Bulgaria travel guide

Inside the small Boyana Church are some of the finest frescoes in the world - the reason why it’s an UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s easy to see that the small church is made up of three sections. The oldest dating back to the 10th century with impressive mural paintings. When the second section was added the 13th century, the whole interior, including the first section, was done up with a new layer of even more impressive frescoes, which is today considered by art historians as predecessor of European rennanciane. The church went through a careful restoration in, so today you can see parts of both the original frescoes along with the second layer. The church stopped function as a church in 1954 and today only 8 visitors can see the interior at a time (but not that many visit the church

On trees and light poles you will see posters with a picture of a person. At first sight you might think it's a missing person poster, but is not. Those are the Bulgarian version of death announcements, which information about the funeral for the recently deceased - and they probably work better than a small notice in the local newspaper.

Mt Vitosha (2290m) is visible from all over Sofia. At the lower slopes you find some of the poshest neighbourhoods of Sofia, but higher up you find fine forest, hiking trails and ski slopes. One of the more accessible trail heads is the at Boyana village close to the Boyana church, which is an UNESCO World Heritage site. From here you follow several trails, one to Boyana waterfall and lake (about 4 hours return).

Little brother syndrome can strike any town playing second fiddle to the bigger and cooler capital city. Bulgaria's second largest city, Plovdiv, is a bit like this. While the town may not be as exciting as the capital, it's not without its attractions. The pedestrianized town centre is a pleasure to stroll around. And with an abundance of street-side cafes, bars and restaurants, you never have to go too far for nourishment. The flowery pastels of the new town are in stark contract to the nearby old town. With an ancient history, remains of Roman amphitheatre and a seemingly endless supply of odeons and stadiums are scattered about the slightly more modern medieval old town. It's a easy and convenient mix of old and newish to suit all temporal tastes.

UNESCO rarely gets it wrong. Amazing buildings, beautiful nature and cultural heritage fill the list of sites around the world. Nestled deep in the pristine Rila Mountains of South-western Bulgaria is the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila (aka Rila Monastery). There is little question to those that visit the nearly 1,000 year old site (rebuilt a few times), that the monastery is most worthy of its UNESCO honour. The beautiful building set with a dramatic mountain backdrop are the things that postcards were designed for. Some may dismiss it as touristic. But an overnight stay is well rewarded as the day-tripper leave the place virtually deserted once they head back the the capital. Serene, beautiful, cultural. It's what historical sites were meant to be.

The compact capital of Bulgaria is strangely captivating with its dilapidated worn beauty. Golden domed churches stand side by side with grey Eastern Bloc buildings and monuments. Though Sofia isn’t big on tourist sights, the city is a rewarding acquaintance with its flavours of both the East and the West. To really capture the spirit of Sofia, do as the locals, hang around in one of the many green parks. With towering Mt. Vitosha (2290m) right at the doorstep, you can also go hiking or skiing during the day and be back at Sofia in the evening relaxing in a bistro with a bottle of Bulgarian wine or a cold local beer.

Veliko Tarnovo was a place fit for kings... literally. The one time capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 and 1396) the "modern" town of Tarnovo abound with remnants of a mightier past. While the crown in the jewel, the ruined fortress of Tsarevets, is now little more than a collection of rocks on a hill piled around a rebuilt church, the setting is still lovely. But the town is not a one-hit wonder. A variety of churches, forts, cascading Santorini-esque buildings and museums provide more then enough to fill a couple days. Plus being on the main train line between Europe and Turkey can't hurt much. It is here that a traveller can get the best glimpse right into Bulgaria's royal past.