Bulgaria

Discover Bulgaria

Fun Foods

Kebapche , Moussaka, Banitsa, Shopska Salad, Bulgarian Yogurt

Bulgaria invented the alphabet you're reading right now. Well, technically the Cyrillic alphabet, but still. In the 10th century, Bulgarian monks created a writing system that's now used by millions of people worldwide. Not bad for a country most people can't find on a map.

For nearly 500 years, Bulgaria disappeared under Ottoman rule. The Turks conquered Bulgaria in 1396 and tried to erase it from history. But Bulgarians kept their language, traditions, and identity alive in secret.

In 1878, Russia helped kick out the Ottomans in a brutal war. Bulgaria was finally free again.

Then came the Communists in 1946. For 44 years, the government controlled everything from what you ate to what you read. Secret police watched everyone. Kids were taught that the Soviet Union was paradise.

In 1990, Bulgarians finally voted the Communists out, though the country's still recovering from decades of control.

Visit Sofia, the capital, to see the stunning Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with golden domes that gleam like something out of a fairy tale. Check out 8,000-year-old Plovdiv, one of Europe's oldest cities with Roman ruins kids can explore.

Hit the Black Sea coast for beaches that rival Greece but cost way less.

If you're visiting in winter, Bansko offers Europe's cheapest skiing, with runs for beginners and daredevils alike.

Every March 1st, Bulgarians celebrate Baba Marta Day by exchanging red and white thread bracelets called Martenicka. You wear them until you see a stork or a blossoming tree, then tie them to branches for good luck. It's like friendship bracelets meets superstition, and everyone participates.

Bulgarian food will surprise you. They claim to have invented yogurt, and honestly, theirs is so good they might be right. Try banitsa, a flaky cheese pastry that locals eat for breakfast.

Shopska salad is basically chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers buried under a mountain of white cheese.

And if someone offers you rakia, a fruit brandy that tastes like gasoline on fire, maybe just smell it politely. Bulgarians nod for "no" and shake their heads for "yes," which will mess with your brain for days.