Undiscovered European Country: Bulgaria
3 min read
BULGARIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Bulgaria, our first stop on our Balkan tour, was a country that was not too crowded in terms of tourism and fascinated us with its calm and historical structure. I definitely recommend you to explore this beautiful country and learn its history, especially the magnificent buildings such as the brick domed structure built by the Romans in the 4th century, which is among the oldest buildings, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the Neo-Byzantine style in the 1880s, offer treasures worth exploring.
We allocated 3 days for Bulgaria and our route included the capital Sofia and the second largest city Plovdiv (Plovdiv). We set off from Istanbul with our own vehicle, passed through the Edirne Kapıkule border and reached Plovdiv in 4 hours. After visiting Plovdiv, we reached Sofia in about two hours. We explored Sofia for two days and Plovdiv for one day and stayed in Bulgaria for 3 nights in total.
It's a great time to explore the touristically unexplored parts of Bulgaria! This country offers an unforgettable travel experience with its historical buildings, impressive landscapes and delicious cuisine. We will share what we saw and experienced in 3 days in a way that will be useful for you, and you will discover many different places in this country full of history.
Stay tuned for the rest of the article where we will share our experiences about our Bulgaria trip in detail! Don't miss our articles for more information and tips about the places we visited, the sights we saw and the experiences we had. Get ready to discover the fascinating atmosphere and rich culture of Bulgaria!
How to Get to Bulgaria
We drove from Istanbul through the Kapıkule border crossing at Edirne — about 4 hours to Plovdiv and roughly 2 more to Sofia, which makes Bulgaria one of the easiest road trips into Europe from Turkey. If you're not driving, Sofia has direct flights from all over Europe, there are frequent international buses from Istanbul and neighboring Balkan capitals, and the Istanbul–Sofia night train is a slow but memorable alternative.
How Many Days Do You Need?
Three days is a comfortable minimum: two for Sofia and its surroundings, one for Plovdiv's old town — exactly how we split it. With a fourth day, add a trip to the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery in the mountains south of Sofia, easily the most spectacular sight in the country.
What to Eat in Bulgaria
Bulgarian food is hearty, cheap and very Balkan: try banitsa (flaky cheese pastry, the classic breakfast), shopska salad with its snow of white cheese, grilled kebapche, cold tarator soup in summer, and the surprisingly good local wine. Portions are generous and even Sofia's city-center restaurants are affordable by European standards.
Good to Know Before You Go
Bulgaria adopted the euro in January 2026, replacing the lev, and the country is now part of the Schengen area — check whether that affects your visa situation. Street signs use the Cyrillic alphabet, so learning a few letters pays off quickly. If you're driving, you'll need an e-vignette for the highways from the moment you cross the border, and tipping around 10% is customary in restaurants.
