Six of the best: Bulgaria

Historic cities (including the Capital of Culture 2019), golden beaches, sweeping mountains with great-value ski resorts and many gems in between, Laura Gelder takes a look at Bulgaria

At the heart of Eastern Europe, Bulgaria's rich past is still evident in the ruins of its ancient fortresses, traces of neolithic settlements in the wild mountains and grand cities with Roman amphitheatres.

Add to that a significant coastline and multiple mountain ranges and you have several types of holiday covered!

City breaks

The capital Sofia isn't as popular as Prague or Budapest but that's part of its charm.

It's a modern city with an eclectic mix of onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques, Roman ruins and Soviet monuments.

European Capital of Culture this year, Plovdiv is also big on Roman history and, like Rome, straddles seven hills. It's Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city and its atmospheric old town is packed with colourful and creaky 19th-century mansions. This year is a great time to go, thanks to a huge programme of events.

Varna is the third-largest city in Bulgaria and the largest on the Black Sea. Its history is long and rich and there are many art galleries and museums as well as a packed calendar of cultural events involving folklore, music, ballet, opera and theatre.

The Black Sea

Bulgaria has around 230 miles of coastline around this inland sea and plenty of golden beaches from where to soak up the sun.

Its resorts are often associated with cheap and cheerful package holidays and there is plenty of choice. Developed Sunny Beach and Golden Sands remain the most popular resorts but there are other more low-key options.

Pretty Albena is a purpose-built resort sandwiched between a three-mile beach and the natural beauty of the forested Baltata National Reserve.

Just a short drive away from Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlaswill has one of Bulgaria’s blue flag beaches and the port of Marina Dinevi, a yachting marin,a with expensive resorts and fancy restaurants.

Nessebar has a UNESCO-listed Old Town as well as a beach, and its cobbled streets are lined with 18th-century wooden houses, Byzantine and Roman fortifications and baths, ancient churches and a traditional wooden windmill.

Winter sports

Bulgaria might not be able to match the Alps but what it lacks in size it makes up for with great value – the cheapest skiing in Europe.

Bansko is considered the best ski resort in Bulgaria with the longest runs as well as a rich cultural history and attractive old town set in Pirin National Park, about 100 miles from Sofia. The resort has recently seen the installation of modern lifts and new accommodation options with direct access to its 50km of slopes. Another option for winter sports is Borovets, which has 60km of slopes and 13 lifts.

Hiking heaven

Seven mountain ranges ripple across Bulgaria, home to wolves, bears, lynxes, stunning views and challenging terrain.

Pirin National Park has ancient pine forests, glacial lakes and limestone mountains with caves and waterfalls, as well as Bulgaria’s oldest tree, Baykuchevata, which is a staggering 1,350 years old.

The Rila Mountains are home to many iconic hikes including the region’s loftiest peak, Musala - 2,925 metres high. The hike can be fairly easy if you take the chairlift from Borovets, or a full-day trek. There’s also the Seven Rila Lakes, a series of pretty glacial pools which flow into each other.

In Central Balkan National Park is the 124-metre-high Raiskoto Praskalo Waterfall, the highest in the Balkans. Its name means ‘Spray from Heaven’.