bubHolidays in Bulgaria
Where to go in winter and summer: ski resorts, Black Sea beaches, mineral spas for health and rest, monasteries and mountain villages. Each place has hotels, things to do and how to get there.
Hot springs & health
12 places →Bulgaria has hundreds of mineral springs, from warm pools to a 103 °C geyser. Many spa towns have treatment centres for joints, nerves, lungs and digestion. Open all year.
Velingrad
The “spa capital of the Balkans”: around 80 mineral springs in a green Rhodope valley, with spa hotels and outdoor hot pools.
- About 80 springs, 28–90 °C
- Open all year
Good for: Lungs, joints and movement, nervous system, gynaecological problems, kidneys, liver and digestion.
Open guide →Narechen Baths
A quiet spa in a green Rhodope valley on the road from Plovdiv to Pamporovo, known for its slightly radioactive (radon) water and treatment of nerves.
- Water about 29 °C, slightly radioactive (radon)
- ≈ 40 km from Plovdiv, 20 km past Asenovgrad
Good for: Peripheral nervous system, joints and movement, and diabetes. The medical pools need a doctor’s prescription; doses are set by the centre’s specialists.
Open guide →Hisarya
A spa town inside Roman walls, with 22 springs of drinking water famous for the kidneys. Public fountains are free.
- 22 springs, up to about 52 °C
- Drinking cure: bring a bottle
Good for: Kidneys and kidney stones, urinary tract, gall bladder, liver and digestion, joints; recovery after surgery. The cool Stublata tap is traditionally used for the eyes (folk use).
Open guide →Sandanski
The sunniest town in Bulgaria, with a mild Mediterranean climate and hot springs, famous for asthma and allergies.
- About 80 springs, up to 83 °C
- Mild climate all year
Good for: Bronchial asthma and skin allergies (the climate), joints and movement, central and peripheral nervous system, gynaecological problems; drinking cures for digestion.
Open guide →Devin
A small Rhodope spa town, home of the famous Devin mineral water, close to the Trigrad gorge and caves.
- Springs about 37–44 °C
- 710 m altitude, forest air
Good for: Digestion, gall bladder and liver, kidneys and urinary tract, metabolism and endocrine problems, skin, joints, nervous system; also sports recovery.
Open guide →Sapareva Banya
Home of the hottest spring in continental Europe: a 103 °C geyser in the town centre, at the foot of Rila and the Seven Rila Lakes.
- 103 °C geyser, lit at night
- Base for the Seven Rila Lakes
Good for: Joints and movement, peripheral and central nervous system, gynaecological problems, skin and upper airways.
Open guide →Kostenets
A spa town at the foot of Rila, with hot springs of 47–73 °C and a waterfall in the forest; the area also has Dolna Banya and Momin Prohod spas.
- Springs 47–73 °C
- Borovets ski resort 28 km
Good for: Internal and nervous system diseases, rehabilitation and general recovery.
Open guide →Pavel Banya
A spa town in the Valley of Roses, with hot springs and rose-oil therapies; close to Kazanlak’s Thracian tombs.
- Springs 50–61 °C
- Rose Festival in Kazanlak, early June
Good for: Breathing problems, spastic bronchitis and asthma, skin diseases, joints and movement.
Open guide →Varshets
A green spa town in the Balkan Mountains with one of Bulgaria’s largest parks, known for treating the heart and nerves.
- Warm springs about 36–38 °C
- Forest air, quiet
Good for: Heart and circulation, nervous system and stress, joints; prevention and recovery from fatigue.
Open guide →Bankya
A leafy spa suburb 15 km from Sofia, known since early last century for heart rehabilitation.
- Water about 37 °C
- Easy day trip from Sofia
Good for: Heart and circulation: rehabilitation and prevention.
Open guide →St Constantine and Helena
Bulgaria’s oldest seaside resort (1908), quiet and green, with hot mineral-water pools and spa hotels open all year.
- Mineral water pools
- 9 km from Varna, quieter than Golden Sands
Good for: Many spa hotels offer mineral-water and mud procedures and rehabilitation all year.
Open guide →Pomorie
A sea town on a narrow peninsula next to a salt lake whose healing mud has been used for centuries.
- Healing mud from Pomorie Lake
- Founded 2,500 years ago as Anchialos
Good for: Mud therapy for joints and skin, and the sea air for the upper airways.
Open guide →Kyustendil
An old spa town famous for its cherries and hot springs, near the borders with Serbia and North Macedonia.
- Hot springs about 74 °C
Good for: Airways, joints and movement, gynaecological problems; peat mud therapy.
Open guide →Mountains & villages
10 places →Monasteries, glacial lakes, rock formations and museum villages, best from May to October.
Rila Monastery
Bulgaria’s most famous monastery, founded in the 10th century deep in the Rila mountains. UNESCO site.
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Open all year; dress modestly
Melnik
Bulgaria’s smallest town, tucked among giant sand pyramids, with old wine cellars and the Rozhen Monastery nearby.
- Famous for Shiroka Melnishka wine
- Best in spring and autumn
Koprivshtitsa
A museum town of colourful 19th-century houses in the Sredna Gora hills, where the April Uprising of 1876 began.
- Six house museums on one ticket
- National folklore festival every five years
Belogradchik
Huge red rock towers rising above a little town in the northwest, with a fortress built into them.
- Belogradchik Rocks
- Magura Cave with prehistoric paintings 25 km
Bansko
Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort, under the peaks of Pirin, with a stone-built old town full of folk taverns.
- About 75 km of pistes, up to about 2,600 m
- Gondola straight from town
Pamporovo
A sunny, family-friendly ski resort in the pine forests of the Rhodopes, with gentle slopes for beginners.
- About 37 km of pistes
- Many sunny days, good for beginners and children
Sinemorets
The wildest corner of the Bulgarian coast: a river meeting the sea, empty coves and the Strandzha forests, near the Turkish border.
- Veleka river mouth beach
- Strandzha Nature Park
Velingrad
The “spa capital of the Balkans”: around 80 mineral springs in a green Rhodope valley, with spa hotels and outdoor hot pools.
- About 80 springs, 28–90 °C
- Open all year
Good for: Lungs, joints and movement, nervous system, gynaecological problems, kidneys, liver and digestion.
Open guide →Devin
A small Rhodope spa town, home of the famous Devin mineral water, close to the Trigrad gorge and caves.
- Springs about 37–44 °C
- 710 m altitude, forest air
Good for: Digestion, gall bladder and liver, kidneys and urinary tract, metabolism and endocrine problems, skin, joints, nervous system; also sports recovery.
Open guide →Sapareva Banya
Home of the hottest spring in continental Europe: a 103 °C geyser in the town centre, at the foot of Rila and the Seven Rila Lakes.
- 103 °C geyser, lit at night
- Base for the Seven Rila Lakes
Good for: Joints and movement, peripheral and central nervous system, gynaecological problems, skin and upper airways.
Open guide →Ski & winter
3 places →Bulgaria’s ski resorts are among the most affordable in Europe. The season runs from mid-December to early April.
Bansko
Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort, under the peaks of Pirin, with a stone-built old town full of folk taverns.
- About 75 km of pistes, up to about 2,600 m
- Gondola straight from town
Borovets
Bulgaria’s oldest ski resort, in pine forest under Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans, 70 km from Sofia.
- About 58 km of pistes
- Closest big resort to Sofia airport
Pamporovo
A sunny, family-friendly ski resort in the pine forests of the Rhodopes, with gentle slopes for beginners.
- About 37 km of pistes
- Many sunny days, good for beginners and children
Sea & beaches
9 places →The Black Sea coast has long sandy beaches, old towns and lively resorts. Best from June to September.
Sunny Beach
The biggest resort on the Black Sea: a long sandy beach, water parks and the busiest nightlife on the coast.
- About 8 km sandy beach
- Season: June – September
Nessebar
A 3,000-year-old town on a rocky peninsula, full of medieval churches, wooden houses and sea views. UNESCO site.
- UNESCO World Heritage
- New town has its own beaches
Sozopol
An old fishing town with wooden houses on a peninsula, two beaches and a relaxed, artistic feel.
- Old Town + Central and Harmanite beaches
- Apollonia arts festival in early September
Golden Sands
A big resort inside a forest nature park north of Varna, with a 3.5 km Blue Flag beach and lively nights.
- 3.5 km Blue Flag beach
- Some hotels have warm mineral-water pools
Albena
A green, well-planned family resort with a wide 5 km beach, shallow water and a forest reserve next door.
- 5 km beach, shallow and safe for kids
- Mineral water and spa centres
St Constantine and Helena
Bulgaria’s oldest seaside resort (1908), quiet and green, with hot mineral-water pools and spa hotels open all year.
- Mineral water pools
- 9 km from Varna, quieter than Golden Sands
Good for: Many spa hotels offer mineral-water and mud procedures and rehabilitation all year.
Open guide →Pomorie
A sea town on a narrow peninsula next to a salt lake whose healing mud has been used for centuries.
- Healing mud from Pomorie Lake
- Founded 2,500 years ago as Anchialos
Good for: Mud therapy for joints and skin, and the sea air for the upper airways.
Open guide →Primorsko & Kiten
Two relaxed beach towns on the southern coast, next to the Ropotamo river reserve and the Strandzha forests.
- Wide sandy North and South beaches
Sinemorets
The wildest corner of the Bulgarian coast: a river meeting the sea, empty coves and the Strandzha forests, near the Turkish border.
- Veleka river mouth beach
- Strandzha Nature Park