Top things to do in Bulgaria

Bulgaria might as well be Europe's best-kept secret. This country is very rich in history and in culture. At the same time though, it doesn't fail to keep up with modern times and offer the new generation vacationist an eventful nightlife.

First of all, there is a great deal of history to discover in Bulgaria. Early settlements include those by the Thracians, the Greeks, Romans and the Byzantians. Since the country has been under the Ottoman dynasty for a long time, the authentic Bulgarian culture has been oppressed. Foreign invaders would have succeeded in totally wiping off the Bulgarians's national and cultural identity, if not not for Bulgarian monks and intellectuals. These people came on to protect and preserve the culture and history of Bulgaria. They saved the jewels and other relics in the monasteries and later on managed to establish and develop a renewed sense of national identity among the Bulgarians. The monks and intellectuals taught illiterate people about the history of Bulgaria which has almost been forgotten after the long years of oppression. All these led to the uprising against the Ottomans and eventually to the National Revival Period.

During this time, art, music and literature began to flourish. If you're interested in seeing what's been left of this period in the history of Bulgaria (it's true, there are still a lot of traces left scattered all around the country), go to Koprivshtitsa and Melnik. This is where you'll find the best pieces of architecture, art, handicrafts from the National Revival Period.

If you want to visit museums, old monuments and other ancient structures, visit the monasteries in Sofia and Rila. Other historical hotspots are Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo. Be aware though that these cities have a great distance between each other, you'll find yourself traveling for a whole day just to get from one city to another sometimes. Don't worry though, because after you've been to these places you will have then experienced the highlights of what Bulgarian culture and history have to offer.

For nature trippers, I highly recommend going on the Pirin mountains. High altitude, but tracks and signposts are easy to find. Other hiking venues are the Rodopi and the Rila mountains.

Bulgaria has also got beaches along the coast of the Black Sea. The most frequented attractions are in Albena, Balchik, and Varna. Bar scenes are thriving in Sofia, Bourgas, Plovdiv, and other towns. Zlatni Pyasatsi has got a club on every corner that is open til around 6 in the morning. More locals frequent the clubs in Varna though, especially in summer. Veliko Tarnovo, on the other hand, is full of bars and student pubs, a really, really great place to go on a booze tour.

Finally, try out the local food. In some cases I didn't even have to shell out a penny. Some of the locals I've met during my tour were very hospitable and served me homemade food (One family even offered me a place to stay, for free!). Dinner in Bulgaria is a social occasion, and there's music played in many restaurants that guests can dance to.

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