Bulgaria, a small country in southeast Europe, has a vivid cultural and historical heritage that is combined with beautiful geography and the result is a little known but increasingly popular tourist destination. Unlike many other European vacation destinations Bulgaria remains relatively inexpensive, though this will change as more and more discover this splendid holiday location.

Bulgaria has the distinct ability to offer vacationers a perfect holiday be it winter or summer. In the winter one might choose to visit Vitosha, Pamporovo, Bansko or Borovetz. Any of these popular ski resorts can offer the visitor state of the art lifts, unique runs, pro shops offering equipment rental as well as lessons and a sense that the mountains and skiing are integrated with daily life; many of the runs terminate in the village or near the front door of your hotel. These mountainous winter resorts are a popular destination for the British.

In the summer, tourists flock to the summer resort areas such as Nessebur, Sozopol, Golden Sands, Albena and more. These resorts are located along the coast of the Black Sea and are favorite vacation destinations among the Germans, Scandinavians and Russians. Many of these coastal resort areas are rich in history. Sozopol in particular, is one of the oldest towns on the Black Sea coast and can trace its history back to the Bronze Age.

More than 380 kilometers of coastline on the eastern Bulgarian coast is comprised of beaches of fine, golden sand, calm seas, natural dunes and mineral water springs. Endless tracts of beach lead to world-class resorts, and the average summer temperature is 28 degrees Celsius.

Less traditional but increasingly popular vacations in Bulgaria are focused on neither the sun nor the snow but rather on the growing trend of ethno-tourism and architectural-cultural tourism. These kinds of vacations offer a different sort of holiday where the tourist gets to interact and even stay amongst the local people in small villages and mountainous hamlets. This kind of vacation offers a deeper look at the country beyond the usual tourist trappings.

Hiking and biking vacation packages are also very popular in Bulgaria. These vacations allow the tourist to be more intimate with their surroundings and they offer an opportunity to fully appreciate the stunning beauty of the country. Unlike many other guided tours, a hiking or biking tour allows you to take the time you want to fully appreciate specific places and you can go off the beaten path, so to speak. Hikers and bikers can scale the paths and roads leading up the Vitosh and Rhodopes Mountains for a true challenge. The less active naturist might find traversing these hidden pathways by horseback to be more to their liking.

The largest city in Bulgaria is Sofia and while it is not huge it is a cultured and well mannered city. Filled with art galleries, museums, theaters and fine dining establishments, casinos, international boutiques and more, this green city is often overlooked by tourists but it is well worth spending a few days in this delightful city.