Car Rental Bulgaria - Exploring Bulgaria

Beyond Bulgaria’s central cities, one can drive to many smaller towns which offer an assortment of culture, history and unspoiled, natural beauty.

The Rodopi Mountains, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape with deep gorges and thick pine forests, are home to Bulgaria's most isolated and ethnically diverse communities. Thirty kilometres south of Plovdiv lies the ancient Bachkovo Monastery, and further south you’ll find Smolyan, a large logging town which provides a good base for visits to the surrounding area. The ski resort of Pamporovo, 16kms northwest, is popular with package-tourists.

Further northwest from Smolyan is Shiroka Luka, a quaint village with stone houses, wandering goats and donkeys, and Bulgarian farmers. The village is well known for its traditional music, with a week long festival that takes place in mid-April.

Koprivshtitsa is a historically significant town with winding cobbled streets, bubbling rivers and wooden bridges, and minimal western influence. The House Museum documents the events of the Russo-Turkish War, which started in this city. The open-air Bulgarian National Revival Museum is also worth visiting.

The small fishing village of Varvara is situated 82kms south of Burgas. Every summer, artists and musicians come from Sofia to camp on the fields above the beach, an alternative gathering with laid-back entertainment.