The best 44 places to visit in Bulgaria

Dear blog readers, this article is dedicated to the incredibly beautiful places to visit in Bulgaria! I have seen thousands of Bulgarian sites and, believe me, it was quite difficult to select a very few of them. In my humble opinion, each of those places would serve as a business card of Bulgaria, of its rich culture, ancient history and beautiful nature.

Top places to visit in Bulgaria
Top places to visit in Bulgaria

Before I describe the best places to visit in Bulgaria, let me list the top cities that I recommend you to see – the capital Sofia and its beautiful cathedral Alexander Nevsky, the old town of Plovdiv, Ruse also known as the small Vienna, Stara Zagora, the old capital Veliko Tarnovo and the “sea capital” Varna.

Contents

Small towns and villages
Ancient sanctuaries
Fortresses and old towns
Monasteries and churches
Seven Rila lakes
Beautiful waterfalls
Seaside landmarks
Rock phenomena
Other places

Small towns and villages to visit in Bulgaria

Arbanassi

Arbanassi is a charming little village near Veliko Tarnovo. You can see there seven pretty well-preserved medieval churches. The village’s traditional architecture, characterized by white stone houses and towering fences, will take you back in time. See more here.

Arbanassi village
Arbanassi village

Bansko

Bansko is a lovely little town at the foot of Pirin Mountains. Beside the fact that the place is among the most famous ski resorts in Bulgaria, it can be visited all over a year. In the town you can admire old houses and delicious local cuisine. In addition, you can hike in the mountain and see gorgeous stone peaks and picturesque lakes. Read more about Bansko here.

Bansko
Bansko

Koprivshtitsa

Koprivshtitsa is a town embraced by Sredna gora Mountains, with incredible Bulgarian Revival atmosphere and fighting spirit for freedom, which have survived to this day. It is like an open-air museum. Koprivshtitsa is located about 108 km from Sofia, which takes about an hour and 40 minutes along the picturesque Sub-Balkan road. The town is not big and you can visit the most interesting places there within 2-3 hours. However, if you have more time, I would advise you to spend a whole weekend there.

Koprivshtitsa
Koprivshtitsa

Melnik

Although it is the smallest city in Bulgaria, the sights in Melnik and in the surrounding area are numerous. You can visit the town for just a day, but the region is so rich in interesting places so you can spend there more than a weekend. The town will offer you 3 main types of attractions: the St. Nicholas plateau with the sights from the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, wine tours and tastings, a tour of the Renaissance houses in the town. Together – the old architecture, the wine and the views make the atmosphere in the town quite cozy and unique.

Melnik, Bulgaria
Melnik, Bulgaria

The town of Melnik is located 180 km south of Sofia. You can combine a walk in Melnik with a visit to the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica (see below).

Tryavna

Tryavna is another town in Bulgaria with preserved Bulgarian Renaissance architecture, at least in its central part. In the center of Tryavna you can see the only preserved Renaissance square in Bulgaria, with its surrounding buildings. The town is located in central Bulgaria, not far from Gabrovo, 229 km east of Sofia.

Tryavna old town
Tryavna old town

Zlatograd

Zlatograd is a picturesque and very lively Rhodope town, close to the border between Bulgaria and Greece. In recent times, it has become popular with its authentic Renaissance houses. In the region you can see a lot of interesting sites including ancient rock sanctuaries, waterfalls, fortresses.

Zlatograd and the old houses
Zlatograd and the old houses

Zlatograd is the southernmost city in Bulgaria. It is located 336 km southeast of Sofia and 56 km from its regional center Smolyan. Read more about Zlatograd here.

Ancient sanctuaries to explore in Bulgaria

Over 15,000 Thracian tombs have been discovered in Bulgaria, most of which are still unexplored. However, quite a few of them are available for tourists.

Beglik tash

The Thracian sanctuary of Beglik Tash is an ensemble of huge stones of various sizes and shapes, used in ancient rituals to welcome the sunrise. It is believed that in the complex, ancient people paid their respects to the Mother Goddess and her son and husband, the Sun God. Scientists studied this area and found things that showed that the holy place was created around the 15th century BC and functioned until the 4th century.

The Thracian sanctuary of Beglik Tash
The Thracian sanctuary of Beglik Tash

The sanctuary of Beglik Tash is located about 6 km northeast of Primorsko, Burgas region.

Dolmen in the Nuchevi Chairi area near Hlyabovo

The Dolmens are megalithic facilities of the Bronze and Early Iron Age. They were made up of several vertically laid stone slabs covered with another stone slab forming a chamber. Dolmens are like a “trademark” of the Sakar Mountains in Bulgaria.

The Dolmen in the Nuchevi Chairi area near the village of Hlyabovo is one of the largest, best preserved and studied dolmens. It is 2 km away from Hlyabovo on the road to the village of Bulgarska polyana. You can reach it by a car.

Dolmen in the Nuchevi Chairi area near Hlyabovo
Dolmen in the Nuchevi Chairi area near Hlyabovo

We visited the Dolmen near Hlyabovo during an exciting spring excursion to the Sakar Mountains.

Mezek tomb

The Thracian domed tomb in the village of Mezek is one of the most representative Thracian royal tombs in Bulgaria. In addition, it is one of the largest on the Balkan Peninsula. It was used first as a tomb, and later as a temple. It was built at the end of the 4th century BC and was used until the middle of the 3rd century BC. Traces of six burials were found in the tomb.

Mezek tomb
Mezek tomb

The village of Mezek is located 287 kilometers from Sofia, which can be covered by car in about 2 and a half hours, since you only travel on highways.

Mishkova niva

We have been several times in Strandzha Mountains, because the region impressed us a lot yet from the very first visit more than 15 years ago. One of the most interesting places around the town of Malko Tarnovo we adore is the Thracian sanctuary in the Mishkova Niva area.

The Mishkova niva sanctuary is one of the oldest Thracian sanctuaries in Strandzha region. Besides, the dome temple, which is a kind of a center of the sanctuary, has unique architecture and it is one of the most important monuments of the tomb building in Thrace.

Mishkova niva
Mishkova niva

The Mishkova Niva area is located about 4 km southwest of Malko Tarnovo, behind the border fences. It can be reached by car.

Keep in mind that before heading to Mishkova niva, you must go to the Border Police service and sign up there because the sanctuary is beyond the borderline.

Sveshtari Thracian Tomb

The Sveshtari Tomb is a Thracian cult complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is designated as a Thracian-Hellenistic tomb and dated to the first half of the 3rd century BC. It is believed to be a royal tomb and that the Getic ruler Dromichet was buried in it. The tomb is extremely beautiful. It has been completely excavated and studied. After the research, a chamber was built around it, and the chamber itself was buried. So from the outside, the tomb looks like the other Thracian tombs – like a burial mound covered with vegetation. But inside the chamber, the entire tomb and its walls are visible from the outside.

The Sveshtari Tomb
The Sveshtari Tomb

The Sveshtari Tomb is located 2.7 km southwest of the village of Sveshtari, not far from the town of Isperih, Razgrad Region. It can be reached by car.

Tatul sanctuary

The sanctuary near the village of Tatul is an ancient megalithic site, regarded as one of the most significant in Bulgaria. Some researchers suggest that 3,500 years ago, a Thracian king was buried there, with his tomb later transforming into a place of worship for the Thracians. Others believe the place was dedicated to Orpheus, the mythical singer of the Rhodope Mountains.

This sacred location is surrounded by captivating landscapes and remains shrouded in mystery, offering a profound insight into the Thracians’ rich culture and intricate religious practices.

Tatul sanctuary
Tatul sanctuary

The sanctuary is situated in Tatul village, near Momchilgrad, 27 km from Kardzhali city and 306 km southeast of Sofia. Read more here.

Well-temple near the village of Garlo

The Gurlo Temple-Well is an archaeological site dating back to the Late Bronze Age. It is located north of the village of Gurlo, Pernik region. The site is an underground vaulted room, built over a well, to which a staircase leads. Prof. Dimitrina Mitova-Djonova, the archeologist discovered the place, links it with an early phase of the culture that later constructed the “nuraghi” structures still found on the island of Sardinia.

Well-temple near the village of Garlo
Well-temple near the village of Garlo

The temple-well is reached by a crushed stone road that branches off from the road near the village of Garlo.

Fortresses and old towns

Medieval town and fortress Cherven

The Medieval Bulgarian town of Cherven was one of the most important economic, ecclesiastical, and cultural centers during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Fortress Cherven is located about 96 km northeast of Veliko Tarnovo. The fortress can be reached by car.

Medieval town and fortress Cherven
Medieval town and fortress Cherven

Deultum

Deultum is the only colony of free Roman citizens on the current territory of Bulgaria. I visited the place last autumn and it impressed me a lot. In 2011, Deultum was recognized as one of the wonders in Bulgaria.

Deultum
Deultum

The site was initially described by the Shkorpil brothers at the end of the 19th century. At first, there was a Thracian settlement there. The Roman colony Deultum was founded by the veterans of the August VIII Legion during the second half of the 1st century under the rule of the Roman emperor Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian.

Deultum is located in the eastern outskirts of the village of Debelt, Sredets municipality, about 20 km southwest of Burgas and about 390 km east of Sofia. It is accessible by car.

Heraclea Syntica

Heraclea Sintica is a large ancient city that developed in the Sintica region along the middle reaches of the Struma River. The name of the region comes from the Thracian Sinti tribe that inhabited it. The Sinti are first mentioned by Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey. They saved the god of blacksmiths and fire Hephaestus, who was thrown from Olympus by his mother Hera and fell to the island of Lemnos.

Heraclea Sintica
Heraclea Sintica

The ruins of Heraclea Sintica are so impressive. Studies of the site still continue. Three layers of remains have been discovered – the lowest from the Macedonian period and two above from the Roman era.

The site is located at the southern foot of Mount Kozhuh, about 10 km northeast of the town of Petrich. It can be reached by car.

Fortress Hotalich near Sevlievo

The Hotalich fortress near the town of Sevlievo is a remarkable place, which impressed me with its size, incredible views to the high parts of the Balkan Mountains and its settlement. The Hotalich fortress is among the best studied and maintained medieval towns in Bulgaria. If you travel from Sofia to Veliko Turnovo or plan to visit the region of Gabrovo, consider the fortress Hotalich near Sevlievo, perhaps you will like it!

Fortress Hotalich near Sevlievo
Fortress Hotalich near Sevlievo

The fortress Hotalich is located about 184 km away from Sofia and about 4 km northwest of Sevlievo. It is very close to the main road Sofia-Varna. The fortress is on the opposite side of the town of Sevlievo with respect to this main road.

Ovech fortress

The Ovech fortress was built on a high stone plateau east of the town of Provadia, known as Kaleto. It was used in several different periods during Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and over the centuries it was inhabited by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, and Turks. The fortress reached its greatest prosperity during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, due to its key location near Varna and the sea. An impressive 160-meter bridge leads to the neighboring Tabiite plateau.

Ovech fortress in Provadia
Ovech fortress in Provadia

Near the fortress you can see the Shashkanite rock monastery, which operated in the 12th–14th centuries. It can be reached by a path on the plateau after the bridge.

The town of Provadia is located very close to the highway, only 50 km from Varna.

Perperikon

Perperikon is an ancient and medieval stone complex, the largest of its kind in the Eastern Rhodopes. It is also called Perperek. An incredible place – history, views, finds, feeling, experience … unique! One of the places in Bulgaria that everyone must visit. It includes a large megalithic sanctuary from the 6th – 5th millennium BC, monuments from antiquity and a medieval fortress. A place where many peoples have left their mark, including Romans, Goths, Byzantines and Bulgarians.

Perperikon near  Kardzhali
Perperikon near Kardzhali

Perperikon is located on a hill about 250 km southeast of Sofia and about 20 km from the regional center of Kardzhali. The place can be reached by car. The entry ticket costs 6 BGN.

Tuida fortress in Sliven

The interesting Tuida fortress is situated in the city of Sliven. It is located on the hill of Hisarlaka in the northeastern part of the town, next to the Novo Selo district. The location is attractive because on one side the fortress is on a hill and looking to the south you can see the lower districts of Sliven. On the other side, the fortress resides at the foot of the Blue Stones – it is a Natural Park, part of the Balkan Mountains, and looking to the north direction you can see the very high rocks of the Blue Stones park.

Tuida fortress in Sliven
Tuida fortress in Sliven

The fortress has been used for centuries – during the Roman Empire, Byzantium and Medieval Bulgaria.

We visited the fortress Tuida twice – once, on our way to the Black sea some time ago, and the second time was in the autumn, during the Medieval Fair “Remember the Glory”.

Monasteries and churches

Basarbovo Rock monastery

The Basarbovo monastery “St. Dimitar Basarbovski” is the only active rock monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the picturesque valley of the Rusenski Lom river near the village of Basarbovo, about 10 km south of the town of Rousse and about 104 km north of Veliko Tarnovo. It is accessible by car.

Basarbovo Rock monastery
Basarbovo Rock monastery

The monastery was founded during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in the 12th-13th century. There were built several more rock monasteries during this time and the remains of many of them are still visible today.

Boyana chirch

The Boyana church “St. St. Nicholas and Panteleimon”. It is located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the Boyana district of Sofia. It can be reached by car or by public transport (bus number 64).

The church was built in several stages, with the earliest construction dating back to the 10th-12th centuries. The most valuable thing in the Boyana Church are its world-famous frescoes from 1259 by the so-called Boyana Master. The Boyana church is one of the cultural symbols of Bulgaria. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Glozhene monastery

Glozhene monastery “St. George the Victorious” is one of the most wonderful and impressive Bulgarian monasteries. It was founded in the time of Tsar Ivan-Assen II (13 century). There was a church school in the monastery during the Turkish slavery. A lot of Bulgarian fighters for freedom found shelter in the Glozhene monastery, including Vasil Levski.

Glozhene monastery
Glozhene monastery

After the Liberation, for about a year (1893-1894), the famous Bulgarian writer, politician and publicist Vasil Drumev, also known as Metropolitan Clement Tarnovski, was kept into custody in the monastery. The exile was because of his speech in defense of Orthodoxy while in the same time the head of the state was King Ferdinand who is a Catholic.

Rila monastery

Rila monastery
Rila monastery

The Rila monastery is definitely the most visited among all the monasteries in Bulgaria. It is located about 117 km from Sofia and it is reachable by car. It was founded in the first half of the 10th century by St. Ivan the Wonderworker of Rila, the most revered Bulgarian saint, considered the protector of the entire Bulgarian people.

👉 See also: The top monasteries in Bulgaria.

Seven Rila Lakes

The circus of the Seven Rila Lakes is a must-see place in Bulgaria, one of the hallmarks of the beauty of Bulgarian nature. That’s why I’ve put it in a separate section.

The lakes are located between 2095 meters and 2535 meters above sea level. They are connected to each other (not each to each, however) by small streams. The Seven Rila lakes can be reached by lift from Panichishte, a resort about 10 km southeast of the town of Sapareva Banya, about 90 km south of Sofia. Panichishte is reached by a steep and winding asphalt road after Sapareva Banya.

Seven Rila Lakes
Seven Rila Lakes

The hiking route around the Seven Rila Lakes starts from the Rilski Ezera hut, also known as the new hut. It takes about 4 hours to complete the route. Allow extra time for breaks and views.

Beautiful waterfalls to admire in Bulgaria

Bistritsa waterfall

In my opinion, the Bistritsa waterfall is the most beautiful waterfall in the Rila Mountains. It “works” throughout the whole year, and the hiking to it is quite pleasant. The waterfall can be reached in about 2 hours on a pleasant trail starting from the village Bistritsa near the town of Dupnitsa.

Bistritsa waterfall
Bistritsa waterfall

The waterfall is unique and beautiful for its great height of about 35 meters and its incredible power. It has a lot of smaller falls. The waterfall is white, like a pearl, full of sparkling and playful waters, cool waters.

We visited the Bistritsa waterfall in early April when the snow had not yet melted in Rila. The waterfall was very loud and powerful.

Dokuzak waterfall

The Dokuzak waterfall is located about 7.5 km far from the town of Malko Tarnovo, just before the village of Stoilovo. The waterfall is reachable by car. It is not tall but is powerful and very beautiful, with many folds. Its waters fall into many streams and are poured on edges and highly embossed rocks which makes it look as if the water flows from everywhere.

Dokuzak waterfall
Dokuzak waterfall

Kademlijsko prаskalo

Kademliysko praskalo is one of the most beautiful and well-visible waterfalls I have ever visited. With its 70 meters height it is one of the leaders in the Stara planina mountains. It is located in the central part of the mountain. The hike to the waterfall takes about 4 hours in one direction, and the beginning of the route is the village of Tazha.

Kademliysko praskalo waterfall
Kademliysko praskalo waterfall

Krushuna waterfalls

The Krushuna waterfalls are the largest travertine water cascade in Bulgaria. There are several. The highest one is 15 meters high. You can walk around them along a relatively short and easy eco-trail. They are also one of the most visited natural landmarks in our country in recent years. The Krushuna Waterfalls are located near the village of Krushuna, Lovech region, 190 km northeast of Sofia. Read more about them here.

Krushuna waterfalls
Krushuna waterfalls

Rajsko praskalo

The Raisko praskalo, with its 125 meters high, is the highest permanent waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula. It is located below Botev Peak and is a half-hour walk from the Rai hut, Central Stara planina Mountains. It can be reached in about 4 hours along a mountain trail starting from the Panitsite area to Kalofer. Kalofer is a town in central Bulgaria, about 150 km east of Sofia.

The area around the Rai hut and the waterfall is extremely picturesque. “Rai” means paradise in Bulgarian.

Samodivsko praskalo

Samodivsko Praskalo waterfall is the highest in the Rhodope Mountains. It is located near Devin, 197 km from Sofia. Its waters fall in two falls with a total height of 70 meters. At the foot of the waterfall, only the lower fall is visible. The waterfall is one of the landmarks on the Struilitsa eco-trail, one of the most attractive eco-trails in Bulgaria. It starts on the outskirts of the town of Devin.

Samodivsko Praskalo waterfall
Samodivsko Praskao waterfall

Sitovo waterfall

This is perhaps one of the most photographed waterfalls in Bulgaria. Its pattern is extremely picturesque – two low, but quite wide falls, and a wonderful ending is the arch of the bridge, rising above it like a wreath. It is located near the Rhodope village of Sitovo, 173 km from Sofia and 33 km from Plovdiv.

Sitovo waterfall
Sitovo waterfall

Near the Waterfall, on a difficult-to-reach hill, you can see the mysterious Sitovo inscription with runic signs. And above the village of Sitovo is located a rock-cult complex associated with the Thracians.

See also:

Seaside landmarks

Cape Kaliakra

Cape Kaliakra is one of the most picturesque places on the Northern Black Sea Coast. A place for reflection, views and adventures. A place with history. It was inhabited by Thracians, Byzantines and Bulgarians.

Cape Kaliakra
Cape Kaliakra

There is a lot to see on the cape – the breathtaking sea views, the rocks stained red by the iron in the soil, fortress walls, ancient churches, necropolises, and also monuments from more recent times. There is also a museum, a restaurant and a chapel located on the edge of the rocks. A curious fact about Cape Kaliakra is that this is one of the windiest places on the Balkan Peninsula. Therefore, it is not surprising that a huge number of wind turbines are located there.

Cape Kaliakra is located about 60 kilometers northeast of Varna and 12 kilometers from the town of Kavarna.

Nessebar old town

Nessebar is a resort town on the Black Sea, located 36 km northeast of the regional center Burgas. It is among the most ancient cities in Europe, having emerged more than 3200 years ago.

Nowadays, the town of Nessebar consists of an old and a new part. The Old Nessebar is an indispensable part of the tourist routes along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and for good reasons. It preserves a special old-time atmosphere. Most of its houses are in the old style. There you can see a large number of old churches. One of its emblems is the old mill, located on the isthmus that connects the Old town and the new neighborhoods.

When I was a child, we spent a long summer vacation in the Old Nessebar, which I still remember very well. I learned to swim there. After that vacation,  we used to regularly visit the town for many years. Unfortunately, I haven’t been there for a long time, because of the huge tourist flow in the summer. But definitely the Old Nessebar is one of the must visit places in Bulgaria.

St Anastasia island

St. Anastasia is the only inhabited Bulgarian Black Sea island. The earliest traces of human activity on the island date back to the 4th-6th centuries. The central place on the island is occupied by the monastery “St. Anastasia Pharmacolytria (Healer)”, which is believed to have existed since the 15th century.

Saint Anastasia Island
Saint Anastasia Island

The walk to the island of St. Anastasia was a real sea adventure for me. It started with a boat on the waves and incredible sea views. On the island itself, it continued with interesting places and legends about pirate ships. Read more about the island here.

Island St. Ivan

We visited the island at the end of the summer. Beside the beautiful see views you can see the ancient monastery of St. John the Baptist. A marvelous relic was found there a few years ago – a marble box with relics of the St. John the Baptist.

Island St. Ivan
Island St. Ivan

When we visited the island, there was a team of archaeologists exploring the site and among them was prof. Kazimir Popkonstantinov, well known Bulgarian archaeologist and the main researcher, with whom we had the honor of exchanging a few words.

Rock phenomena

Belogradchik Rocks

The Belogradchik rocks are among the most massive and popular rock phenomena in Bulgaria. This is a system of natural rock groups and single rocks with a unique relief and bizarre shapes. They are divided into several main groups, the largest of which is the Central Group, which is located immediately south of the town. The Belogradchik Fortress is also located there.

Belogradchik rocks
Belogradchik rocks

In Belogradchik and nearby there are several panoramic places that will give you the opportunity for incredible views of the rocks. One of them is near the TV tower.

The town of Belogradchik is located 180 kilometers northwest of Sofia and 53 kilometers from the regional center Vidin.

The Stone forest

The Stone Forest, in Bulgarian “Pobiti kamyni”, is a desert-like natural phenomenon consisting of a lot of stone blocks and sand dunes. The stones are stone columns between 5 and 7 meters high and from 0.3 to 3 meters thick. The whole area of the Stone Forest is quite big – it takes approximately 13 square meters.

The Stone forest
The Stone forest

The Stone Forest is located about 25 kilometers west of Varna, near the village of Slanchevo – along the old road to Sofia. The ticket costs 5 BGN.

Venetsa cave near Oreshets

I really like the beautiful places of Northwest Bulgaria, because the most of them are not very popular. An interesting place we discovered this year was the cave Venetsa near the village of Oreshets – a very beautiful cave that was opened for tourists quite soon.

Venetsa cave near Oreshets
Venetsa cave near Oreshets

Beside the typical cave’s formations you can see there crystals and also colonies of corals similar to those that live in seas. The cave is lit by different colors. Another special thing about the Venetsa cave is that you can see bats on the tourist route

Other places to visit in Bulgaria

Ancient Ceramic Center near Pavlikeni

The Ancient Ceramic Center near the town of Pavlikeni, Veliko Tarnovo region, occupies an impressive area of about 9900 square meters. It consists of a Roman villa and over 50 well studied furnaces for building, artistic and domestic ceramics, most of which are protected from the raids of time under a glass lid. The antique ceramic center, and in particular the Roman villa, date back to the 1-3 century. The villa is of Villa Rustica type, i.e. suburban villa.

Ancient Ceramic Center near Pavlikeni
Ancient Ceramic Center near Pavlikeni

The place is located about 5 km northwest of the town of Pavlikeni on the way to the village of Varbovka.

Ethnographic Museum “Etara” in Gabrovo

The Open-Air Ethnographic Museum “Etara” in the city of Gabrovo is a favorite place in every season for generations of Bulgarians. It represents a reconstruction of the Bulgarian way of life, culture and craftsmanship. It is the first museum of its kind in Bulgaria. It was opened on September 7, 1964 and recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. The place is extremely dear to me because I associate it with my carefree childhood.

Ethnographic Museum "Etara" in Gabrovo
Ethnographic Museum “Etara” in Gabrovo

“Etara” museum is located 10 km south of the center of Gabrovo. The entrance ticket is 10 BGN. Of course, you can see some of the houses in the museum on the adjacent street, but it is not the same. I recommend to go inside and enjoy the idyllic atmosphere in the complex.

Madara Horseman

The Madara Horseman is one of the most famous and emblematic Bulgarian landmarks. It is a unique rock relief carved into the Madara rocks, associated with the Early Middle Ages and the Bulgarian Khan Tervel. The area is rich in ancient artifacts and remnants from various eras, cultures, and civilizations. The archaeological monuments discovered there date back from the 4th millennium BC to the 15th century.

Madara Horseman
Madara Horseman

You can ascend the steep stairs carved into the rock to reach the plateau above the Madara Horseman. There on the plateau, in addition to the breathtaking panoramic views, the Madara Fortress is also a point of interest.

The Madara Horseman is located 2 km east of the village of Madara and 20 km east of the regional center of Shumen. You can get to the monument very close by car. There is a convenient parking lot.

Villa Armira

Ancient, valuable, impressive. Such is the ancient Villa Armira near the town of Ivaylovgrad: the richest and most lavishly decorated palace from Roman times discovered in our lands. It is strange how little is known about the owners of the villa, but at least it has been established for certain that they were of Thracian origin. There you can see well-preserved ancient mosaics, an elegant pool, columns, sculptures…

Villa Armira near Ivaylovgrad
Villa Armira near Ivaylovgrad

The ancient Villa Armira is located about 4 km west of Ivaylovgrad – a small quiet town, close to the border between Bulgaria and Greece. The road to Ivaylovgrad winds along the Arda River and the Ivaylovgrad Dam, with many places offering interesting views of the river. The road passes along the dam wall of the Ivaylovgrad Dam.

Village of Karanovo

There are two unique sites in the village of Karanovo that are worth visiting – the Settlement mound and Thracian tomb with a large Thracian chariot in front of it.

The tomb was dated to the middle of the 1st century. Because of the rich gifts found there and the charming chariot, it is believed that a notable Thracian aristocrat was buried there.

Village of Karanovo
Village of Karanovo

The Settlement mound is located in the northwest suburbs of the village. The mound is one of the largest prehistoric settlements not only in Bulgaria but also in Europe. It is about 13 meters high, about 250 meters long and about 150 meters wide. It has been inhabited for more than 3 millennia – from the middle of the 6th to the 2nd millennium BC.

The village of Karanovo is located in the municipality of Nova Zagora, Sliven region, about 260 km east of Sofia.

In conclusion

This article highlights the breathtaking destinations to explore in Bulgaria! Each of these locations serves as a showcase for Bulgaria’s rich culture, ancient history, and stunning natural beauty.

Enjoy the incredibly charming Seven Rila Lakes

A full-day trek into the Rila Mountains to the most picturesque area near Sofia and one of Bulgaria's most beautiful natural sites, the Seven Rila Lakes. More info here.

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