Bulgaria has become a country of international tourism. In ancient times, the Romans were attracted by the healing qualities of the Bulgarian mineral springs and its beautiful nature. The rise of tourism started at the end of the 19th century with the first tourist clubs. At the beginning of the 20th century the first mountain hostel was opened. At that time the first spas also started functioning. Foreign tourists began visiting Bulgaria because in spite of its small territory, the country has such a diversity of attractions and a harmonic combination of geographic and climatic conditions - beautiful coastline with golden sands, luscious vegetation, picturesque river valleys and gorges, many caves, and mineral springs various in their temperature and composition. The protected natural reservations are rich of rare plants, animals and rock formations. The traces of the past can be seen everywhere - archaeological, architectural, historical and ethnographic remains.
     After 1950 Bulgaria undertook an extensive tourist-resort building program. The number of beds in the mountain resorts was enlarged. New sea resorts and holiday camps were constructed. New modern spa treatment centers were built in the towns with mineral springs. The international hunting tourism is continually increasing. Tourism has become one of the most important trends of the Bulgarian economy.

Tourism varieties

     Seaside tourism is traditionally present in Bulgaria's tourist offer. Some 70% of the tourist flow are concentrated on the Bulgarian Black-sea coast. The bed capacity complies with this fact and some 60% of the country's bed fund are located in the seaside tourist complexes. The seaside resorts and the coastline towns offer varied options for family vacationing, rest and pro-active sporting. Supply includes practising of surfing, water ski, diving, underwater fishing, underwater archaeology, and other aquatic sport.
     The yacht ports in Balchik, Varna, Nessebar, and Bourgas offer opportunities for yachting with the necessary servicing and customs services. Routs have been devised for pedestrian, biking and horseback tourism, photo and eco tourism, visiting natural, archaeological and cultural landmarks, trips in Bulgaria and abroad.
     The following Bulgarian Black Sea resorts were awarded a 'Blue Flag' in 2003: Albena - branch International Youth Center - Primorsko, Zlatni Pyassatsi, Sunny day, Riviera, Nessebar - south beach, Pomorie - central beach and south beach, Primorsko - central beach and south beach, Kiten - central beach and south beach.
     Convenient ski runs and facilities for skiing tourism and winter sports are on offer in the mountains of Rila, Pirin, Rhodope, Vitosha, and Stara Planina (or Balkan range). The ski-season duration in the average- and high-altitude mountain resorts is up to 190 days. Ski runs' total length exceeds 80 km with level differences of up to 1500 m.
     Pamporovo, Borovets, Bansko and Aleko resorts have year-round functioning accommodation premises and a winter sports infrastructure (lifts, Alpine skiing and ski-going runs) undergoing renovation and development. In response to modern demand, new ski tourism centres are getting also established: Smolyan, Chepelare, Dobrinishte, Malyovitsa, Semkovo, etc.
     During the summer season, mountains in Bulgaria offer diverse options for active tourism and vacationing. Programmes are on offer for pedestrian, biking and horse-back tourism, hang-gliding and motor hang-gliding, parachutism, aquatic sports, rock climbing, spelaeology tourism, orientation competitions, scout camps, etc.

Balneology tourism

     Balneology tourism is a traditional component of Bulgaria's image as a tourist destination.
     Known in Bulgaria are more than 550 spots of 1,600 mineral water springs with a total debit of 4,900 l./sec. are known in Bulgaria. In its chemical composition Bulgarian thermal mineral water is distinguished for its great diversity. Prevalent is the slightly mineralised water of various physical-and-chemical composition, biologically active microelements, temperature, and healing features.
     This country has 102 officially declared balneology, mud-healing, and climatic resorts, of which 34 of all-national importance and 68 ones of local importance.
     Comfortable accommodation and servicing, medical treatment and prophylaxis in the spirit of modern requirements in the field are on offer at: the 'Dobroudja'**** hotel in Albena, the 'Ambassador'*** and the 'Imperial'***** hotels at the 'Riviera' vacation club in Zlatni Pyassatsi, the 'Palace'**** and the 'Marina'**** hotels in Sunny Day ('Slanchev Den'), the 'Varna'***** Grand Royal hotel in 'St. St. Constantine and Helen', the 'Globus'*** hotel in Slanchev Bryag, the 'Pomorie'*** Inter-hotel in the town of Pomorie, the 'Sandanski'**** and the 'Sveti Vrach'***** hotels in the town of Sandanski, the 'Augusta'*** hotel in the town of Hissarya, the 'Velina'*** and the 'Kamena'**** hotels in the town of Velingrad, the 'Velbazhd'*** hotel in the town of Kyustendil, etc.

Cultural tourism

     Thousand years old Bulgaria, spreading over some 2% only of the territory of Europe surprises every new visitor with its over 30,000 historic monuments (7 of which are included in the UNESCO world culture heritage list), 36 culture reserves, 160 monasteries, 330 museums and galleries.
     The ancient inhabitants of our lands have bequeathed to us a plenitude of monuments from different historic epochs: pre-historian finds, Thracian tombs, finds from the Ancient Greek times, Roman fortresses, historical monuments from the time of the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, architectural attractions from the National Revival period, which have shaped fully or partially the face of Bulgarian towns.
     The ancient Thracians who lived in our lands bequeathed to us the magnificent tombs in Kazanluk and Sveshtari, included in UNESCO's world culture heritage list, and also the Valley of the Thracian Tzars, where some 15 newly discovered tombs are located.
     The excavation works during the Archaeological Summer 2000 were crowned with new, sensational discoveries for the thracologists. The end of the summer saw intensive archaeological work on three sites, connected with Thracian culture in the Bulgarian lands. The tomb in the village of Starosel, Plovdiv region and the Thracian palace near the Perperek Fortress, Kurdjali region, were discovered.
     The tomb near the village of Storosel, Plovdiv region is considered to be one of the most sensational and representative finds of Archaeological Summer 2000. Specialists conjecture that this is the biggest preserved Thracian Tzar complex with a temple mausoleum in Southeastern Europe and they date some of the finds from the end of V-th and the beginning of IV-th century BC. The excavation works continue and scholars conjecture that the inside of the tomb has more surprises in stock.
     Specialists said that the Perperek complex turned out to be the Holy City of the Thracians, known from ancient written sources. The capital of the Odrisi (Thracian tribe) Kingdom is also dated from the end of V-th and early IV-th century BC. The first and only palace of a Thracian Tzar so far was discovered during the excavations. Archaeologists claim that the region has been inhabited ever since the Thracian times. According to Associated Professor Valeria Fol the Holy City in the village of Perperek is the only place in Europe, and may be throughout the world, where the separate civilizations did not destroy one another, but fitted into and developed on the basis of the preceding ones.
     The unique Thracian tomb in the village of Sveshtari, municipality of Isperih, included in the world culture heritage list of UNESCO, is opened for tourist visits with the assistance of the British Hedley Trust. It dates back from III c. BC and is remarkable for its figures and the preserved picturesque adornment.

     We are proud with our monuments of culture, which are included in the UNESCO list:

• The Kazanluk tomb - (IV-III c. BC)
• The Thracian tomb near the village of Sveshtari, close to Razgrad (dated from 2,300 years ago)
• The Madara Horseman (early VIII c.) - an equestrian figure, piercing a lion with his spear, engraved in a cliff-symbol of the Bulgarian statehood
• The Boyana church-frescos, dating back from 1259
• The Ivanovski rock churches (near Rousse), XI-XIV c.
• The Rila monastery - (X c.)
• The ancient town in Nessebur

     The monasteries and churches have preserved the Bulgarian spirit over the turbulent centuries in the national history. Today the most frequently visited monasteries are as follows: the Rila monastery, Bachkovo monastery, the Rozhen monastery, the Troyan monastery, the Zemen monastery, the Preobrazhenski monastery, Aladja monastery, etc. Some 20 of them offer stays to pilgrims and tourists. The hundreds of churches, which have preserved unique specimen of the Bulgarian iconographic, icon-painting and wood carving schools, ancient manuscripts, etc. are worthy of the tourist attention.
     Veliko Tarnovo, the Ancient Plovdiv, Nessebur, Sozopol, Tryavna, Koprivshtitsa and many other towns and villages offer the possibility to feel the Bulgarian Renaissance in combination with excellent conditions for recreation and tourism.
     Bulgaria's guests can become acquainted with traditional business activities for our lands - wine, attar, etc. production, to participate in a training course in a traditional craft for Bulgaria - embroidery, knitting, woodcarving, pottery, etc., to study authentic Bulgarian folklore. Visitors can acquaint themselves with different crafts, demonstrations and hobbies - courses are being offered at the out-of-door Ethnographic museum Etara near Gabrovo, the ancient quarter of Varosha in Blagoevgrad, Bansko, ethnographic complex Kulata in Kazanluk, the Ancient Plovdiv, Sofia and many others. The ethnographic complexes the Ancient Dobrich, Chiflika (near Albena resort), the ethnographic complex near the village of Brashlyan (Malko Tarnovo), etc. are of interest too.
     Arts lovers can enjoy a rich folklore calendar, including traditional holidays and customs, related to the Bulgarian way of life and culture, a multitude of folk gatherings and festivals.
     An impressive variety of colours and shapes, of masks and the rhythm of hundreds of rings and folk instruments are attracting more and more admirers of the magic of the Bulgarian folklore, at the traditional folk gatherings in Koprivshtitsa, Shiroka Laka, Rozhen, Predela and many festivals in the country, devoted to folklore and presenting authentic Bulgarian folk activities, as well as at the festivals in the city of Bourgas (held every year in the second half of August), the Festival of the Rose in the town of Kazanluk - (held every year early June), the Folk Festival in the town of Koprivshtitsa (held once in five years), the International Festival of the Kukeri and Masquarade Games in Pernik (held in January every even year), etc.
     Arts lovers can enjoy a rich culture calendar and visit prestigious international festivals in the field of theatre, cinema, ballet, opera, concert of world famous musicians, orchestras and formations, exhibitions, etc.

Ecological tourism

     A typical feature of the ecological and of the other sustainable types of tourism is the requirement for offering a varied and strongly individualised product. Regions of preserved natural resources are becoming popular through its development.
     Bulgaria's nature avails exceptional capacities to diversification of the Bulgarian tourist product and new types of tourism. The network set up of 3 national and 11 natural parks , 89 reserves and 2,234 natural landmarks, preconditions various types of specialised tourism: cognitive and nature-science tourism, photo-safari, observing birds and plants, rock climbing, alpinism, spelaeology tourism, etc. Mountains have good roadability; marked mountain paths total 37,000 km.
     The 'Bulgarian eco-paths' National Programme of the Bulgarian Association for Rural and Environmental tourism (BARET) is setting up a concept for equipping hard of access and picturesque territories in mountainous and semi-mountainous regions with bridges, rails, and staircases. Seven eco-paths have been constructed so far: the Negovan(ska) one - off the village of Emmen (Veliko Turnovo region); the Kroushin(ska) one - by the village of Letnitsa, Lovech district; the Tran one - the Erma river gorge; the Kopren(ska) one - off the village of Kopilovtsi, Chiprovo Mouintain; the South Rhodopean eco-path - with a starting point in the village of Yagodina, Borino municipality; the Vrachanska (or Vratsa) eco-path in the 'Vrachanski Balkan' natural park; the Dryanovo eco-path - with a starting point in the Dryanovo monastery.
     Environment-protection, visitors' and information centres have been set up for the needs of ornithology tourism: the nature-lovers' centre in Dragalevtsi, the 'Panichishte' visitors' centre, and the environment-protection centres 'Poda' - Bourgas, Madjarovo, and Karlovo.

Rural tourism

     Opportunities for rural tourism are offered in a number of villages in the Rhodopes, Pirin, Rila, the Balkan range, and the Strandja Mountain, as well as in the Dobroudja Plain, with well preserved olden crafts, architecture, and folklore. There is an ecologically pure environment and there are suitable places for accommodation.
     Programmes of various duration (of one or several days) are being realized. Tourists are put up in a village house where they are offered ecologically pure local foods and drinks. They also get familiar with the agricultural activities and with the local crafts. If they wish, tourists could take part in the daily chores of the farmers, as well as in brief training courses in the field of Bulgarian culinary and crafts.
     To diversify their stay, additional activities are also offered, like wine tasting, attending and partaking in a local folk holiday, riding, visiting architectural-and-ethnographic complexes, monasteries and churches, organising picnics, etc.

Hunting and fishing tourism

     Game reserve of Bulgaria is represented by 18974 red deer, 4200 stags of a fallow deer, 69795 rues, 1799 wild goats, 2066 mufflons, over 41536 hogs, over 930 bears, 2386 wood grouses, hares, partridges, pheasants. New raised populations of red deer and mufflons are very well developing, and ones of best examples are shot in our country.

     Excellent conditions for hunting of big game - deer, roe, hog wolf are offered in forestry:

• Aramlietz - Ihtiman Middle Mountain (Sredna Gora) approximately 50 kilometers away from Sofia
• Borovetz - northern slopes of Rila mountain 75 km away from Sofia
• Botevgrad - northern slopes of Stara Planina mountain, 60 km northeast from Sofia
• Vitinia - central part of Stara Planina mountain, 70 km away from Sofia
• Samokov - at the foot of Rila mountain, 60 km away from Sofia
• Borovo government forestry - West Rodopi approximately 90 km away from Plovdiv
• Zenda - West Rodopi approximately 100 km away from Plovdiv and other

     Fish diversity of Bulgaria is large and various. Possibilities for fishing of freshwater species like carp, trout, sheat fish, perch, maple, trot are offered in forestry:

• Ribaritza - north slopes of middle Stara Planina mountain, 110 km away from Sofia
• Cherni Wid - north slopes of middle Stara Planina mountain, 110 km away from Sofia
• Belogradchik - northwest slopes of Stara Planina mountain, 180 km away from Sofia
• Montana - northwest part of Stara Planina mountain, 120 km away from Sofia and other

     In Black Sea object of fishing are the following species: hausen, turbot, marine, grey mullet, and other.

     Over 1100 beds in over 110 chalets, hunting houses in forestry represent accommodation base meeting all modern requirements.

• Forestry Apriltzi - north slopes of Central Stara Planina at approximately 190 km, Kormisosh - Central Rodopi approximately 160 km away from Plovdiv
• Gabrovo - north slopes of Central Stara Planina 220 km away from Sofia give possibilities for business meetings, family tourism and horse tourism

     International hunting tourism is offered by forestry:

• Borima - north slopes of Stara Planina mountain approximately 170 km away from Sofia
• Pesidren - north slopes of Stara Planina mountain 150 km away from Sofia
• Lovech - foothill of Stara Planina mountain
• Nikopol - Central North Bulgaria about 210 km away from Sofia
• Teteven - north slopes of Central Stara Planina mountain 115 km away from Sofia
• Troian - north slopes of Central Stara Planina mountain 175 km away from Sofia
• Svogie - south slopes of west Stara Planina 40km away from Sofia

     In addition is also offered fishing, eco tourism, photo safari and visit of natural and historical sights in the area.