Travel In Bulgaria + Greece
Downtown Sofia
Monika's hometown is the capital of Bulgaria. We recommend you stay at the Hyatt. It's a brand new hotel, located at the heart of Sofia, with fabulous breakfast. Explore St. Alexander Cathedral, ancient Roman ruins, the changing of the Guard in front of the Presidency, art gallery - Kvadrat 500 or the many parks, including Boris Garden. Have a meal at Victoria, Made in Home, Skara Bara, Rakia Raketa Bar or Spaghetti Kitchen. Buy souvenirs at Craft Shop on 4 Paris Street, Sofia. If you need a tour guide, Monika can recommend a great one.
Old Town Plovdiv
Visit the second largest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv. In 2019, the city was named European Capital of Culture. Explore an Ancient Roman theater and see a play there, or walk the cobblestoned roads of Old Town Plovdiv or the artsy Kapana District. If you have more time, take a day trip to Bachkovo Monastery. Recommended hotel: the Ramada Inn.
Seven Rila Lakes
If you love hiking - you will find the famous 7 Rila lakes an unforgettable experience. Combine it with a trip to Rila Monastery. It's only an hour a half away from Sofia. You can also stay at Separeva Bania town (a spa town) overnight and stay at hotel: 130 Degrees.
Kavala, Greece
Greece is Bulgaria's southern neighbor. Only 4 hours drive from Sofia. There are also summer charter flights to several Greek islands and frequent flights to Thessaloniki (Greece 2nd largest city) and Athens (the capital). We highly recommend the town of Kavala and the UNESCO Heritage Site: Meteora. Recommended Hotel in Thessaloniki: Monasty; The beaches of Khalkidhiki Peninsula are great.