Bulgaria is an undiscovered pearl for Dutch tourists in 2018! According to a survey among Dutch people published byvakantiedealz.nl in 2017, Bulgaria is not one of the most popular holiday destinations. Why is it worth going to Bulgaria? It has a pleasant climate, lots of natural beauty, beautiful cities, nice seaside resorts and ski resorts, well-preserved folklore, an interesting history, and a unique cuisine. Moreover, in 2018 the country is a cheap destination and Bulgarians are hospitable and helpful.
Break stereotypes
There are some prejudices about Bulgaria that can discourage potential holidaymakers. One of these prejudices is due to the presence of migrant workers from Bulgaria. In addition, there are many reports about Bulgarian criminals and bank card fraudsters. The image may arise that it is a poor and unsafe country. Moreover, Bulgaria is included in a list of the ‘unfriendliest countries for tourists’, namely the WEF Tourism Report. Are those prejudices true?
‘Poverty’ is not an argument against tourism
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-3.0) Bulgaria’s being ‘poor’ is not a criterion in tourism. In poor countries one can admire natural beauty, sometimes even more than in rich countries. Moreover, a poor country like Thailand is popular with Dutch tourists (according to a study of holiday destinations) because of its culture and folklore. And that is also the charm of Bulgaria! Moreover, ‘poverty’ also means that prices for Western tourists are low.
Bulgaria is safe
With media reports about Bulgarian criminals, one must remember that this is not proof that ‘the Bulgarian’ is a criminal. One must be careful in any holiday destination. However, according to the travel advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as of 2018), Bulgaria has no special security risks.
Bulgarians are friendly
The claim that Bulgarians are ‘unfriendly’ to tourists is based on the WEF Tourism Report. This is a 2011-2012 study published in 2013 by the World Economic Forum. It followed that Bulgarians themselves indicated that foreign visitors are not very welcome. However, the experiences of tourists on the 27vakantiedagen.nl site show a picture of hospitable and friendly Bulgarians. However, during our own holiday in 2017, the friendliness and helpfulness of the people were also striking. Tourists do not have to be deterred by a 2013 study, if they go to Bulgaria they can experience for themselves what the people are really like!
Now that the prejudices have been removed, it is clear that one can safely go on holiday to Bulgaria! What can you see or do there, what can you eat there, and what souvenirs can you buy there?
Source: Anthony Ganev:, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-3.0)
Nature tourism
Much of Bulgaria’s surface consists of forests, mountains, and lakes. But some examples of the many natural attractions include the following. In terms of mountains, the Vitosha Mountains are popular with residents of nearby Sofia. You can climb mountains, visit caves and a nature park. Another highlight are the 7 Rila Lakes . This is also in a mountain range. The aim of the mountain walk is to get a view of 7 crystal blue, large lakes with unusual shapes, such as the ‘kidney’. From the right point one can see all the lakes at once.
Cultural tourism: monasteries, villages and city trips
In the built-up parts of Bulgaria you can get acquainted with the culture and religion of Bulgaria, and with its long history. There are many old Orthodox monasteries spread throughout the country, richly decorated with frescoes and icons. A famous example is the Rila Monastery .
Villages are home to the country’s traditional culture. Koprivshtitsa , for example, is inhabited, but it looks like a 19th century settlement. The houses built during the ‘Bulgarian rebirth’ have been left intact. Another example of an interesting village, Kazanlik , is located in the so-called ‘rose valley’. In this region, roses are grown for the rose oil industry. Bulgaria is the market leader in this. Every year the rose festival takes place at the end of May and the beginning of June, where the rose harvest is celebrated with music and dance performed in traditional costumes. Smaller cities also have a historic character, such as Nessebar and Sozopol. Nesebar contains remains from ancient times, when the Thracians and ancient Greeks still lived there, the Middle Ages and the Ottoman rule. Sozopol is known for its traditional wooden houses.
Source: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)Source: Sapviktor, PixabaySource: Smarkov2, Pixabay For a relatively small European country, Bulgaria has many cities to experience culture, admire churches and learn about the country’s history . A well-known example is the capital Sofia. This city is home to many monuments and museums dedicated to virtually the entire history of Bulgaria, from ancient times onwards. There are also quite a few old communist buildings, which are used by current politicians in 2018. Central points in Sofia are the grand Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the shopping promenade Vitosha Boulevard. Another large city is Plovdiv, which also has monuments of the ancient Greeks and Romans. However, the cityscape is determined by houses from the time of Ottoman rule and the beginning of the ‘Bulgarian rebirth’.
Source: Www.vacacionesbulgaria.com, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-4.0)
Beach holidays
The Bulgarian East Coast is located on the Black Sea. The Turkish Black Sea is better known to Dutch tourists, but the beach is just as pleasant in Bulgaria and the prices are lower. Bulgarian seaside resorts are also fully equipped. There are seaside resorts that seem to be specially designed for the younger (school/student or that age) tourist from Western Europe. These have meaningful names such as Slantsjev Brjag (or Sunny Beach, also known as ‘Sunny Beach’) and Zlatni pjasatsi (Golden Beach, or in English ‘Golden Sands’). Both Sunny Beach and Golden Beach do not have a real town with local residents, they are purely tourist resorts. In addition to the beach, Goudstrand has other attractions for hikers, because it is located in a wooded area. If you want to visit cities during your beach holiday, you can visit coastal cities such as Varna, Burgas, Sozopol and Nessebar.
Winter sports holidays
Bulgaria has several resorts for skiing and other winter sports. Winters are harsh in the interior and mountain areas, so there is plenty of snow! Close to the capital Sofia, the Vitosha Mountains have winter sports facilities. Pamporovo is also a popular winter sports resort among the Bulgarians themselves. Enjoy skiing for lower prices than in Austria or Switzerland!
The Bulgarian cuisine
When people think of Slavic cuisine, they mainly think of flour dishes, (sauer) cabbage and sausage. This is, for example, the case in another Slavic (holiday) country, namely Poland). The uniqueness of Bulgarian cuisine, among Slavic cuisines, is that it is mainly shaped by Mediterranean and Turkish influences. Grilled vegetables are often on the menu. Instead of bread, banitsa is often eaten, which is similar to Turkish börek. In the summer months, the cold soup tarator is popular. It is made from yogurt and cucumber. Bulgarian yogurt is also special because it is made with a type of bacteria that only occurs in Bulgaria and nowhere else in the world. It therefore tastes different from yogurt that comes from elsewhere. Sauerkraut is also found in Bulgarian cuisine. It remains a Slavic country.
Source: Pastel100, Pixabay
Souvenirs and gifts
Many of the Bulgarian souvenirs have to do with folklore. Tourists will often come across Bulgarian ceramics. These are handmade and hand-painted in characteristic patterns. Hand-woven textiles can also often be found. Rose cosmetics are also for sale all year round, not just during the rose season. These are often perfumes, creams and oils that can only be bought in Bulgaria, made from local rose oil of the highest quality.