The best way to experience the warmth and culture that makes Bulgaria such a wonderful vacation spot in Europe is by spending time in any of the mountain villages and cities where culture still makes up a large portion of everyday life.
The Balkan Mountains are a wide region that spreads across the country from the east to west. To the south, the Rhodope Mountains make up the border with Greece. In fact, more than half of this country is made up of mountains, and the beauty is inescapable. To the west are the Rila and Pirin Mountains, with the Rila being the highest and most majestic, as well as housing the country’s famous monastery at Rila, as well as the Borovets Ski Resort, one of the oldest in the country.
Pamporovo is settled in the southern part of the Rhodope Mountains, and is the largest ski resort, as well as a great way to experience not only amazing ski conditions but the culture and folklore surrounding the town of Momchilovtsi, one of the more eco-friendly tourist destinations in the country.
You can visit the Pirin National Park, which is in arguably the most beautiful of the Bulgarian mountain ranges, or visit the volcanic mountain of Vitosha, rising above the sprawling capital city of Sofia.
Bulgaria is a country that boasts an extremely warm culture and friendly atmosphere. Dinners at restaurants are not simple undertakings. These are huge feasts where you might not know even a single person at the table but will nonetheless be greeted with a huge bear hug, a glass of rakia (the local fire water, grape brandy), and a hearty meal of cheeses, meats, breads, and more.