Bansko
Bansko is Europe's best-value ski resort, offering lift passes and equipment rental at a fraction of Alpine prices, with free summer hiking in Pirin National Park.
Country
Bulgaria
8 cities and towns
Bulgaria consistently ranks as one of the cheapest countries in the EU, with hostel beds, full meals, and local transport all available at prices that feel like a time warp. From Black Sea beaches to mountain ski resorts, the country packs surprising variety into a small, affordable package. Key destinations include Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Bansko, Nesebar, Sozopol, and Veliko Tarnovo.
Where to go
Cities and towns in Bulgaria
Each one with what it costs to spend a day there.
Burgas
Burgas is a laid-back Black Sea port city with a free beach, a sea garden park, and a strong base for exploring Bulgaria's affordable southern coast.
Nesebar
Nesebar is a UNESCO-listed old town on a tiny Black Sea peninsula, free to wander and packed with ancient churches and cobblestone charm.
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, offering a free-to-view Roman amphitheater, painted old town houses, and a creative district with affordable cafes.
Sofia
Sofia is one of Europe's most affordable capitals, combining Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, and Soviet-era monuments with dirt-cheap transport and meals.
Sozopol
Sozopol is a charming Black Sea fishing town with wooden houses on a rocky peninsula, free beaches, and seafood at local prices.
Varna
Varna is Bulgaria's sea capital, offering a free beach, expansive sea garden, and an archaeological museum housing the world's oldest gold treasure, all at Bulgarian prices.
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a dramatically situated clifftop medieval capital with a sprawling fortress, cobbled streets, and some of the lowest prices in an already cheap country.
Coverage of Bulgaria is still thin. The full list is here.
Browse all places