Luxury Bulgaria Holidays

• Discover Plovdiv – Bulgaria’s second city and the European Capital of Culture for 2019. It’s no wonder why, as the charming cobblestone lanes of its Old Town are lined with pretty National Revival buildings, while sites like the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis and Roman Theatre are not to be missed.
• There are many mountain ranges in Bulgaria, each with its own appeal. Bansko in Pirin National Parks being the places where some of the best skiing awaits; Rila is home to breathtaking lakes and waterfalls; and Central Mountains shelter the pretty town of Veliko Târnovo, with its mighty fortress, and Kazanlâk’s Valley of the Roses.
• Luxuriate on the Black Sea beaches to the east. Sunny Beach is the most well-known resort, but there are many other options including Sozopol, a more sophisticated town with restaurants and bars aplenty; it’s the stomping ground for the capital’s hip crowd, so you’re in good company.
• Encounter some of the hundreds of monasteries that pepper the country. From the 10th century Rila Monastery hidden in the mountains, to Rozhen with its stunning frescoes; Dryanovo, nestled between the cliffs of the Central Mountains, or the ornate Bachkovo, just outside Plovdiv.
• Book a stay at the Zornitza Family Estate in southwest Bulgaria, where you can sample the wine produced onsite, relish homegrown meals, head out to Sandinski’s Old Town for a dose of history, pop over the border to Greece or go on an adventure through the surrounding mountains, canyons and nature reserves.

Visit Bulgaria in summer for hot, sunny days; you can get temperatures of over 30°C on the Black Sea coast in July and August. Further inland it’s a lot milder, and while spring and autumn can be pleasantly balmy, winters are harsh with plenty of snowfall. This makes Bulgarian mountains prime for skiing between December and March.

Bulgarian cuisine is quite varied, with a range of meats, fish, vegetables and cheeses going into its delicious dishes across the country. There are also certain specialties that you will see on many a restaurant menu. Take Lukanka, a salami sausage that’s a bit like Bulgaria’s answer to Spain’s chorizo, while Tarator is a light soup made from cucumber, yoghurt, garlic, dill and water, a refreshing dish to enjoy on hot summer days. Kebapche – Bulgaria’s take on the kebab – is also much tastier than you would imagine. Here minced meat is combined with mixed herbs and rolled into a sausage shape, served with the country’s signature cheese, Sirene.

Savour stuffed vine leaves – Lozovi Sarmi – or moussaka, both of which are much like the Turkish and Greek specialties. One dish you simply must try is the Gyuvech, a beef stew cooked with paprika, eggs and Kashkaval cheese, in a traditional dish also known as a Gyuvech. For dessert, try a Tikvenik pastry made with pumpkin, cinnamon, walnuts and orange, or finish with a strong glass of rakia, Bulgaria’s national drink which is traditionally made from plums or apricots. However, don’t forget the wine either; Bulgaria has bountiful vineyards, including the Zornitza Family Estate where you can stay in their boutique lodgings, sample homegrown wine and also tuck into farm-fresh fare comprising ingredients plucked from their own gardens.

You can fly to Bulgaria direct from the following UK airports: London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester, with a flight time of between 3-4 hours. Most flights take you to either Sofia, the capital, or Burgas, on the Black Sea coast. You can also reach southern Bulgaria by flying to Thessaloniki in northern Greece and crossing the border. The time difference in Bulgaria is +2 hours from the UK. Domestic flights only operate between Sofia and the towns of Varna and Burgas, so if looking to travel to other destinations – hiring a car is recommended. In the summer, some boats travel between various destinations on the Black Sea coast, for those seeking to explore the region still further.