Bulgaria Holidays

Fairytale-style forests, historical cities, traditional fishing villages – Bulgaria’s one of the front-runners when you think about rising holiday stars. It’s still a relative newcomer, which means a mix of off-the-radar beaches, plus famous nightlife and spectacular mountain scenery. It’s less than four hours from Ireland, too, so flights are a breeze.

Made-to-measure Sunny Beach – set alongside an 18-kilometre Black Sea beach – is home to a legendary nightlife scene. In fact, it’s so synonymous with package holidays to Bulgaria, that the place has started competing with Spain’s big beach resorts when it comes to popularity. And, during the daytime, there’s something to suit every taste – from market stalls and football pitches to fairgrounds and massage huts.

If you’re in the mood for more laidback holiday experiences, you can head to Obzor. Days in this quiet, seaside town are centred on the sandy beach, which is a more chilled customer than Sunny Beach. And at night, you can check out a cluster of slower-paced bars and restaurants. If Bulgarian culture’s high on your priority list, there’s Nessebar, a UNESCO-protected town. This ancient place on the Black Sea coast boasts a rich history dating back to the sixth century BC.