you like skiing, has that too!

Best club for:
House music- Mania
Live(rock) music- Iceberg
A bit of everything- Lazur/ Orange

Veliko Turnovo The gratest city of Bulgaria So far I have been there 3 times, the city is really impressive comparing to the rest of Bulgaria. The houses, stacked one above the other, situated on the slopy hills of the town show a remarkable, unique architectural style. For me it looks sometimes like a small „San Francisco”.The streets going up and down. The bridges, unexpectedly flying over the river, palaces and towers, spectacular museums, ancient columns with writings left by our proud rulers, monasteries with unique murals and the Arbanassi fortress-houses. Not only Veliko Turnovo by itself it’s worth to see. About 30 km from it there are ruins of the Roman Empire in the village Nikipolis ad Istrum. A lot of foreign archeology students are coming there every year. City is full of students, there is something going on every night, a lot of bars , pubs and restaurants are open late at night. Food is great, with lot of fresh vegetable, „shopska” salad is a must to try when you go to Bulgaria. Meat is served usually with delicious spices. The prices can vary, it depends where you will go, in the centre of the city everything is more expensive. One of the biggest attractions in Veliko Turnovo is „Tsaravets” – the castle sourrounded by river and the „sound and light show”. Through the power of music and spectacular illumination, this programme aims to create an unforgettable and emotional image of the Tsarevets Hill and Castle treasuring up the history, grandeur and glory of the ancient capital city of Turnovgrad which has become synonymous with the Bulgarian spirit and national pride. The music, which has been composed specially for the occasion, is a leading element helping to follow the historical events and describe their invisible images. To get to Veliko Turnovo you can take a plane ( there are charter flights from Europe , Asia and Africa ). From the larger Bulgarian cities you can travel to Veliko Turnovo by bus or train. Persoanlly I prefer buses, there are much nicer, safer and comfortable. The travel by bus from Sofia is about 3 hours. One of the best things about Veliko Turnovo is that you can go everywhere by foot! If you do not feel like walking you can always use the public transport. Many regular bus lines operate into the city and to some of the nearby towns and villages. The ticket for the city bus costs only 0.50 leva and can be bought in the bus. It’s not very expensive to go and stay in Veliko turnovo. Here are examples. 1.95 Leva (BGN) = 1 Euro Price Level · 1 beer (0.5l) = 0.80- 1.50 BGN · 1 coca-cola (0.3l) = 0.70 - 1.00 BGN · 1 mineral water (0.5l) = 0.60 - 0.80 BGN · Coffee/ Tea = 0.40 - 0.60 BGN · Main course = 3.00 - 8.00 BGN Lodging · Budget: BGN 15 - 25 · Mid-range: BGN 25 - 45 · High: BGN 45 -65 · Deluxe: BGN 65+ (Cash is easily changed at numerous small exchange offices, usually for no commission. Travellers' cheques are more of a hassle as not every bank will accept them, but still you’ll find enough places to cash them for a commission of around 5%. Cash advances on credit cards might also be a bit of a problem, but ATMs are a common sight around the city. I wish to add Bulgarians are usually very polite and nice for foreigners, the only problem is most of them, especially older people do not speak English. And remember when they move their head left and right it means YES and if they move it up and down means NO. J So do not get confused. Good Luck and have a nice trip.

i ve been before 2000 and i can not forget how cheap was everythink:food drinks cigarettes also hotels..really i felt like queen!!!mmm the capital of bulgaria;clean nice templewith the gold dome and dangerous city very dangerous(thieves)

A more quieter holiday destination in Bulgaria. Views are lovely of the sea and there is a nice harbour with shops and restaraunts along it. Theres a boat trip to nessebar for a good price, nice views but dont go on a windy day! Be warned the sea around sveti vlas and surrounding areas is full of jelly fish! they float on the surface, you cant go for a paddle without them all around you, which is why i refused to go in!

This town is an idea base for exploring the Rila mountains. It has a few nice restaurants and hotels and it is easy to go hiking into the hills from here. There are some great walks up towards Musala Peak and there is also a cable car up to one of the lower peaks which gives some great views of the area.

One of the famous Spa resorts of Bulgaria. Situated abt. 150 km south of Sofia on the main route to Thessaloniki, Greece. Sandanski is a starting point for very spectacular hikings in the Pirin mountain.

Very nice place, with a beautiful monastery! Near the monastery there's a restaurant, where you can try very tasteful fish.

Varna is a nice city to visit. The beaches there are really awesome to visit!! You can rent appartments, go to resorts or hotels. The beaches are nice and it is generally warm enough to swim in. For history lovers, there are museums with lots of remains of the Thracians. This is a lovely city to go!!!

When getting a taxi in Sofia, make sure you get a registered yellow taxi with a meter, never get a unregistered taxi, or you'll end up getting ripped off or worse. The food is delicious at "veseloto sleo" ,"4evermeto","Divaka"

Its a beautifull place for vacations...

Beautiful colorful old town, one of the oldest town of Europe : Philippopolis, Trimontium, Plovdiv. Now built on seven hills.

one of the biggest and most popular cities in Bulgaria

A nice walk to get to know Sofia for a day is from the Orlov most Square straight ahead to Sveta Nedelja place along the Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd. Along the way you'll see: The University St. Kliment Ohridski (to the right), the little garden bearing the same name, the Parliament (again right) with the monument of the Russian king Alexander II (Tzar Osvoboditel) in the center of the square, then you turn right to take a look at St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral (no way to miss it, big thing woth golden domes) and the National Gallery (same square as the Cathedral). Back to the main track - Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd. - on your walk to Sveta Nedelja you'll see the so-called Russian Church (it's a good place to take pictures of) to the right, then the Nature Museum (right again) and after that you'll reach the Alexander Batenberg square. There on the right you have an art Gallery (former king's palace). When you reach it, you turn to the left for a short walk to the national theatre (it's worth it), and when back on track you'll see to the left the National Bank, the Archaeological museum and the Presidency. Nice little fountain there. Then you reach a big square with buildings of the government. If you turn to the right, you'll see an old mosque and a nice building across ("Halite"). Back to the big square (of the Government, Statue of St. Sophia etc.) and a little further straight you'll reach the Sveta Nedelja church, after which the suare is named. Further on the right-hand side is the Palace of Justice and if you go straight along the tram line (two or three stations), you'll reach the NDK (National Palace of Culture). Now you've earned a beer for all the patience you had to read it all ;)