Travel Guide: Cheap flights to Bulgaria
Bulgaria Airlines and Airports
Airline and airport information plus insider tips for Bulgaria
Bulgaria is not usually regarded as a mainstream tourist destination like its neighbours Greece and Turkey, but its scenic Black Sea resorts and spectacular mountains are beginning to feature more often in travel brochures. This is due in part to an increase in awareness of the stunning natural beauty to be found here, but is also down to the wide variety of cheap flights to Bulgaria
A small country in south-eastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria has a great deal to offer visitors in the way of scenery, historic attractions, interesting traditions and warm-hearted, welcoming people. Its culture is so different to anything you'll have experienced before in Europe, you'll be amazed to think that cheap flights to Bulgaria take as little as three hours.
Its seaside resorts have long been popular with eastern Europeans; the excellent sandy beaches with safe bathing, warm, sunny summer days, and inexpensive food and accommodation are increasingly drawing holiday-makers from further afield, who can also choose from a good range of discount flights to Bulgaria.
Just as desirable, however, are the mountainous regions, which encompass six ranges and offer a variety of aspects from snowy peaks to forested slopes, mineral springs and fragrant valleys. In winter the ski resorts of the Rila and Pirin have become recognised as a good, less expensive and crowded alternative to Europe's better known options. If you and your travel companions have been lucky enough to enjoy cheap flights to Bulgaria, it could make skiing in Bulgaria a very inexpensive holiday option. These little villages tucked away in the mountains are a mine of colourful festivals and folklore, which the inhabitants are always willing to share with visitors.
There are lots of airports to choose from that offer cheap flights to Bulgaria. Apart from the usual London airports like Heathrow and Gatwick, Bulgaria flights depart from places like Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham too
Find the best flight prices to Bulgaria
When to fly to Bulgaria
Peak season:
Peak season at the coast is, naturally, summertime, with most visitors arriving between late June and early September. This is a time when flights to Bulgaria (and accommodation once you get there) are more expensive. Bulgaria's ski resorts are emerging as some of the best in Europe. The ski season runs from late December through to Easter. Sofia is a year-round destination, busiest in the summertime and around Christmas, but by shopping around carefully, you can usually still find cheap flights to Sofia around these times.
Off season:
A good time to find cheap flights to Bulgaria is in winter. This is when accommodation is at its least expensive, particularly at the seaside resorts around Varna. The weather isn't as good, but the scenery is still appealing
Getting Around
Buses are faster than trains and the network is far more extensive, however, it can be confusing working out where they are going and where you need to get off, as many drivers only speak Bulgarian. There are only two train lines, which run between Sofia and Varna and Sofia and Bourgas. The service is fairly poor.
Bulgaria Air also services routes within the country itself. Bulgaria flights are available between the main destinations of Sofia, Varna and Bourgas
Flying to Bulgaria
Major airports in Bulgaria include:
Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Varna International Airport (VAR)
Bourgas Airport (BOJ)
Airlines offering cheap flights to Bulgaria include:
British Airways
BH Air
Bulgaria Air
easyJet
First Choice
MyTravel Airways
Thomsonfly
Thomas Cook Airlines Airways
Wizz Air
In-flight Reading
A Concise History of Bulgaria
by R. J. Crampton
A good introduction to the country's history.
Balkan Ghosts, A Journey Through History
by Robert D. Kaplan
Insider Information on Bulgaria
Bulgaria flights also land in Varna ,the starting point for holidays in the Golden Sands region. As well as the stunning beaches, there are a number of interesting destinations around the town. The Stone Forest, or Pobitite Kamani in Bulgarian, is, as the name suggests, a naturally occurring 'forest' of stones. Limestone pillars, around ten metres tall, cover an area of approximately 13,000 square metres.
Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second-largest city and if you've found cheap flights to Bulgaria, you wont be disappointed with the many magnificent sights to see. Situated in the centre of the country, one of its main attractions is the incredibly well-preserved Roman amphitheatre. It is still in use today for concerts and operas during the summer months. A Verdi Festival takes place annually. Book tickets for events at the tourist office when you and your travel companions disembark from your Bulgaria flights.
Located on the south-east coast, Bourgas is the second-largest seaside town and a popular destination for those looking for cheap flights to Bulgaria. The city beach is huge. Take a walk along the pier, with views of the sea, port, beach and city.
The festival of Martenitsa takes place on March 1 and is the Bulgarian celebration of the start of spring. Bulgarians give each other red and white string or wood dolls, called martenitsi. These are tied to the wrist or pinned to clothes and worn until the person sees a stork for the first time that year - a sign that winter will not last.
Travel Tips
- Finding Cheap FlightsOur golden rules for finding a cheap flight
- Airlines with low-cost ticketsAn essential guide to how the main carriers operate
- Before You GoAdvice on everything you need to do before you set off
- Regional UK and Irish AirportsFlying from the four corners of the UK and Ireland
- Glossary of Flying TermsAn A-Z of common terms you’ll need to know
- Travel Sickness and DVTHow to stay happy and healthy in the air
Travel links
- Currency converterFind the current exchange rate
- WeatherThe weather in Bulgaria today
- Destination GuideLonely Planet's guide to Bulgaria