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Tourist Places to Visit in Simitli, Bulgarian, Europe

Simitli is a small city belonging to the province of Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria and positioned at an altitude of 323 meters. It is especially noted for its rafting and kayaking activities and grand regional festivals.

Simitli is seat of Simitli municipality. The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God is the major landmark as well as tourist attraction in Simitli.

 

Geography of Simitli:

Simitli coordinates with 41°53′ N latitude and 23°7′ E longitude, is situated around 17 km south of Blagoevgrad and 115 km south of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.

The major localities of Simitli are:

• Brestovo
• Dolno Osenovo
• Gorno Osenovo
• Mechkul
• Gradevo
• Rakitna

 

How to reach Simitli?

Simitli is located on the E-79 which is an international highway connecting Sofia to the bordering Greece cities.

Simitli is catered by Sofia Airport which is the most important airport of Bulgaria located around 120 km from Simitli operating flights to major European cities such as Berlin, Vienna, Paris, London, Rome, Larnaca, Munich, Bucharest, Barcelona and Kiev.

Tourists can take taxi or bus to reach Simitli from the airport. Booking vehicle through online will be better to reach Simitli. Also buses are regular between Simitli and Sofia and the bordering Greece cities. To reach airport, tourist destinations and neighboring cities, tourists can use taxi or buses in Simitli.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Simitli:

Simitli attracts some adventure sport lovers from April to July for rafting and kayaking activities. Kukeri or Surva festival is also vary famous in Simitli celebrated in second weekend of January annually.

Simitli houses all the kinds of shops and upgraded restaurants and tourists can also reach neighboring cities for the better shopping experience.

 

Things to do in Simitli:

• Rafting
• Kayaking
• Participating in local festivals

 

What to see in Simitli?

 

Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God:

Being a prime religious site in Simitli, the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God is a white colored church known for its typical construction and holiness.

 

National Palace of Culture:

Located in 1 Bulgaria Square in Sofia, around 115 km from Simitli, the National Palace of Culture is a huge monolithic communist-style building. It is great to watch.

 

Boyana Church:

Boyana Church is a beautifully constructed church with history dating back to 14th-century and it also gained place in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located in Sofia featuring some well protected murals. The admission fee is 10 Lev.

 

List of other places of interest in Simitli includes:

• The American University in Bulgaria
• South-West University “Neofit Rilski”
• Pirin Golf Resort
• Dancing Bears Park
• Kordopulova House
• Popinolashki Waterfall
• St Teodor Tiron and Teodor Stratilat Church
• Baba Vanga Museum
• Bansko Ice Rink
• Ski Park Kartala
• National Art Gallery
• Museum of Paleontology and historical geology
• National Institute of Archaeology and Museum
• Cyril and Methodius National Library
• National Assembly of Bulgaria

 

When to visit Simitli?

From April to June is the ideal time to visit Simitli while the weather remains pleasant.

 

Where to stay in Simitli?

Simitli is a picturesque site housing several well facilitated hotels that serve guests with different facilities and services such as spa, LCD flat-screen TVs, refrigerator, walk-in closet, massage, facials and other beauty services. The reputed hotels in and around Simitli are listed here below:

• DiMario Hotel
• Hotel Nice
• Alpha Hotel
• Hotel Fenix
• Varosha Club Hotel
• Hotel Korona
• Havana Hotel
• Hotel Ezeretz
• Svetigeorgi
• Hotel Ertancom
• Hotel Pilevski
• Hotel City Blagoevgrad
• Rio Family Hotel
• Hotel Apart Blagoevgrad
• Guest House DI-2
• Hotel Park Bachinovo

Silistra Tourist Places to Visit in Silistra, Bulgarian, Europe

Silistra is a port city located towards the extreme northeast of Bulgaria at 44°7′ N 27°16′ E, around 140 kms from Varna, 240 kms from Burgas and 430 kms from the country capital, Sofia. It is the transportation and cultural centre of northeastern Bulgaria.

 

Geography of Silistra:

Silistra is situated close to the border of Romania on the southern bank of the lower Danube River at an altitude of 6 meters. The city of Silistra covers an area of 27.159 sq. km.

 

History of Silistra:

It is believed that, Silistra derives its name from Latin words ‘silo’ means ‘awl’ and ‘stra’ means strategy. Silistra was earlier called as Durostorum during the Roman period. Some historical identities of Silistra include an Ottoman fort, a Roman tomb and a medieval fortress.

 

Connectivity to Silistra:

Varna Airport is the closest major airport to Silistra, located about 135 km from Silistra and has scheduled flights to Vienna, Burgas, Sofia and seasonal flights to St. Petersburg, London and Moscow.

There are buses regularly available at the Varna Airport and also many tourist vehicles offer direct services to Silistra from the airport.

Varna is well connected by train to Sofia and by bus to Rouse, Dobrich, Shoumen, Razgrad and Varna.

Taxis, buses rental cars and bikes are options for local travel.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Silistra:

Generally Bulgarians dominate the population of Silistra, followed by Turks, Gypsies and other communities. Silistra Historical Museum and Silistra Art Gallery are the two major cultural centers in Silistra.

Silistra also houses numerous modernized shops and food corners that serve visitors with lot of love and care and accept cards other than local currency for tourist’s convenience.

Nikulden is a reputed restaurant in Silistra offering a variety of European delicacies.

 

What to do in Silistra?

• Visiting Museum
• Visiting Historical sites
• Walking

 

Tourist Attractions in Silistra:

Silistra Historical Museum:

Silistra Historical Museum describes the complete history of Silistra with the displays of photographs, artifacts and paintings of the Roman, Medieval and Ottoman era.

 

Silistra Art Gallery:

Silistra Art Gallery is located within the yellow color building. The art gallery holds the different art works of many renowned artists of Bulgaria.

 

Roman Tomb:

Roman Tomb in Silistra and dates back to 4 AD which is a well preserved tomb attracting tourists for its unique construction. The fort of Silistra is located in the vicinity of the tomb.

 

List of other places of interest in Silistra includes:

• Medieval fortress
• Ottoman fort
• Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria
• Tombul Mosque
• Madara Rider
• Holy Ascension Basilica
• Srebarna Nature Reserve
• The Dobri Voynikov Chitalishte
• Varna Archaeological Museum
• Museum of Ethnography in Varna
• The Eastern Orthodox Holy Three Saints Cathedral
• The Kabiuk Horse Museum
• Battle of Varna Park Museum “Varnenchik”
• Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium
• Nancho Popovich High School

 

Best time to visit Silistra:

The months between May and October will be ideal to trip to Silistra.

 

Accommodation options in Silistra:

There are hotels very few in numbers in Silistra compared to the other regions of Bulgaria; Silistra houses around 5 reputed hotels with all the latest facilities and services. Tourists can also find neighboring cities such as Varna and Burgas for better hospitality services. The prominent hotels in and around Silistra are listed here below:

• Silistra Business Center
• Hotel Vienna
• Hotel Bartimex
• Hotel Rody
• Hotel Serdika
• Hotel Drustar
• Danube Hotel
• Pelican Lake Guesthouse Environmental Project Centre
• Danube Lodge Guest House and Research Centre
• Hotel Queen
• Shepherd’s Arms
• Hotel Palermo

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Shumen, Bulgarian, Europe

Shumen is the capital city of Shumen Province in Bulgaria geographically placed between 43°17′ N latitude and 26°56′ E longitude, is a historical city housing numerous renowned sites such as the Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria, the Madara Horseman and the Tombul Mosque.

 

Geography of Shumen:

Shumen is spread over an area of 136.358 sq. km. is located at an elevation of 184 meters, about 420 km northeast of the national capital, Sofia.

 

History of Shumen:

Shumen was called as Simeonis during the 12^th century and the name ‘Simeonis’ may be derived from the Bulgarian emperor Simeon the Great. It was also called by the different names in the following years such as Şumena, Şumular, Sumunum and Şumen. Shumen was the site of the first Bulgarian symphony orchestra. The Shumen Brewery is the first brewery in Bulgaria which was established in the year 1882.

 

How to reach Shumen?

Shumen is located around 88 kms away from Varna and 125 kms away from Burgas. The major nearest airports to Shumen include Varna Airport and Burgas Airport, located around 82 and 132 kms respectively. Both theses airports operate seasonal flights to the major European cities. Shumen is 420 kms away from Sofia Airport.

There are regular buses plying between Shumen and Burgas and Varna. Shumen is also home to many travel agencies that offer car and bike for rent on day and hour basis.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Shumen:

Shumen is the site with many internationally renowned archeological sites, museums and educational institutions such as the University of Shumen Episkop Konstantin Preslavski abd the Vasil Levski National Military University.

Shops are plenty and the prime food corners in Shumen are listed here below:

• Gourmet Nirvana
• Choli
• Rimini Club

 

What to do in Shumen?

• Visiting Archeological sites
• Visit to the Museum
• Hiking
• Sport paragliding

 

Tourist Attractions in Shumen:

 

Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria:

Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria also called as the Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument was constructed to memorialize the First Bulgarian Empire’s 1300th anniversary. Bulgarian sculptors Krum Damyanov and Ivan Slavov were the designers of the monument.

 

Tombul Mosque:

Being a largest mosque in Bulgaria, Tombul Mosque or Sherif Halil Pasha Mosque is a historical mosque dating back to the 1740s. The mosque houses mural paintings of vegetable life and the dome of the mosque measures a length of 25 meters.

 

Madara Rider:

Madara Rider is a medieval rock art which was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It is situated near Madara village, around 20 km away from Shumen city and it can be reached by bus or rental vehicles. Madara Rider history dates back to 710 AD.

 

List of other places of interest in Shumen includes:

• The Dobri Voynikov Chitalishte
• The Eastern Orthodox Holy Three Saints Cathedral
• Holy Ascension Basilica
• The Kabiuk Horse Museum
• Nancho Popovich High School
• The Shumen Fortress
• Cafe Club Zino
• Varna Archaeological Museum
• Museum of Ethnography in Varna
• Battle of Varna Park Museum “Varnenchik”
• Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium

 

Best time to visit Shumen:

From July to September will be the ideal time to visit historical places of Shumen.

 

Accommodation options in Shumen:

Due to the visit of large group of tourists throughout the year, there are plenty of hotels established in Shumen and most of them are renovated recently with different tourist favor facilities such as AC, doctor on call, free Wi-Fi, 24 hour helpdesk and private bathroom. The major hotels in Shumen are listed here below:

• Rimini Club
• Bohemi Hotel
• Art Hotel Nirvana
• Contessa Shumen
• Hotel Shumen
• Hotel Madara
• Hotel Rai
• Osmarski Kashti
• Park Hotel Kyoshkove
• Hotel Solo
• Central Hotel
• Hotel Action
• Neon Guest Rooms
• Hotel Zamaka
• Hotel Minaliat Vek

 

Places to Visit in Sandanski, Bulgarian, Europe

Sandanski is a town and popular tourist location in Blagoevgrad Province in the south-western Bulgaria covering an area of 26.867 sq. km. It is situated on the banks of Sandanska Bistritsa River, around 65 km south of Blagoevgrad and 165 km south of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

Sandanski was named in the honor of revolutionary Yane Sandanski. Sandanski is renowned for its pleasant climate and thermal water springs which draws tourists from all around the globe.

 

Geography of Sandanski:

Sandanski lies at the foot of Pirin Mountains at the coordinates of 41°34′ N 23°17′ E at an elevation of 296 meters above sea level. Sandanski experiences a Continental Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and damp and mild winters.

 

Connectivity to Sandanski:

There is no airport in Sandanski, so the closest airport to Sandanski is Sofia Airport which is the most important airport of Bulgaria situated about 168 kms away from the heart of Sandanski.

Sofia Airport is connected with most of the major European cities including Madrid, Amsterdam, Moscow, Milan, London, Kiev, Paris and Frankfurt.

Sandanski has good connectivity with the rest of the Bulgarian cities as it is positioned on the major European Route E79. Also there are many tourist vehicles departing from Blagoevgrad and Sofia during peak tourist season. Minibuses and rental cars are commonly used for local travel in Sandanski.

 

Food and Shopping in Sandanski:

There are several modernized shops in Sandanski selling products like cotton clothes, perfume, sport shoes, gadgets and traditional handicrafts at affordable prices.

The major restaurants in Sandanski are as follows:

• Chavkova House
• Tavern Sandanski
• Sandanski Han
• Park Hotel Sandanski

 

Things to do in Sandanski:

• Hiking
• Visiting Historical sites
• Shopping

 

Tourist Attractions in Sandanski:

Thermal water springs in Sandanski:

There are many thermal water springs in Sandanski frequented by both domestic and international tourists throughout the year.

 

Melnik:

Melnik is the smallest town in Bulgaria in population but it is renowned for its historical buildings and wine production. Some historical structures in Melnik include the Ottoman konak, the Basilica of St Anthony, the Byzantine House, the St Nicholas Church, the Despot Slav’s Fortress and the Kordopulov House.

 

Pirin National Park:

Pirin National Park is a World Heritage national park covering an area of 400 sq. km. and is home to two nature reserves such as Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa and Yulen. It was established in 1962 and is situated around 105 kms away from Sandanski.

 

List of other places of interest in Sandanski includes:

• Byzantine House
• Rozhen Monastery
• Ottoman Konak
• St Nicholas Church
• Despot Slav’s Fortress
• Vihren Mountain
• Kordopulov House
• Basilica of St Anthony
• Bansko Safari
• Pirin Golf Resort
• Dancing Bears Park
• St Teodor Tiron and Teodor Stratilat Church
• Baba Vanga Museum
• Bansko Ice Rink
• Popinolashki Waterfall

Best time to visit Sandanski:

Sandanski can be visited between July and September while the weather will be supportive for outdoor activities.

 

Accommodation options in Sandanski:

Sandanski is well known for its natural attractions as well as well facilitated hotels that offer world class amenities and services for their guests. Most of the hotels in Sandanski serve guests with variety of traditional and international delicacies other than facilities and services. The prominent hotels in Sandanski are listed here below:

• Adjev Han
• Interhotel Sandanski
• Pirin Park Hotel
• Panorama Hotel Sandanski
• Medite Resort Spa Hotel
• Sokol Hotel
• Hotel Time Out
• Astra Sandanski Hotel
• Saint Vrach Hotel
• Mountain View Bulgaria
• Keremidchieva Kushta Guest House
• Park Hotel Sandanski
• Family Hotel Pautalia
• Alex Family Hotel
• OFIR Eco-Boutique Hotel