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Bulgaria

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When one thinks of traveling Europe, or vacationing in another country, many people do not often consider Bulgaria as their first choice; which is exactly why you should. Bulgaria, while still being a pretty popular tourism destination, is still vastly undiscovered by tourism en masse. It's almost guaranteed that visitors won't be experiencing large crowds, high prices, or basically any of the unpleasant side effects that comes with a globally renowned tourist hot spot. There are generally three types of tourists that make their way to Bulgaria, whether they come from Asia, inside Europe, or overseas. These types are the summer, winter, and culture or nature oriented tourists. The last category is the main group that's really beginning to establish Bulgaria on the map as a center for ecotourism.

For summer activities, many prefer the western coastal area of Bulgaria along the Black Sea. The beaches found there are not just the run of the mill sun, sea, and sand hot spots that can be found anywhere. Although Bulgaria is a leading destination, finding secluded beach areas will not be difficult. There are mixtures of rocky coastline, perfect for snorkeling, or for experienced divers to explore the local aquatic life. There's also swimming and tanning, for families and others who prefer to soak up the sun, rather than splash around.

The other main category of vacationers much prefers the chilly winter activities instead, which can be found in the many mountainous areas of Bulgaria. Skiing, though many consider an old fashioned past-time, is still very popular, and tons of fun. If you’re not into skiing, there’s snowboarding as well. Skiing and winter sports, while entertaining, are not the only thing Bulgaria's mountain region has to offer its visitors though.

Regardless of whether or not visitors consider themselves "ecotourists" specifically, this area of tourism is getting more popular every year. Instead of migrating to beaches and amusement parks, more vacationers are choosing hiking, bicycling and other activities that are just as attractive, in the country's natural environment. Rock climbing, "para gliding" or hang gliding are very popular in the Central Balkan mountains, for visitors who love to experience life on the edge. Or for families, touring the country's national park, and viewing indigenous, protected wildlife. Many new forms of tourism are gradually developing in Bulgaria as well, bearing titles like "ethno-tourism" and "architectural-cultural" tourism, but these are just euphemisms for people who would rather experience the historical and local cultures rather than lay around on the beach, despite the obvious benefits of that activity.

Quick Facts

Destinations

Albena Albena is an eastern-Bulgarian holiday resort located on the coast of the Black sea. Discovered as a popular tourist destination in the 1960s, much of Albena's buildings, streets and houses were purpose built to serve the booming tourism industry at the time. Some might feel that an area built w...

Sunny Beach The Bulgarian Riviera is adorned with holiday resorts, beaches, hotels and tourist attractions, yet what sets the Sunny Beach resort apart from the rest is its location near to just about everything that a visitor might want. Just south of Sunny Beach is the historical town of Nesebur, to the north ...