Bulgaria is not a country you hear often in travel conversations. At least among Indians, it’s rarely mentioned. So, when I said I was planning to visit, many eyebrows were raised. But I’m glad I went—Bulgaria surprised me in the best way. In this post, I’ll share my experience and some tips if you are planning a trip.
About Bulgaria
Bulgaria is in the Balkans, Eastern Europe. For a long time, it was under communist rule as part of the Eastern bloc. In 1989, it moved towards democracy and today it is part of both the European Union and NATO.
Getting There
My journey began with a short flight from Athens to Sofia, the capital. Even though both Greece and Bulgaria are in the Schengen zone, the airline staff checked my passport carefully for the visa. Sofia airport felt small and manageable, and from there, the metro took me straight into the city.
Moving Around
Sofia has a very convenient public transport system. The metro, trams, and buses are all well connected. I liked how easy the payments were—just tap your card, and if you travel multiple times a day, the system automatically caps the fare to the day-pass rate. Google Maps worked perfectly for planning routes.
But once you go beyond Sofia, things change. Inter-city transport is not as smooth as in Western Europe. For popular spots like the Seven Rila Lakes or Belogradchik, public transport isn’t practical if you’re short on time.
My Four Days in Bulgaria
I based myself in Sofia and did day trips every day. Here’s what my trip looked like:
- Day 1 – Sightseeing in Sofia
- Day 2 – Hike to the stunning 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery
- Day 3 – A walk through history in Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities
- Day 4 – Rock formations of Belogradchik and Venetsa Cave
I booked all my tours through GetYourGuide. It was simple to use, reasonably priced, and flexible enough to adjust my plans depending on the weather. After my time in Bulgaria, I boarded an overnight bus from Sofia to Bucharest, Romania.
By the way, it is also possible to do day trips to North Macedonia and Serbia from Sofia. But it involves crossing immigration both ways as these countries are not in Schengen zone.
Money Matters
The local currency is the Bulgarian Lev. I exchanged a bit of cash because my hostel accepted only cash payments. For most other expenses, I used my credit card with zero forex charges, which was very convenient. From January 2026, Bulgaria will switch to the Euro, which will make things even easier for travellers.
Staying Connected
I used an Airtel international roaming pack. Data worked well, though for some reason I couldn’t make outgoing calls to India. Luckily, incoming calls and WhatsApp worked fine, and there was free Wi-Fi in most cafés, restaurants, and at my hostel.
Food
Vegetarians don’t need to worry in Bulgaria—there are plenty of options.
Language and People
Bulgarian is the official language, written in Cyrillic script (the same as Russian). But in tourist areas, English worked well enough for me to get by. People were friendly and helpful whenever I asked for directions.
When to Visit
If you’re planning a trip, I’d recommend April–May or September–October. Summers can get extremely hot—over 40°C—and winters are cold, with many attractions closed. Spring and autumn are the sweet spots with pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
Final Thoughts
Bulgaria turned out to be a great mix of natural beauty and cultural history. From mountain lakes to monasteries, from ancient towns to unique rock formations—it had it all. For me, it was a country full of surprises, and I left with memories much richer than I expected.
Leave a Reply