Bulgaria has always been a crossroads from Europe to the Middle East and Asia, and therefore in all historical periods it has been of interest to neighboring peoples who have left traces of their stay on Bulgarian soil. There are tombs of Thracian kings, theaters of the ancient Greeks, ancient Roman stadiums, medieval castles of the kings of the First and Second Bulgarian kingdoms, Ottoman mosques, etc. There are nine sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List on the territory of present-day Bulgaria.

The natural landscape of Bulgaria is very diverse. For example, the Balkan Mountains stretch across the country: from the farthest northwestern regions to the Black Sea coast. Mountains and river valleys occupy almost all of the western and southern regions of the country. The highest peak in Bulgaria and all of Eastern Europe is Mount Musala (2,925 meters above sea level) on the Rila Range. In the south of the country are the lowlands and low mountains of Strandzha and Sakar, in the north the territory is low-lying, and in the east is the Black Sea coast.

From a tourist point of view, modern Bulgaria is a diverse country that will appeal to lovers of several vacation destinations. In our Bulgaria travel guide we will tell you about the best beach and ski resorts, the main attractions, and the most delicious local cuisine. The time spent in Bulgaria will surely be remembered by its guests, because, according to the locals, their country is a paradise, as an ancient Bulgarian legend tells us: “When God gave the nations of the world their lands, he forgot about the Bulgarians. There was no free land left for them. And then he gave the Bulgarians a piece of paradise.”

Climate and weather in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located in two climatic zones – continental and Mediterranean, which largely determines the weather on its territory.

Most of Bulgaria has a continental climate, with hot and dry or moderately humid summers and moderately cold winters with rare snowfall. It is due to the presence of mountains that create a sharp contrast in weather over relatively short distances.

Since the Black Sea is relatively small, it is not the main factor affecting the weather in the country and forms weather conditions only on the coast. Thus, Bulgarian seaside resorts usually have warm summers, when the air temperature averages +28°C, but in some years it reaches +40°C. The winters are mild, with temperatures rarely falling below -2 °C.

In the mountains, the climate is more harsh, with summer temperatures ranging from +18°C to +21°C and winter temperatures of -6°C to -10°C, with very heavy snowfall and sometimes temperatures dropping to -30°C.

Southwestern Bulgaria has a subtropical climate with mild winters, during which there is more rain than snowfall, and hot and humid summers.

Spring in Bulgaria is often wet, but in March, in some snowy years, tourists can even find the ski season at popular ski resorts. The best type of recreation in spring is at balneological resorts, of which there are several hundred in the country, they are famous for their healing mineral waters – there are about five hundred sources of such waters in the country. The beach tourism season opens in May. The water in the sea is still quite cool, but the air temperature is already rising to +22 °C.

There are almost never big waves on the Bulgarian coast. At this time, many families with children vacation on the country’s beaches.

September in Bulgaria is the velvet season, and it is also a very pleasant time for long walks by the sea, excursions, hiking, and visiting various festivals.

In winter, Bulgaria has a very good ski vacation: there is a lot of snow in the winter resorts, the ski season lasts until the end of February – beginning of March. The air temperature rarely drops below -20 °C, and on average it stays within the range of -10 °C … -15 °C.

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The main attraction of Portugal is the capital city of Lisbon. Translated from the local dialect, it means “favorite bay”. Everyone who has visited this amazing city considers it to be one of the most wonderful in the world.

Hearing the name of such a natural attraction of Portugal as the Azores, many people do not even know where they are. In fact, this archipelago in the center of the Atlantic has won the love and devotion of those people who prefer peace and quiet, love diving and fishing, and prefer eco-tourism.

The description of such a landmark of Portugal as the Belém Tower can be found in every guidebook, because it was built in the distant XVI century. At different times, this place was used as a fortress, a powder magazine, a customs office, and a prison. Now it is open to tourists.

The Pina Palace, located in Sitra, may seem old at first glance. In fact, this landmark was built in the XIX century and its purpose is to copy the ancient architecture.

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is the longest bridge in Europe, over 17 km long. This attraction was opened in 1998. Today, the bridge is paid for.

The Chapel of Bones is the most unusual attraction in Evora. It is based on the skeletons of 10 thousand Portuguese Christians.

Santa Maria de Alcobaça Monastery is a Catholic building dating back to the XII century. This building gained its attractiveness and popularity among tourists due to its three-nave Gothic-style basilica and facade with pronounced Baroque features.

Crista Rey is a 28-meter-high statue of Jesus Christ that towers over the city of Almada. It is one of the landmarks in Portugal that was built with public donations. Its main idea is to ask the Lord to save the country during the Second World War.

Obidos Castle is one of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal,” which was built in the distant XII century. It was originally built as a military and defense structure, but fell into disrepair after the earthquake. Since the nineteenth century, this castle has been functioning as a museum.

Almendris – megalithic stones are considered to be the largest accumulation of vertically set stones on the Iberian Peninsula. 10 of them contain images, and four have small holes.

The Don Luis Bridge, which connects the city of Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. This powerful structure, 385 meters long, was built in 1886 for the movement of rail and road transport.

Quinta da Regaleira is a palace and park complex consisting of a neo-Gothic palace, a chapel, and a multi-tiered park. The upper part is a wild forest, and the lower part is a garden.

The Monte Tropical Garden, located on the island of Madeira, consists of a huge number of plants, as well as two artificial lakes. Peacocks and fighting Indonesian roosters can be found in this garden.

Guimarães Castle is considered a medieval fortress that was built in the 10th century to protect the local monastery. Later, the castle was converted into a prison, and since the late nineteenth century it has been declared a historical monument and is open to tourists.

Praia Beach and Marina is located near the town of Carvoeiro. It is famous for its exquisite beauty and is extremely popular with couples and the elderly.

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Geography and location

The main resorts of Albania are Durres, Vlora and Saranda. There are also many small towns along the coast, so there are a lot of options for recreation. According to many travelers who have visited Albania, the most beautiful and cleanest sea is in the southern part of the country, closer to the Greek border and the island of Corfu. It is also worth noting that the color of the water is very different: in the northern part of the country is washed by the Adriatic Sea and the water is blue and blue, and in the southern part – by the Ionian Sea, with water of azure blue color.

All resort places in Albania can be divided into several categories: “youth” – such as Durres or Saranda, where there are many clubs and beach parties; “calm” – small resort villages of the Albanian Riviera (Dermi, Himara, Cheparë, Borsh, Lukovë) and places suitable for families with children – for example, the bays of Vlora, Xamil, where there is entertainment for children and a comfortable family vacation is provided.

A special area in Albania is often distinguished – the Albanian Riviera – a number of tourist coastal villages, ranging from Pasala to Lukova.

What to do

Standard entertainment on Albanian beaches: jet ski rental, boat rental, diving, snorkeling, excursions to Albanian and Greek islands, restaurants, nightclubs, beach parties. Tourists are also offered many trekking trips to the mountains.

The main facts about Albania:

• Albania has more than 300 sunny days a year and 430 km of coastline, and the water temperature in the sea in summer is +25°C.
• Albania is a Muslim country, but there are no restrictions on clothing and behavior.
• Albania is a fairly safe country. According to many ratings, it is included in the top ten safest countries in the world with a population of up to 5 million people. And the murder rate is 2.5 times lower here.
• Albania is an inexpensive country. Compared to, for example, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Albania will seem to you the most budgetary.
• Albania is a country not spoiled by tourists. This fact is very important today, because many travelers try to relax where there are fewer tourists. This is especially true for the Mediterranean (those who have been to Dubrovnik will agree with us).

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