All inclusive holidays in Bulgaria are very popular for all Europeans. During the summer season, the Bulgarian seaside is one of the main choices, especially for families with children. This is largely due to the well-positioned hotels near the beaches, the pools and the quality services provided by each hotel in Bulgaria. Among the great resorts for an all inclusive summer holiday in Bulgaria, on the Black Sea coast are: Sozopol, Nessebar, Golden Sands, Sunny Day, Riviera, Balchik, Sveti Vlas, Albena, Saints Constantine and Helena and many more other.
For the winter holidays in Bulgaria, there are numerous ski resorts in Bulgaria with stunning scenery and quality services, including Borovetz, Bansko, Pamporovo and Vitosha. For SPA holidays, Bulgaria is also in the first position in the choice of tourists with Mankya, Hisarya, Sandanski, Velingrad, Varshets, which attracts visitors throughout the year. All this, coupled with low prices compared to those in Western Europe, has led to a substantial increase in the number of tourists who choose Bulgaria as an all inclusive holiday destination or as a ski or SPA destination.
Geographical location of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is located in South East Europe and borders with Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and have the Black Sea in the east. It is the 14th largest country in Europe, thanks to its stretch of 110,994 km². Due to its geographical position, Bulgaria is considered a historical crossroads of various civilizations, being the place where the oldest artifacts and proofs of metal working in the world were discovered. A country whose beauty and traces of the past attract every year historians, photographers and hikers coming from the desire to explore the nature, still carefully guarded by the population and Bulgarian authorities.
History of Bulgaria
The development of prehistoric cultures began in the Neolithic period. The history of the country is marked by the presence of the Thracians, followed by the Greeks, Persians, Celts, Romanians, Goths and Huns. The emergence of the unified Bulgarian people and state dates back to the First Bulgarian Empire, which dominates a large part of the Balkans and functions as a cultural center for the Middle Ages slaves. After the fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire, in 1396, its territory fell under Ottoman domination for almost 500 years. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 resulted in the emergence of the third Bulgarian state, which became independent in 1908. The years that followed were marked by conflicts with neighbors, in the context of which Bulgaria allied with Germany in both world wars . In 1946, a Communist state became a single party until 1989, when the Bulgarian Communist Party allowed for free elections. After 1990, Bulgaria became a democracy and a market economy.
Bulgaria relief- amazing for a varied holiday
Bulgaria has a total area of 110,994 km², which makes it 105th country in the world. Its relief is varied, so the holiday possibilities here are also varied. Among the most appreciated and notable forms of relief are the Danube Plain, the Balkan Mountains, the Thrace Plain and the Rhodopes Mountains. While the Danube forms much of the border with Romania, the southern end of the Danube Plain is slightly inclined to the foot of the Balkan hills. The Thrace plain is almost triangular, starting southeast of Sofia and extending to the Black Sea coast. The Balkans form a chain from east to west, passing through the center of the country. Southwestern mountainous areas are two massive - Rila and Pirin, which care for the Rhodopi Mountains in the east, smaller but more extensive mountains. Here is also the highest point on the Balkan Peninsula - the tip called Musala and 2,925 meters. Plains lie on almost a third of the country's surface, the hills and plateaus occupy 41% of it, and sea level is the lowest point of Bulgaria.
Bulgaria climate - the best periods for a holiday in Bulgaria
Bulgaria's climate is dynamic. It is a mixture of the Mediterranean climate and the East European climate. In the north of the country, the average temperature is often 1 ° C lower than the southern regions, and precipitation is about 200 mm higher. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Bulgaria is -38°C, and the highest was 45°C. The precipitation reaches 630 mm per year and fluctuates in the mountains from 500 mm to over 2,500 mm. In winter, the continental air masses bring large amounts of snow, so the ski areas are filled with tourists coming to practice winter sports in Bulgaria.
Sea temperature in Bulgaria: between December and March, the water temperature is somewhere between 6 and 3°C, and between April to October it fluctuates around 10°C. In May and September you can enjoy sunny days, with 16 and 20°C. And in July and August the thermometers reach 23 ° C. Is the period when the beaches are filled with tourists arriving for a all inclusive holiday in Bulgaria.
Snow: The first layer of snow in the mountains of Bulgaria is set in mid-November, and in December you can already have a ski holiday here. Skiers are attracted to the slopes, with artificial snow in this period. Since January, things are already on their own. Snow that cover in the first month of the year is maintained at 2.5 - 3 m (average) until April. However, the ski season in Bulgaria lasts until the beginning of May. As for the average winter temperature, it is -8°C, but sunny days predominate, being a perfect time to enjoy your winter sports in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria hydrography - different attractions
Bulgaria boasts a dense network of about 540 rivers. Many of them relatively short and with low flows. The longest river found on almost the entire territory of the country is Iskar, which is 368 kilometers long. Among the big rivers of the country are Struma and Mariţa from the south. And if you want a variety in the summer, give up a few days of beach in Bulgaria and savor north of Burgas, where some lakes of amazing natural beauty stretch. Here live many water birds, such as the pelican and the black stork. Do not forget your camera!
Administrative division
Surely you will not be interested in it on vacation, but you should know if you are there. Bulgaria is a unitary state. Since the country has gained autonomy (1880), the shoulder of administrative-territorial units ranged from seven to 26. Between 1987 and 1999, the administrative structure consisted of nine regions (singular area). The new administrative organization was adopted in parallel with the decentralization of the economy. It includes 27 regions, plus a capital metropolitan (Sofia-capital). All these regions take their name from their capital and are further divided into 264 communes (also called communes).
Cities in Bulgaria – what to visit
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and the city with more fronts, with less than a million inhabitants. Besides historical monuments and romantic places, with welcoming cafes, Sofia delights with animated boulevards and architectural summits dating from the time of communism. The city was and is a nodal point on European traders' roads, thanks to which it has a steady development.
Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria, the largest Bulgarian port and also the owner of an international airport. The city attracts young tourists every year, thanks to the possibilities for nightlife. If you dream about this for your next holiday in Bulgaria, here you must go. Is the city where, in each summer season, are organized many summer concerts, opera and ballet shows, festivals and even evening parties on the beach.
Burgas. A city appreciated for modernity, rich in a generous harbor and parks that you deserve to visit in every stay here. Is a city that has a strong historical foundation, but, nevertheless, it has not lagged behind modernization processes. It is the perfect destination if you want to sunbathe on the beach, swim in the warm water of the sea and spend the evening in a restaurant with varied goods.
Famous resorts in Bulgaria
For a stay in Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast, you can choose one of Balchik-Balchik sea resorts (where you can visit the famous castle of Queen Maria of Romania), Varna, Burgas and Nessebar. Other famous resorts include Albena, Golden Sands, Constantine and Helena, Slancev Briag, Pomorie. All this represents about 70% of Bulgaria's tourist accommodation capacity. If you love history and you like to start exploring the traces of the past, the holiday in Bulgaria at Veliko Tarnovo - the capital of the second Bulgarian empire (1185-1393) - is just for you.
Landmarks in Bulgaria – what to visit first
A stay in Bulgaria can mean relaxing at the beach or exploring dozens of attractions. It depends on what you propose and how you like to spend your holidays. Among the great attractions in Bulgaria is the Bojana Church of Sofia; Equestrian Relief of the Knight of Madara; The cave church in Ivanovo; The Tomb of Kazanlak; Old Nessebar Town; Monastery of the Rila Mountains; National Park of the Pirin Mountains; The Srebarna Nature Reserve and the Thracian tomb at Sveštari / Daosdava. All of these attractions of Bulgaria are all part of UNESCO World Heritage.
Country population
Bulgaria has 8 million inhabitants, his capital - Sofia - rich almost 1.5 million inhabitants, and Varna's capital city, register 450,000 inhabitants. The official language is Bulgarian, a language that belongs to the Slavic family, but you will hear very often speaking English. In some places, even Romanian. The population is an Orthodox Christian, but there are other beliefs such as Islam, Catholicism, Judaism, etc.
CREDIT CARDS: International credit cards can be used in major hotels, car rental centers, shopping centers and some restaurants. However, it is advisable to go on holiday with cash so you can buy souvenirs and other commodities from the markets, so you can pay for services in some restaurants, bars and smaller shops. Generally, in major hotels, car rental locations, and some restaurants and shopping centers, you can use the main international credit cards to pay for services. In general, accepted credit cards are displayed at entrance of hotels.
CURRENCY: The currency of Bulgaria is LEVA having under its stotinki unit. 1 LEVA = 100 Stotinki. All payments are made in national currency. The banknotes are 1, 2, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva and the coins of 1, 2, 5, 20 and 50 stotinki. It is recommended that currency exchange be made at currency exchange offices, hotel reception, airport or bank.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS: you do not need a passport to spend your holiday in Bulgaria, just a identity card. However, every citizen is obliged to have the financial means necessary for him to stay and leave the country. Bulgarian customs rules are similar to Romanians rules: you can cross the border with reasonable amounts of food, alcohol, cigarettes, etc ...
How to get to Bulgaria
By car or coach. Inside the country, you can go by car, bus or train, if you choose for a more distant destination. Train tickets are cheap, but travels take quite a while. With regard to long-distance buses, the price of a trip is roughly the same as in Romania. It all depends on the route. There are about 20 road transport companies in Bulgaria with regular connections. In most cases, bus tickets are bought in advance. If, however, you do not want to opt for any of them, wanting to explore areas of Bulgaria where public transport does not arrive, you can always rent a car - the cost is about 30 euro / day. Thus, whether you are the active style or the style that likes to laze at the beach, an all inclusive holiday in Bulgaria is a pamper, hard to find in another European destination.
