Where To Stay in Bulgaria
Go to: Staying in Sofia | Varna, Bourgas, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and other major cities | Resorts | Smallest Towns and Villages | Mountain Huts
Staying in Bulgaria for few days isn't a problem at all - there are many hotels, hostels, private rooms etc. even in the small towns. If you are coming for few months finding accommodation might be more problematic because most rental properties are offered long term.
Of course you can always stay at a hotel but most probably they won't offer big discounts for longer stay. This page offers some basic directions about the major cities and important location in Bulgaria. As we gather data and impressions we'll be adding more specific info here, so it's always a good idea to bookmark the page. |
Staying in Sofia
It's very easy to find a place to stay in Sofia. There are a lot of hotels and many sites offer online reservations and reviews so you can just do a quick search and decide which one to pick. If you are looking for hostels, our favorite site for booking hostels is HostelWorld. There are many hostels in Sofia (and other cities) listed there with prices starting at €7 for a bed in a dorm room.
There is no problem to come without reservation either, you will still find a bed at decent price. There are many small hotels and hostels near the rail station and Lavov most square, opened all the time. Approach them with a bit more caution especially if you are with kids as some of them might be used for other purposes too (purposes that are not for kids if you understand what I mean). In the city center there is a hotel in every corner so there is really nothing to worry about.
Varna, Bourgas, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and other major cities
The situation in big cities is very similar to Sofia with hotels and hostels competing and giving good prices. Again, you can use HostelWorld or similar website to find a place suitable for your taste or just arrive here and search at the place. In most cities there are also private rooms offered by owners so you are likely to be approached by some of them if you stand for few minutes a rail or bus station. Usually it's better option to find something online and book in advance however.
Resorts
Many sea and mountain resorts here were overbuilt during the housing bubble and now there is no one to use them. The most notable examples are the mountain resort Bansko and the sea resort Sunny Beach, but most others are not very different. So feel free to bargain, don't let those people squeeze form you more than the market price. Depending on the season, you might be able to find bed & breakfast at the resorts for under €10.
On the other hand, if you are looking to experience real Bulgaria, just don't go to resorts at all.
Smallest Towns and Villages
Some villages and small towns are touristic places with some "rural tourism" houses that can be found on sites like Rural Bulgaria. So do a search online first and see if you'll find anything for the place you are going to. If you don't find anything, don't get desperate - there is a very big chance that the location has some hotel or private room offerings that are not listed online. You will find out when you ask locals - provided that you can find someone speaking your language.
In the event that there is really no place to stay (could happen if you are visiting an isolated village), you can probably stay in the nearest town or city. Remember, Bulgaria is small and almost no place is more than an hour away from a town.
Mountain Huts
Another possible option for near-mountain villages is to look for a mountain hut around them. Often the huts will be just 30-60 minutes hike from the location. They are typically in very beautiful places and are excellent option if you are coming for tourism.
Here is a decent site about the huts in Bulgaria. Don't rely on 100% accuracy as some huts often cease working without warning. Don't expect luxury from huts and make sure that you bring food with you unless you know for sure there is some kind of restaurant in the hut.