The opening of new routes of low-cost airlines from different parts of Europe is making Bulgaria stop being a forgotten Eastern European country that few paid attention to, to become a destination that is beginning to enter the tourism radar.
Still, the mere name of the country does not generate a very clear idea of representative attractions and that is why many do not take it into account; but for other types of travellers, it is precisely this general ignorance that makes Bulgaria an even more interesting destination.
As you probably came to this article because you belong to the second group, from IATI Seguros, experts in travel insurance, we give you these tips for traveling to Bulgaria that we consider essential for you to have a great experience.
1 Take advantage of the free tours of Sofia
2 Do your shopping at the local markets
3 Bulgaria does not end in Sofia and Plovdiv
4 Avoid the winter months
5 Learn to read the Cyrillic alphabet
6 Stay for Couchsurfing even once
7 Gastronomic tips for traveling to Bulgaria
8 Travel insured
Take advantage of the free tours of Sofia
If you traveled to other cities in Europe, there is something you know you can count on: free tours. In Sofia they realized that it was necessary to have this offer that those who travel to other parts of the continent already expect, and so Free Sofia Tour appeared, making an introductory tour of the Bulgarian capital 365 days a year. If you are not comfortable enough with your level of English, there is also one tour per day in Spanish. Regardless of the language, a good tip for traveling to Bulgaria is to take advantage of these tours and learn a little more about this great city.
But the offer does not end there, because there are also other companies that offer alternative circuits, such as the typical food tasting organized by Balkan Bites and the “communist tour” of Sofia Communist Tours that ends with a ride in a classic Trabant, the car that before the fall of the Soviet Union was practically the only one seen on the streets and today is already a nostalgic relic.
Do your shopping at the local markets
We can give you many tips for traveling to Bulgaria, but there is one that all the locals will give you: forget about supermarkets, because the best prices are found in the markets.
If you have a kitchen in your accommodation, you can save a few good euros by buying in local markets. And not only do we recommend that you do it to get better prices and fresher products, but also because it is a walk in itself that allows you to get closer to the Bulgarian culture.
A market that we recommend you visit in Sofia is the historic Zhenski Pazar, better known as “the women’s market”, which is the oldest in the capital. Originally, those who tended the market stalls were all women, selling the harvest that their husbands and children had made in the fields.
Bulgaria does not end in Sofia and Plovdiv
Although a large part of the tourists who come to Bulgaria only visit Sofia and Plovdiv (one of the oldest European cities still inhabited), the country has many more places for which they are not in a hurry. These are three of our suggestions, although, as we always say, many times the places from which we take the best experiences end up being the least thought of. So write down this advice to travel to Bulgaria, visit cities like:
Veliko Tarnovo: For many travelers who visit, Veliko ends up being their favorite place in Bulgaria. The location on the banks of the Yantra River, surrounded by hills and full of historical buildings such as the Tsaravets Fort, are some of the reasons.
Varna: if you want something from the sea, Varna is the most important city on the Black Sea coast. Unlike other coastal destinations that only live off their beaches in summer, here you will find activity throughout the year and it is an excellent base to explore the surroundings.
Koprivshtitsa – Very few tourists visit this small town, and that’s part of the reason the quaint charm remains. Do not expect days full of activities and places to visit, but it is more about walking aimlessly through the little streets that keep a large part of its 19th century architecture intact, surrounded by mountains that give it a village atmosphere straight out of a story.
what to see in Bulgaria
Avoid the winter months
We believe that this is our main advice for traveling to Bulgaria. Although you get very good flight deals, we recommend that you avoid the period from November to February, not only because the temperatures are very low, but mainly because the cities look much more gray and dull during this season.
During spring or summer is when Bul
garia shines more; the days are longer, nature blooms and people are in a better mood.
Learn to read the Cyrillic alphabet
Do not go to the next advice to travel to Bulgaria thinking that we are telling you crazy: learning to read the Cyrillic alphabet is much easier than you think, and an essential tool to be able to read all the menus and street signs during your trip through Bulgaria . Although you will not understand the meaning of most of the words, you will see that there are many others that are borrowed from English. It is enough with a little will to sit down to study before the trip (believe us, it is easy) and the rest is done by practice once in destination.
The great thing about learning to read the Cyrillic alphabet is that it will also come in handy when you travel to many other countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, and several in the Balkans and Central Asia.
Stay for Couchsurfing even once
This is not only a tip for traveling to Bulgaria, but you could try it in any country you travel to and see how your experience changes compared to if you stayed only in hotels or hostels.
Couchsurfing is a hospitality network in which locals host travelers in their homes for the sole purpose of having a cultural exchange, without financial benefit involved. Although it is free, we do not advise you to do it if your goal is to save on accommodation costs and have a place to leave your luggage while you go out for a walk all day, since the purpose of this is to spend time with whoever receives you.
A piece of advice: create a well-rounded profile and send personalized requests, since sending the same copy-paste to everyone is a clear sign of disinterest in the host.
Gastronomic tips for traveling to Bulgaria
It is likely that talking about Bulgarian gastronomy does not sound like anything recognizable to you, that is why we give you these recommendations so that you do not stop trying on your trip:
Lutenitsa: This is a roasted pepper sauce that goes well with almost any meal. In supermarkets you will see whole gondolas with different varieties, but the markets are the ideal place to buy homemade.
Banitsa: it is a kind of savory phyllo dough cake filled with sirene cheese (similar to feta cheese). Luckily for those who are not very fond of this cheese, there are also versions filled with spinach and pumpkin.
Yogurt: surely you have heard of Greek yogurt, although perhaps not so much of Bulgarian. Culinary, a good piece of advice for traveling to Bulgaria is not to get into controversy with it, because their yogurt is national pride and they will tell you without hesitation that it is the best there is, the only pure one and that all the others are imitations. Your reason? It was a Bulgarian scientist who discovered the bacteria that turns milk into yogurt. This bacteria is naturally in the Bulgarian air, so leaving milk out in the open for a while turns it into yogurt without any special treatment.
garia shines more; the days are longer, nature blooms and people are in a better mood.
Do not go to the next advice to travel to Bulgaria thinking that we are telling you crazy: learning to read the Cyrillic alphabet is much easier than you think, and an essential tool to be able to read all the menus and street signs during your trip through Bulgaria . Although you will not understand the meaning of most of the words, you will see that there are many others that are borrowed from English. It is enough with a little will to sit down to study before the trip (believe us, it is easy) and the rest is done by practice once in destination.
The great thing about learning to read the Cyrillic alphabet is that it will also come in handy when you travel to many other countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, and several in the Balkans and Central Asia.
Stay for Couchsurfing even once
This is not only a tip for traveling to Bulgaria, but you could try it in any country you travel to and see how your experience changes compared to if you stayed only in hotels or hostels.
Couchsurfing is a hospitality network in which locals host travelers in their homes for the sole purpose of having a cultural exchange, without financial benefit involved. Although it is free, we do not advise you to do it if your goal is to save on accommodation costs and have a place to leave your luggage while you go out for a walk all day, since the purpose of this is to spend time with whoever receives you.
A piece of advice: create a well-rounded profile and send personalized requests, since sending the same copy-paste to everyone is a clear sign of disinterest in the host.
Gastronomic tips for traveling to Bulgaria
It is likely that talking about Bulgarian gastronomy does not sound like anything recognizable to you, that is why we give you these recommendations so that you do not stop trying on your trip:
Lutenitsa: This is a roasted pepper sauce that goes well with almost any meal. In supermarkets you will see whole gondolas with different varieties, but the markets are the ideal place to buy homemade.
Banitsa: it is a kind of savory phyllo dough cake filled with sirene cheese (similar to feta cheese). Luckily for those who are not very fond of this cheese, there are also versions filled with spinach and pumpkin.
Yogurt: surely you have heard of Greek yogurt, although perhaps not so much of Bulgarian. Culinary, a good piece of advice for traveling to Bulgaria is not to get into controversy with it, because their yogurt is national pride and they will tell you without hesitation that it is the best there is, the only pure one and that all the others are imitations. Your reason? It was a Bulgarian scientist who discovered the bacteria that turns milk into yogurt. This bacteria is naturally in the Bulgarian air, so leaving milk out in the open for a while turns it into yogurt without any special treatment.
The advice that we always give so that you can travel with peace of mind, whether in Bulgaria or in any destination, is that you do it insured. At IATI Seguros we have plans for different budgets, depending on how long you travel and the type of coverage. Check which one is the most suitable for you from our insurance search engine.
Beyond the destinations to visit, the foods to try and the itinerary plans, our fundamental advice for traveling to Bulgaria is to be respectful of the local culture, informing yourself about the place you will travel to and once in destination, being open and curious. . They say that it is easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice, and traveling can be the best cure. Take advantage of the fact that in Bulgaria many people speak English to ask and get rid of any doubts you may have, as these meetings will surely end up being the best memory you take with you from your trip.
The advice that we always give so that you can travel with peace of mind, whether in Bulgaria or in any destination, is that you do it insured.
Beyond the destinations to visit, the foods to try and the itinerary plans, our fundamental advice for traveling to Bulgaria is to be respectful of the local culture, informing yourself about the place you will travel to and once in destination, being open and curious. . They say that it is easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice, and traveling can be the best cure. Take advantage of the fact that in Bulgaria many people speak English to ask and get rid of any doubts you may have, as these meetings will surely end up being the best memory you take with you from your trip.
