Everywhere the climate is temperate and agreeable with long warm summers and normally cold winters. Climatic conditions are good enough for developing of seaside,mountain and spa tourism.

The richness and variety make Bulgaria very attractive. Its importance is due mainly to its geographical position because this country junctions the main routes which connect Western to Northern Europe with the Middle and Near East.

The great variety of landscape: high mountains,wooden hills,wide fertile plains and beautiful valleys as well as natural,mineral springs,wonderful Black Sea coast attract thousands of tourists every year.

Bulgaria has majestic mountains like  Rila,Pirin and the Rhodope mountain ranges which provide some of the finest highland scenery in Europe. Any season they are fascinating with their slopes,high mountain lakes,age-old trees and the crystal clear fresh air. During the winter Bulgarian mountains are good for skiers. During the other seasons  the mountains are visited by nature-lovers and climbers.

Rich in mineral springs whose waters are notable for their curative properties,suitable for successful spa treatment and recreation, Bulgaria offers lots of wonderful spa resorts. The largest number of mineral springs have been found in the Balkan range,the Sredna Gora Mountains, Rila, Pirin,the Rhodopes, Vitosha,Lyulin mountains and along the Black Sea coast.

There are hundreds of caves which guard their treasures connected to the underground world. The nature has chiselled splendid figures for lots of centuries. Some of the world famous best known caves are:the Magura Cave(notable for its rock drawings), Snezhanka(Snowwhite), Ledenika,etc.

The traditional beach resort holiday still is the most favorite holiday for many people. Resorts like Golden Sands, Albena and Sunny Beach are popular all over the world. Although in the last 15 years small peninsula settlements like Nessebar and Sozopol provide a more relaxing atmosphere. The self-contained holiday villages like Roussalka,Eleni and Dyuni are new tourist development attractive to families with children.

Many cultural attractions offer the foreign tourists lots of possibilities to visit and enjoy them. Plovdiv-the second largest city in Bulgaria is home to the finest collection of 19th c. architecture in the Balkans. The capital of Bulgaria,Sofia,is a God chosen place with its natural and convenient roads to rivers and seas, to Europe and Asia. Both cities,Sofia and Plovdiv,are cosmopolitan and ready to offer good opportunities for entertainment with their cultural places-museums,galleries,etc.

Trough the country there are many museums and monuments worth seeing. Churches and monasteries have been restored as tourist attractions as for instance:the Rila Monastery, the Bachkovo monastery and many others.

A number of old towns has been preserved as an example of Bulgaria National Revival architecture. Arbanasi, Koprivshtitsa,Kotel, Zheravna,Nessebar and Sozopol wonderful Revival houses are enjoyed by many tourists every year.

The medieval capital,Veliko Tarnovo, is another major tourist attraction. This remarkable town is amphitheatrically situated in the picturesque gorge of the Yantra River int he Central Balkan mountains.

Many archaeological monuments from different time have been excavated in Bulgaria. This country is the cradle of old civilizations. The earliest worked gold in the history of mankind was discovered in the Chalcolithic Necropolis near the town of Varna. The team of archaeologists discovered 265 graves,with a total of nearly 6 kg of 23.5 Carat gold fine objects. The exhibition which is in Varna Archaeological Museum is visited by thousands of tourists every year.

There is no doubt that Bulgaria as a tourist land has lots to offer to its visitors.

The official name of the country is Republic of Bulgaria and its government is a Parliamentary democracy. The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. There are mountains to the west and plains to the east. The people of Bulgaria experience cold damp winters and very hot and dry summers.

Other major cities include: Varna, Burgas, and Ruse. The major language is Bulgarian. Eight-five percent of the country is Bulgarian Orthodox; thirteen percent are Muslim; and two percent practice other religions.

The traveler will find that Bulgaria is a great stopover when traveling between Western Europe and Greece or Turkey.

The place to begin your visit is the city of Sofia where more than 1500 years of Orthodox Churches and (lovely old) cobblestone alleys are hidden in the midst of the city's wide boulevards.

Plovdiv houses Roman ruins and art museums and is a brief thirty minutes away from the magnificent Bachkovo Monastery. Rilas Monastery is found in the highest of mountains on the Balkan Peninsula and is considered a masterpiece of Bulgarian art.

Your visit will be complete by making a visit to the beaches of the Black Sea Coast.

It is suggested while making your journey from western Bulgaria to make a stop in the beautiful town of Veliko Turnovo.

First stop is Sofia where the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky was originally erected in memory of the 200,000 Russians who died in the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War. Here you will be delighted to find an impressive array of religious artifacts and paintings of icons: considered the richest of this kind of collection within the country. The collection is found by accessing a separate entrance left of the main church.

You may find antiques; handmade crafts and handmade lace and embroidery offered for sale at the markets surrounding the city square.

The focal point of Sofia is the Cathedral of St. Nedelya. Inside are beautiful frescoes “blackened” by soot. The church is a reconstruction of the fourteenth century original destroyed by a bomb that was part of an attempt on (then) Tsar Boris III's life in (the year) 1925. The Tsar was able to escape; however 190 generals and politicians were not so lucky

St. George's Rotunda is found in the courtyard behind the Sheraton Hotel and dates back to the fourth century. The church is one of Sofia's most significant sites. Along side it you will find a former Roman bath and the ancient remains of the town of Serdica.

The Church of St. Petya of Samardzhiyska provides layers of frescoes on its ceiling and upper walls. It is rumored that the church originally held the bones of Bulgaria's national hero: Vasil Levsky.

Walk up the way on Maria Luiza and make a left on Tsar Simeon to reach the Synagogue of Sofia. The synagogue has been beautifully restored and provides the visitor with a museum in the upstairs portion of the church where one may learn about the history of the Jews in Bulgaria.

The House of Parliament and the Royal Palace are found on each end of the Tsar Osvoboditel. Midway sits the Russian Church of St. Nicholas built in 1913. The church design includes five Russian Orthodox-style domes.

Museums may be found by heading down Suborna from St. Nedelya and taking your first left on Lege to reach the National Archaeological Museum. The museum “houses” artifacts and items from Thracian, Greek, Roman settlements dating back 2000 years.

The Royal Palace houses the National Museum of Ethnography which provides details of the Armenians' role in Bulgaria. The National Art Gallery considered Bulgaria's finest gallery of art is also within the Palace walls.

You may attain seats for the Ivan Vazov National Theater at Rakovski 98. The Cinemas will often show subtitled Hollywood Movies-the best places to try are Vitosha 62 and pl. Vasil Levski 1.

Smartly dressed Sofians roam the main streets and fill the bars along bul. Vitosha as well as the cafes surrounding the NDK.

Biraria Luciana features beer from seven different countries.

Karaoke is offered at Bibloteka where there are many reproductions of essays and old leather books.

You may find a number of interesting excursions traveling away from Sofia. In example, Rila Monastery was built by Holy Ivan of Rila in the tenth century.

The monastery is the largest and most famous in Bulgaria. The monastery was moved to its current location in the 14th century sheltering manuscript copying and the arts of icon painting during the Byzantine and Ottoman occupations. It remained a cultural oasis for five centuries. The current monastery was constructed between 1834 and 1837. Little remains of the earlier structure. It is suggested you examine the 1200 beautifully colored frescoes (on the central chapel). Also, visit the museum.

There are two options for accommodations in the area: Hotel Tsarev Vrukh is a newer hotel with luxury facilities. The hotel is 50 m down the way that follows alongside of the river behind the monastery. Or inquire about staying in a Spartan however heated monastery cell. Additionally, behind the (monastery) site there is a cluster of cafes, restaurants, snack bars and a mini-market.

Todor Kableshkov's movement of rebellion against the Ottoman rule began in the town of Koprivshtisa. The town is “secreted” away in the Sredna Gora Mountains. Today, the town is a center of historical cultural life. Folk festivals are held in May and continue through the middle of August. There are a significant number of well-preserved National Revival houses. Several museums were the former residences of the leaders of the 1876 uprising. The most notable museum is the 1845 structure of the Todor Kableshkov Museum House.

The house has a most impressive façade with carved ceilings and the personal possessions of the historical hero.

The next stop is Plovdiv. The city is smaller than Sofia however, is widely known as the cultural center of Bulgaria. The town has an impressive array of National Revival houses and charming cobblestone streets. Additionally, churches and mosques are tucked away in secluded areas.

Most of the sights and entertainment in the three hills are referred to as the Trimondium of the Old Town. One sight you will want to visit is the second-century Roman Amphitheater. Currently, its use is a venue for concerts and shows hosting Festival of the Arts in the summer and early fall and the Opera Festival in the month of June. Visit the Dzhumaya Mosque and the ancient Phillipoplis Stadium. The original gladiator's entrance of the Phillipoplis Stadium is amazingly still intact and a restaurant café (establishment) serves Bulgarian dishes on the stadium tiers. The Museum of Ethnography found at the end of the Suborna displays artifacts of Bulgaria. The perfect night spot is the fountain side café located in Tsentraini Park by pl. Tsentralen.

The Black Sea Coast is Bulgaria's most popular destination for foreign as well as native visitors. The coast is home to centuries old, tiny fishing villages with clear and secluded bays; seaside towns full of activity; and upscale resorts. In between, there are warm and sandy beaches in the south and rockier shores to the north.

Varna is a popular area with extensive beaches and a Mediterranean-like climate. Also there are well-publicized arts and music festivals drawing audiences from all around.

Nesebur is a museum town located at the top of the peninsula on the south end of Sunny Beach. The town is a break from sand and sun and has over the years successfully preserved its charm.

A walk through the historically significant Stari Grad begins with the third century stone fortress. The Byzantine gate and port date back to the fifth century.

The Archaeological Museum to the right of the town's gate, displays ceramics and icons of the ancient past.

The new Metropolitan Church of St. Stephen features well preserved sixteenth century frescoes.

Beginning at the town center, continue down Mesembria and take a right on Ribarska. Street kiosks selling fruit or small-sized meals are prevalent along the harbor.

Sozopol was settled in 610 BC and is considered Bulgaria's oldest Black Sea town. The resort, at one time was the choice resort for Bulgaria's artistic community. Nowadays it still caters to a creative set. Two nearby islands are St. Peter and St. Ivan. The best time to visit is at sunset.

Currently the country accepts the Euro and main cultural centers such as Sofia continue to modernize amidst a rich historical backdrop.

The country's continued growth in the tourist trade and expanding industrialization segment makes it a contender within the Eastern European market as well as a richly historical and culturally significant destination.