Border Crossing After two wonderful nights exploring the medieval hills of Veliko Tarnovo, it was time to cross the border into Romania, with our final destination being the capital city of Bucharest. While many travelers opt for long-distance buses, we decided to experience this international journey by rail. Crossing from Bulgaria to Romania by train is an […]
Bulgaria Perched dramatically across steep hills and divided by the winding Yantra River, Veliko Tarnovo is one of Bulgaria’s oldest and most captivating towns. With roots dating back to the 3rd millennium B.C., this mountain gem reached its golden age between the 12th and 14th centuries when it served as the glorious capital of the Second […]
Bulgaria After spending a quick night exploring the layers of history in the capital city of Sofia, it was time to head northeast toward our next major destination: the medieval mountain town of Veliko Tarnovo. While there is a railway connection between the two cities, taking the bus is widely considered the superior option for this […]
Bulgaria While many travelers skip straight to the beach resorts or mountain towns, Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, deserves a spot on every Balkan itinerary. Having just arrived from the historic hills of Plovdiv, we spent one night exploring Sofia and were immediately struck by how effortlessly the city blends its ancient, Ottoman, and modern histories. Dating back […]
Bulgaria After spending two wonderful nights exploring the artistic streets and ancient hills of Plovdiv, it was time to move on to Bulgaria’s bustling capital city, Sofia. While a railway connection exists between the two cities, taking the long-distance bus is widely preferred by independent travelers because services are significantly more frequent and highly reliable. The […]
Bulgaria While the ancient town of Plovdiv has no shortage of inner-city charm, some of Bulgaria’s most dramatic cultural gems lie just on its scenic outskirts. Nestled in the Rhodope Mountains are two must-visit historical icons: Bachkovo Monastery, the country’s second-largest Eastern Orthodox sanctuary, and Asen’s Fortress (Asenova Krepost), a medieval stronghold perched high on a […]
Bulgaria As Bulgaria’s vibrant second city, Plovdiv holds the incredible title of being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, spanning over 6,000 years of history. We were incredibly fortunate to travel all the way here after crossing the border overland from Turkey, and the city instantly captured our hearts. The magic of Plovdiv […]
Bulgaria As Bulgaria’s vibrant second city, Plovdiv holds the incredible title of being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, spanning over 6,000 years of history. We were incredibly fortunate to travel all the way here after crossing the border overland from Turkey, and the city instantly captured our hearts. One of our very […]
Border Crossing When traveling overland from Edirne, Turkey, to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, there is one critical rule every backpacker and independent traveler must know: the Kapıkule border checkpoint is strictly a vehicle-only crossing, and crossing on foot is completely forbidden. During our summer travels in 2023, a sudden hotel Wi-Fi crash left us without internet access the night […]