Where Spectacular Scenery and Ancient Traditions Clash Head On
Bulgaria Travel Photography Guide
Bulgaria at a glance
| Capital city: | Sofia |
| Population: | 7.2 million |
| Main Language(s): | Bulgarian |
| Currency: | Lev |
| Time zone: | GMT +2 |
| Electricity: | Type C |
| Dialing code: | +359 |
What to Expect
It's hard to travel to Bulgaria and not be impressed by the depth of its tradition, culture, and art. From ancient Pagan Kukeri festivals to spectacular cathedrals, Bulgaria is awash with cultural experiences to rival anywhere else in Europe. Even in the smallest rural villages, ancient churches are home to beautiful religious iconography and the most magical of festivals. Experiencing the mythical dancing of the Kukeri under fire light will transport you to another world. All of this is set amongst incredible landscapes of high alpine mountains, sheer cliff faces and mighty rivers.
Bulgaria's position in the heart of the Balkan peninsula gives it a moderately temperate climate with four distinct seasons. However within Bulgaria the climate can be as diverse as it's culture. From the temperate climate of the Danubian Plain to the high mountain passes of the Rila, Rhodope and Pirin mountains, where snow can be present for up to 8 months of the year, you can experience almost every possible climate with temperatures reaching over 40C in the summer or falling as low as -30C in the depths of winter.
Bulgaria is situated in the heart of the Balkans, bordered by Romania to the north, Macedonia and Serbia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria's total land area is approximately 42,800 sq miles. Given its relatively small size (approximately equal to that of Iceland), it has a wide variety of landscapes from the Danubian plains to high plateaus, the Rila, Pirin and Balkan mountains to low-lying basins and deep river valleys to the mild and sunny Black Sea Coast.