25 Apr Looking for Great Value? Look to Bulgaria

If you’re looking for a cheap European break this spring, look no further than Bulgaria. This East European country with its Black Sea coastline has been quietly growing in popularity over the last decade. More and more people are discovering its stunning natural beauty and history. So come with us on a tour of Bulgaria.

But before we jump into today’s post, why not check out some of our other Sherpa Diary posts on Central and Eastern European destinations. Discover the ruin bars or Budapest, find out why Lodz is a forgotten jewel in Poland’s crown or why Austria is the perfect winter sports destination.

Now, on with today’s post.

The capital, Sofia

Many tourists skip the capital and head straight to the coast or ski resorts, but it’s well worth sticking this on your itinerary. The city is a mix of Eastern domed churches, Ottoman mosques and Soviet-era buildings and grand monuments. While Sofia can seem a bit austere on first impressions, the city has a youthful energy that will soon capture you. And just outside of the city centre you’ll find beautiful parks and gardens.

The Pirin Mountains

The Pirin Mountains are found in Pirin National Park. This great expanse of the outdoors is popular year round. During spring and summer hikers make their way along thousands of miles of pine forest trails, ascend more than 100 peaks over 2,000m, and swim in 176 lakes. Then when winter comes around the attention switches to Bansko. This is where you’ll find the epicentre of Bulgaria’s booming winter sports industry.

Mount Vitosha

Just outside of Sofia you’ll find Mount Vitosha. During the summer, residents of the capital come here to hike or picnic. You can also stay a few days as there are hotels and hiking huts along the way. The highest point is Black Peak, at 2290m. You’ll also find skiing here during the winter, but the ski resorts are a bit more primitive than what you’ll find in the Pirin Mountains.

Primorsko

You may well have heard of Sunny Beach – it’s now pretty infamous following a Channel 4 programme from a few years ago. But if you’re looking for a more authentic and slightly less hedonistic coastal town, we recommend Primorsko. The town’s two beaches are recognised as being the best in Bulgaria, and there are plenty of eating and drinking options to suit all travellers.

Sozopol    

Another great option on the coast is Sozopol. This is one of the oldest towns along the Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria. You can walk around the entire town in about 45 minutes. Head down to the quayside and you can see the trawlers unloading their catches. And unlike other far more developed Black Sea resort towns, Sozopol still retains all its quaint charm, such as with its stone build houses jutting out along the cliff edge.

Bulgaria Travel Insurance

Now for the boring bit! If you’re travelling within the EU, remember that your EHIC card is no substitute for travel insurance. The EHIC only covers emergency medical treatment on the same basis as each countries public healthcare system, which is often not as extensive as the NHS.

So if you want to make sure you’re not going to be handed a hefty bill after a hospital visit, buy travel insurance for Bulgaria. And it’s not only medical treatment that travel insurance covers. All Coverontrip travel insurance policies cover the following as standard:

• Cancellation and cutting your trip short
• Baggage and money cover
• Personal liability cover
• Personal accident cover

At Coverontrip, our Bulgaria travel insurance policies start from just £4.86 for 7 days of cover based on a 25 year old. Get a quote today and see how much you could save.