Tag: Food & Drink

Bulgaria just won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest with Dara's Bangaranga which had Vienna dancing the night away. And while the rest of Europe catches up with Bulgaria's Eurovision win moment, we'd like to suggest something: come and see what this Balkan country is actually like. Dara said in an interview that her Eurovision song Bangaranga was partly inspired by the Bulgarian tradition of kukeri (though the title means 'a joyful kind of disorder' in Jamaican patois). Kukeri (кукери) are masked costumed performers who do rituals to scare away evil spirits at New year and before Lent. After parading around the village, they gather in the main square to dance wildly and amuse people. This is just one of the rich traditions you can find in Bulgaria's mountains and villages. Why Bulgaria is more than its Black Sea resorts Bulgaria is not just Sunny Beach, or budget ski weeks in Bansko. It is one of the most biodiverse, historically layered, and spectacularly mountainous countries in the Balkans — and it is still, remarkably, underrated as a travel destination. More than 30% of Bulgaria's territory is covered by mountains, and some of the Balkans' most significant rivers run through it. Bulgaria contains 70% of Europe's bird species and 40% of its natural habitats. It is ranked third in Europe after Greece and Italy for archaeological monuments. It has more mineral springs than any country on the continent except Iceland. We are quietly delighted about that, and can be your trusty guide to making the most of it. We've started to run adventure and hiking holidays in Bulgaria in recent years, and we also offer tailor made trips crafted over the phone with real humans (us!). The country continues to surprise us. Here is what you should know before joining us: Bulgarian