We all know Spain for its scenic Mediterranean coast, interspersed with vibrant resort cities and hugged by crystal-clear seas, however if you happen to’ve been to the Iberian nation prior to now three or 4 years, you have in all probability observed how shockingly costly and busy it is turn into.
From a mean in a single day fee of $201 in Barcelona to unsustainable ranges of overtourism within the stylish trip island of Mallorca, the place anti-tourist sentiment has been dangerously brewing, we would not be the primary in line to board that flight.
Luckily, there’s an thrilling Spain dupe tucked away within the way more offbeat, lesser-known Southeastern nook of Europe inflicting fairly the commotion recently, and if we should add, it is means cheaper and fewer crowded:
Bulgaria Is All The Rage This Year!
When you consider Bulgaria, you in all probability conjure up photographs of wintry landscapes, Soviet-style concrete blocks, and Orthodox piousness.
While there’s some fact to that, one thing most individuals do not know is that it turns right into a summer season paradise within the hotter months.
Were you even conscious that Bulgaria’s shoreline on the Black Sea extends for an uninterrupted 235 miles and is lined with quaint seashore cities that simply could not be additional aside from the stereotypical grayed-out, war-torn model of Eastern Europe?
Or that, as an illustration, it is about as heat because the Mediterranean, if not hotter?
We child you not:
Some cities alongside the coast have a mean day by day most of 84.2°F and lows of 66.2°F, and if you happen to’re pondering whether or not to pack an additional jumper or two ‘simply in case’ it will get chilly, child, you higher save house in your carry-on for some extra swim shorts as a substitute.
Why This Lesser-Known Country Is So Trendy Right Now
It’s cheaper
It’s stunning
It’s not as crowded
This 12 months, The New York Times featured this a part of the world of their record of ‘finest locations to journey’ in 2025, whereas CEO for Europe-based journey company TUI was recorded stating Bulgaria ‘may rival vacation hotspots corresponding to Mallory and Menorca’ in summer season.
Newcomers are additionally taking to social media in droves to showcase Bulgaria’s magnificence: on TikTook alone, the hashtag #bulgaria alone has racked up over 2.5 million posts.
Users will share their captures of sandy seashores, sleepy coastal villages that appear frozen in time, and gorgeous nature but to fulfill the spoils of mass tourism.
Some of the most well-liked TikTook’s, nonetheless, consult with Bulgaria’s affordability as a seashore vacation spot, in comparison with Spain, Italy or Greece.
@heroiisa
BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE TO VARNA, BULGARIA✈️ Varna is among the finest locations to go to if you end up younger and on a price range!✨ All costs are in USD and primarily based on a sensible price range for BUDGET vacationers in Varna, Bulgaria💸 🏨Accommodation: $8 to $30/night time per individual if you happen to keep in a hostel dorm or share an residence or a double room in an inexpensive guesthouse/lodge with somebody. This is dependent upon the season, the decrease finish of the costs is for shoulder season (April-June or September-October) and the upper finish for prime season (July-August). 🍛Food: there are many choices for $5 to $12/meal. If you prepare dinner, you are able to do it even cheaper than this! ☀️Activities: $0-20 relying on what you wish to do! I didn’t spend a lot cash on actions in Varna as a result of there are lots of free issues to do however there are additionally some paid actions you are able to do relying in your price range. 🚌Getting there: You can get to Varna by bus or prepare from different widespread Bulgarian locations and cities like Sofia, Burgas, or Plovdiv. Bus and prepare tickets rely upon the route however are often very reasonably priced ($2-12). ✈️Flights: When it involves flights, you possibly can fly into Burgas, Sofia, Plovdiv, or Varna from many European cities with Ryanair or Wizz Air after which take public transportation to Varna. It’s additionally an choice to fly some other place within the Balkans and take public transportation from there when you have time for an extended journey.
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That’s an account by a single traveler, however Budget Your Trip, our personal most popular platform for monitoring costs throughout completely different international locations, corroborates that Bulgaria is certainly on the cheaper finish in the case of summer season locations.
More particularly, vacationers will spend a mean $27 on meals per day, until they’re touring luxuriously (in that case, they need to price range $73), and $72 on resorts, for whole week-long journey bills of $1,076 for 2 folks (or the equal in Bulgarian lev).
Where To Go In Bulgaria In Summer?
Sunny Beach
Nessebar
Varna
Burgas
Sveti Vlas
There are numerous world-class locations to choose from if you happen to’re skipping Spain and heading to Bulgaria this 12 months.
If you search Old World attraction and tradition, go to the picture-perfect, cobbled Nessebar. This walled metropolis occupies the top of a slim peninsula and has a wealthy historical past relationship again a number of millennia and comprising durations of Thracian, Greek, and Roman rule.
Its ensemble of Byzantine church buildings and fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the hotel-lined South Beach, a brief drive from the Old Town, has been awarded Blue Flag standing, owing it to its cleanliness.
Looking for a conventional seashore getaway as a substitute, Mallorca-style?
Sunny Beach just isn’t an island, although it’s, because the title signifies, a sun-drenched resort improvement unfolding alongside an azure Black Sea filled with seashore bars, the place beer prices as low-cost as $2, and a waterfront 3-star Hotel Zaara will solely set you again by $35-a-night.
Keen on an all-inclusive deal as a substitute?
HI Hotels Imperial Resort has nightly charges from a surprisingly reasonably priced $80 this June, all meals included, and entry to all resort areas, together with the pool and health heart.
We’re not going to misinform you: Sunny Beach can get a bit crowded in summer season, not because of an inflow of overseas vacationers however because of its reputation with Bulgarians (and the neighboring Romanians) themselves. So, for some peace and quiet and extra exclusivity, there’s Sveti Vlas to the northeast.
A laid-back yacht marina boasting a plethora of eating choices, and a number of other lengthy miles of untouched advantageous, golden sands, it has 5-star resorts from $66 per night time––try the Garden of Eden Complex.
For a metropolis break, our high picks are Burgas and Varna, the most important conurbations on the Bulgarian coast, and two bustling Black Sea ports well-known for his or her historic heritage––even the Starbucks in Varna is constructed on high of Roman relics!––and thriving nightlife.
They’re additionally the gateway to the coast, internet hosting low-cost flights from quite a few European locations within the excessive season, beginning in May.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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