Things to Do in Bulgaria

Located in the mountains 117 kilometers south of Sofia, this 10th century complex dates back to the reign of the Bulgarian Tzar, Peter. Awe-inspiring photo opportunities present themselves both inside and outside the monastery walls, surrounded by the panorama of the mountain peaks.

This restored village houses 383 architectural monuments from the 19th century Bulgarian revival. Once championed by the communist regime, its festival is held every five years to preserve (and promote) Bulgarian folk culture.

More than 3,000 years old, some of this site's most important buildings – the Hellenistic temple of Apollo, the Thracian fortified wall and the Byzantine Stara Mitropolia Basicala – have survived. A key Byzantine town, it's also within walking distance from the famous Sunny Beach.

The Varna Museum is home to the world's oldest gold artifact (some 6500 years old), discovered in 1972 on Varna Lake. Equally noteworthy, perhaps, is a different, but equally enticing, sort of gold in the form of the city’s sandy beaches.

This 19th century church has 12 bells with a combined weight of 23 tons. And it's impossible not to be impressed by the glorious riot of colors created by its luxurious marble, onyx and alabaster interior. A true national treasure.