Bulgaria.

Bulgaria: As Cheap as it Gets

Stroll through the Byzantine city of Sofia, maybe around the markets or into Battenburg Square. The food specialities often have a Greek influence. Bulgaria offers sublime sun and sea opportunities…on the coast, it boasts increasingly popular resorts where you can bask under the sun and enjoy incredibly low prices as well.

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Bulgaria Fast Facts

Population: 7,037,935

Language: Bulgarian (official)

Capital: Sofia

Climate: Temperate, cold, damp winters, hot, dry summers

Coastline: 354km

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea between Romania and Turkey

Country Code: 359

Time Zone: GMT+2

Read more articles about Bulgaria below

Bulgaria Archives

The Treasures of Overlooked Bulgaria
Posted on July 26, 2012 by Suchi Rudra

Looking for an “off-the-beaten-path” adventure? Try Bulgaria. Despite its low costs, fantastic, fresh cuisine, and lush green landscapes, it’s one of Europe’s most overlooked destinations. And that’s part of its allure… Start your trip in the capital, Soﬁa. Today a modern city with a sleek international airport, Soﬁa has a checkered history—it’s been ruled by Romans, Ottoman Turks, and Russia, as well as Bulgaria.

Grandiose monuments and elegant sculptures tell the city’s fascinating story One modern, but breathtaking landmark is the huge St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the early 1900s. Its marble-and gold-laden interior is dazzling. It’s right across the street from an antique market where you’ll ﬁnd quirky souvenirs including quirky coat pins, old coins and lace tablecloths.
Five Strangest Travel Superstitions
Posted on October 27, 2011 by International Living

You may do little more than double check that the oven is off before you go on a trip, but in other parts of the world, travelers can get mighty superstitious.
Thermal Waters: Where to Take the Cure in Latin America
Posted on December 5, 2009 by Suzan Haskins

I’ve been in hot water in so many countries now that I’ve lost count.

I’m talking of hot thermal waters, of course. There’s no better way to soothe an aching muscle or take the chill off. And there’s no better place for a long, hot soak than in a series of mineral-water pools carved into the side of a volcano.
A ski trip without the masses: 6 of the best
Posted on November 30, 2007 by Hannah Roberts

International Living selects 6 of the best ski resorts in the world.
Volunteering-make a difference abroad
Posted on August 22, 2007 by Laura Doyle

Make a meaningful contribution by volunteering abroad
Five things to see in Sofia
Posted on August 8, 2007 by International Living

Bulgaria joined the EU in January and Sofia, its capital, is ready for visitors. It may not be as glamorous as those favorite eastern European capitals, Prague and Budapest, but this city of just over a million, surrounded by snow-covered peaks, is a pleasant surprise.
Europe’s next big bargain holiday destination–"You can’t spend money here no matter how hard you try"
Posted on May 23, 2007 by International Living

With its history of hard-core Eastern Bloc communism, Bulgaria may sound an unlikely vacation spot. But with soaring prices in Europe’s traditional sunshine resorts, the country’s Black Sea Riviera has become this year’s destination of desire. For the sun-starved and cost-conscious, it’s far cheaper to vacation here than Spain.
Bulgaria’s Coast: Golden Sand and Opportunity
Posted on April 23, 2007 by Steenie Harvey

It’s not just the cheap beer, disco beat, and ample golden beaches that have made Bulgaria’s seaside resorts the new package holiday hot-spot for Europe’s masses. For the Brits, there’s familiar food such as bacon sandwiches and chicken curry…and English is spoken everywhere. Even so, it’s not only Brits and Irish coming here in great number. Golden Sands and Sunny Beach (Bulgaria’s two largest resorts) are a multinational melting-pot of Germans, Scandinavians, Poles, Greeks, Czechs, Russians, and Hungarians.
Bulgaria: Where No Means Yes
Posted on April 23, 2007 by International Living

Strategically located between Europe and Asia, Bulgaria mixes influences from Russian, Greek, Armenian, Roman, and Turkish cultures into a distinctive new form. Some customs here seem deceptively familiar–as I discovered when I ordered lunch with no trouble but then had the waitress tell me “no” when I wanted to leave afterwards. The first time this happened, my reaction was to keep repeating myself in English: “Please, can I have the check…please?” I even broke into my rusty Russian skills, but still, she just shook her head.
Bulgaria: As Cheap As It Gets
Posted on April 23, 2007 by Steenie Harvey

The main reason why places like Golden Sands are netting visitors is price–Bulgaria is far cheaper than the Spanish Costas and Balearic Islands. You can get a beer here, for example, for about 50 cents.
Return of the King
Posted on April 23, 2007 by International Living

In the summer of 1937, in the Byzantine city of Sofia, the future King of Bulgaria was born. Church bells rang and gun salutes boomed across the land in celebration…amnesties were granted…and an extra mark was added to every schoolchild’s exam.
Melnik: a vine Odyssey
Posted on April 23, 2007 by International Living

It’s wine that draws visitors to the tiny town of Melnik. The region now …