Bulgaria Tourist Attractions
Top Bulgaria tourist attractions: things to do in Bulgaria, where to go to see most beautiful places in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is one of those small countries, which can boast with an incredibly rich nature. And indeed, most of the people asked don’t know where it is on the map, but once they visit, they keep coming back.
Bulgaria has hundreds of beautiful places to offer – waterfalls, mountain peaks, woodlands, caves, landmarks and much, much more. And it just is not possible to include all of them in such a small article, so don’t be angry! I’m sure that if you visit the places in this article, you will develop a hunger for beauty and will want to check them all out. And, the best way to tour a country is to engage in socializing with the local people, so you will have a much better experience if you memorize a few words or phrases beforehand. But without further ado – let’s jump into Bulgaria’s gorgeous nature!
Bulgaria top attractions - most beautiful places in Bulgaria
Raiskoto Praskalo (The Heavenly Waterfall)
The Heavenly Waterfall is the highest waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula. It’s situated in the Old Mountain, below Botev Peak. It’s a beautiful place to visit, no matter which season you choose. The waterfall is also located in the “Central Balkan” National Park inside the natural reserve Dzhendema (which means Hell). It’s easy to get to since it’s in the heart of Bulgaria.
Musala Peak
Photo: pch_bg Flickr via Compfight cc
The Musala Peak is the tallest peak in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula and is 2925m high. Musala is situated in the Rila Mountains, near the famous Borovets resort and about 80km from Sofia. It’s a great place to go to if you are feeling adventurous. Many tourists and locals visit Musala during the summer, but the visitors are mostly mountaineers from Bulgaria and the neighboring countries. For those of you who would like to test their might against the peak – don’t worry, it’s dangerous and hard, but it’s doable!
Shipka Peak
Shipka is one of the largest and most famous landmarks in Bulgaria. It’s a massive monument which symbolizes the heroism and self-sacrifice of people during the fights for Bulgaria’s liberation from the Ottoman Empire. Shipka Peak is located in the Old Mountain at a height of 1326 meters. The monument was built in 1934, and it has an automobile road and a stone staircase leading to the top.
The Baba Vida Fortress
The fortress is considered to be the only fully-preserved fortress in Bulgaria. The name Baba Vida (Grandma Vida) comes from an old legend. The fort was used for the defense of the local lord and the people during most of the Middle Ages. Baba Vida is located in Vidin city, near the largest turn of the Danube river.
The Belogradchik Rocks
The Belogradchik Rocks are rock formations with varying height, up to 200 meters. They are located in the West parts of the Old Mountain, near Belogradchik. The line they form is 30 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide.
Magura Cave
Photo: Plamen Stoev Flickr via Compfight cc
This cave is one of the most picturesque caves in Bulgaria. It’s located 18 kilometers from Belogradchik. The total length of the cave galleries is 2.5 kilometers. If you visit Magura, you will also be able to see the largest underground lake in Bulgaria – the Rabishkoto lake. An interesting feature of this cave is that in one of its corridors people produce bubbly wine. The reason for this are the ideal conditions – very close to those in the Champagne region.
The Ledenika Cave
Photo: toni_ruskov Flickr via Compfight cc
The ledenika cave is among the most popular Bulgarian caves. It’s again located in the Old Mountain and sports a wide array of karts formations – stalactites and stalagmites dating from thousands of years ago. The cave is about 300 meters long and has ten galleries, the largest of which is known as the Concert Hall. Of course, be prepared with warm clothes – the temperatures can go from -7C to 15C. The air inside is very humid. A long time ago, the cave used to be full of water, but now the only water body left is the Lake of Wishes.
Thracian Temple Complex Starosel
This Thracian complex has been found in the year 2000. It’s the largest Thracian royal complex with a mausoleum found so far. The tomb (called a temple by its founder) is very awe-inspiring – with its large stone wall, main staircase with a hall and others. On the north side of the temple, you can find a tub, dug directly in the rocks, for making and storing wine.
The Wondrous Bridges (Chudnite Mostove)
The Wondrous Bridges are a rock phenomenon in the West part of the Rhodope Mountains. The bridges have formed due to the erosion by the once deep river. It turned the marble cracks into an underwater cave. There are several other smaller caves nearby, but most of them are closed for tourists since they aren’t lit and free of danger.
Bulgaria landmarks
And if you are a fan of UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage sites –Bulgaria has nine of them. The cultural heritage sites are the Boyanska Church, Ivanovski rock churches, Kazanlak Tomb, The Madara Horseman, Nessebar’s old city, The Rila Monastery and the Sveshtarska Tomb. The natural heritage sites are the Pirin national park and the Srebarna reserve. All of those UNESCO-protected places are amazing and should definitely be seen in a lifetime.
Bulgaria tourist attractions - conclusion
If you want great and beautiful nature – look no further. Bulgaria has you covered. Do keep in mind that the places listed here are just a very small part of the places you can visit. There are over two hundred such spots you can tour, and this feat is surely impossible in just one visit. If you give Bulgaria a chance, you will have the unique opportunity to feel the spirit of ancient lands, people, and constructions. And you will be charmed, trust me.