Fly from Nice to Sofia

Set off to discover Bulgaria, alone or as a couple, safe in the knowledge that you’re in for a great holiday. Its population is welcoming, its culture rich and varied, and its capital young and dynamic. Brave the train, the motorways (even though they’re often far from perfect) and the side roads, to discover three countries in one…

• Urban Bulgaria’s cities and towns: Monuments, museums, shopping, great places to eat, stay or visit, and a good nightlife: Sofia it is not to be missed. With its picturesque old town and its Roman ruins, Plovdiv is unbelievably romantic. The former capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, built on hills, Veliko Tarnovo is dominated by the Tsarevets mediaeval fortress.
• Rural Bulgaria: Vitosha Nature Park, where the people of Sofia come to ski and hike, is the oldest of its kind in the Balkan Peninsula. Visit the Rila mountains, to see the splendid monastery that shares their name. Or fall in love with the Rose Valley, which from May to June is covered with flowers as far as the eye can see.
• Coastal Bulgaria, with its age-old fishing villages: Nessebar and Sozopol. These havens of cobbled streets and wooden houses are fully deserving of their place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

• Look up and admire the golden domes of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in the Orthodox world.
• See the Changing of the Guard in front of the Presidency Building, then go into the courtyard to discover the Church of Saint George, the oldest building in Sofia.
• Walk down Vitosha Boulevard, an endless pedestrian street and Sofia’s shopping paradise.
• Immerse yourself in the history of Soviet era Bulgaria by visiting the Monument to the Soviet Army or the unusual Museum of Socialist Art.
• Cross Eagles’ Bridge, then stroll around Borisova Gradina, a green haven in the city. This park offers tranquillity, nature, a Japanese garden and a zoo.
• Experience Sofia by night in a local club, such as Yalta Club, a favourite among top DJs, or Mixtape 5.
• If you’re visiting in the warmer months, do like the locals and take bus line 3 to Lake Pancharevo. Here you can enjoy pedalos and kayaking, take a dip, or just relax.
• Sample rakia, Bulgaria’s national drink, in the “Soviet” surroundings of Raketa Rakia Bar, or on the panoramic terrace of the Sense Hotel Rooftop Bar.
• Take a BDZ express train to Plovdiv. The journey takes 2h30. “Ancient and eternal” according to its motto, Plovdiv is the second-largest city in the country. Visitors can see ancient ruins, wooden houses and Belle Époque buildings. A superb sight!
• Cross the entire country in just three and a half hours’ drive, to see the two pearls of the Black Sea: the villages of Nessebar and Sozopol. They might remind you of Saint-Tropez, but without the jet set and sky-high prices.