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While huge European hotspots like Spain and Italy are experiencing crazy overtourism and practically begging people to stay home, there’s an incredibly safe, beautiful country in Eastern Europe doing the exact opposite.
Bulgaria is still largely undiscovered by regular American travelers, but they see tourism as a good thing. Instead of putting up walls, they are rolling out the red carpet and actively trying to attract more international travelers.
If you want an epic European vacation without the suffocating crowds, this is it Bulgaria is ready to welcome you with open arms this summer.
It’s officially safer than you think
Let’s tackle the biggest question mark right away: safety. You want to focus on exploring ancient ruins and trying new foods, without nervously looking over your shoulder or worrying about your wallet.
The security on site here is of the highest level. Our traveler even voted The Safety Index currently gives Bulgaria a fantastic score of 85 out of 100. That puts it high on the list of the safest places in the region.
Don’t just take my word for it either. The US Department of State officially ranks Bulgaria as a Level 1 destination, which is the safest possible category, meaning you only need to “take normal precautions.”
A key reason for this peace of mind is that Bulgaria recently joined the Schengen Area, meaning the country is subject to strict, very stable European travel rules.
They have remarkably low crime rates and high security wherever you go.
You get all the convenience and safety of traveling through Western Europe, but with a fraction of the crowds and a much lower price tag.
They speed up the travel process
There’s nothing worse than dealing with endless paperwork and slow government offices when you just want to go on vacation.
Bulgaria understands that, and they’re making it easier than ever to get there. They want you to come visit.
- Fast visas: Just before the summer travel season, the Bulgarian government launched new measures dramatically speed up visa processing for international travelers.
- Boots on the ground: To ensure things move quickly, they’ve deployed dozens of temporary workers to major travel hubs around the world, just to meet demand and clear the queues.
Much more than just cheap beaches
For a long time, the few travelers who knew Bulgaria only went there for cheap summer beach parties or cheap winter ski trips.
But the country is on a mission to show the world that they have so much more to offer.
- The Year of Cultural Tourism: The government has officially declared this year the “Year of Cultural Tourism”. They deviate heavily from the ‘cheap destination’ label and instead push their incredible history.
- Ancient adventures: They actively open up breathtaking ancient archaeological sitesstunning historic architecture and huge local festivals to create great travel appeal.
- Spreading the word: They are currently pouring resources into massive digital advertising campaigns in Western markets and even organizing international press tours to show off the country’s hidden gems.
Catch it before it explodes
Bulgaria is highly motivated to let more people experience what makes their country so special.
Book a trip here now and you can explore the ancient history, vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes in peace and quiet, all while being backed by great safety records.
It’s the perfect time to visit before the rest of the world catches on.
My Bulgaria bucket list
I haven’t made it to Bulgaria yet, but I have a ton of traveler friends who went recently, and they absolutely blew up my phone with their recommendations.
Seriously, after looking at their photos it immediately jumped to the top of my personal travel list.
- Sleep in a monastery and walk on the Seven Lakes: Most people just take a quick day trip to the famous Rila Monastery, but the ultimate insider hack is book a room to stay overnight in the monastery itself. When you wake up, you can head straight into the mountains to hike the Seven Rila Lakes, which is easily one of the most beautiful mountain hikes in Europe.
- Drink craft beer in 8,000-year-old ruins: Plovdiv is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. They literally have a 2nd century Roman amphitheater in the middle of a modern city street. The idea here is to explore the ancient stones in the morning and then head to the Kapana district for great local wine and craft beer halls.
- Walk through the bizarre sand pyramids of Melnik: Melnik is the smallest town in Bulgaria, but its geography is completely wild. The city is surrounded by huge, naturally eroded sand pyramids that look like something out of a movie. You can walk the paths and then cool off under centuries-old trees with a glass of famous local wine.
