I know I just brought up Albania in another thread but this is a different situation. I'm going to have to go to Bulgaria in a week or so to renew my visa for Turkey. I could go to Greece but I've been there before. I don't think I'll have time to go to Sofia but I'd like to go to Plovdiv. I may not have much time for that either because I don't know how long it will take, I may just have to go to Haskovo. Anyway, anyone been to Bulgaria or anything I should try or whatever while I'm there?
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Travelling to Bulgaria
- Thread starter NovaKart
- Start date
Veliko Tarnovo is pretty awesome. It's on the train line from Istanbul to Bucharest, so is easy to get to. I can't personally speak for other locations like Sofia and the Black Sea Coast, but I have it on good authority that they are not that great. VT is the way to go.
It seems like a bus from Istanbul to Sofia is about 18 hours which is too long and from the map Veliko Tarnovo looks even further or at least the same distance. Plovdiv is far enough but I'll try to visit if I have the time. I'd like to take a train since they should have a bed and I hate long bus rides so I'm looking into that now.
Well there are two main express trains that leave Istanbul as one. They split before Plovdiv (IIRC), with one going to Bucharest via Veliko Tarnovo, and the other to Sofia, via Plovdiv. It is a long train trip either way (the border with Turkey is pain, as you've first got the border checks, and then they must change gauge), but I'm fairly sure it's overnight; it is in the other direction, at least. The train has lots of young backpackers on it, which gives an indication that it's the most economic option.
See this page, actually, for details. Plovdiv is only about two hours closer to Istanbul. Times, of course, accurate to within six hours.
See this page, actually, for details. Plovdiv is only about two hours closer to Istanbul. Times, of course, accurate to within six hours.
I'm leaving for Plovdiv tomorrow inshallah. I'd like to go to Veliko Tarnovo but it just seems simpler to go to Plovdiv. I'm taking a bus directly from Bursa instead of Istanbul. Lots of Bulgarian Turks now live in Bursa so they have buses going there every day. It's really a last minute journey and I just have about 3 days. If I could make a day trip to Veliko Tarnovo from Plovdiv then I could go there but not sure if that's possible.
I have a Bulgarian friend who has said that Sofia is an extremely polluted city (although the rest of the country is awesome), and that it's rumoured that the bones of John the Baptist is in (if my memory serves me correctly,) Plodviv.
NedimNapoleon
Weird Little Human
Meh Bulgarian Rakia sucks, even Montenegrin rakia is better
NedimNapoleon
Weird Little Human
Most experts say Zuta Osa (Serbian) is the best and its the most expensive
How does Turkish rakı compare? Personally I don't really like rakia/rakı
I just looked it up and it seems like Turkish rakı is a bit different from rakia. Can you mix rakia? People normally mix rakı but it doesn't seem to affect the taste much. I don't really like it and it's anise flavored so it gives it kind of a spicy taste. The alcohol content is really high too.
I just looked it up and it seems like Turkish rakı is a bit different from rakia. Can you mix rakia? People normally mix rakı but it doesn't seem to affect the taste much. I don't really like it and it's anise flavored so it gives it kind of a spicy taste. The alcohol content is really high too.
NedimNapoleon
Weird Little Human
You can mix it but you can whined up in a hospital. Never mix Prepecenica. Prepečenica is double distilled rakia which has an alcohol content that may exceed 60%. Thats the hardest, most Rakia that you buy in stores is weak (according to my grandpa) because most have a 40% alcohol level but homemade (here everyone makes their own) have 50% but prepecenica has 60%. It may kill you, I heard stories that some people mixed prepecenica and died from alcohol poisoning
EDIT: I dont know much about Turkish rakia
EDIT: I dont know much about Turkish rakia
Isn't Plovdiv one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in Europe? Sounds like an interesting place to visit.
You know Nova for some reason i have always been fascinated by Bulgaria even though i have no links there, there was a kids TV program many years ago called "the wombles" and one of them was called great uncle bulgaria, since then i always wanted to see it, and also once i heard the mysterious bagpipe they have called a "kaba gaida" or great pipe, there is a similarly named "gaita" in my country of origin Spain, i have been wishing to go some day, although it is probably unlikely i will be able to go, but maybe one day if i am lucky.
Here is a great monument they have there in Shumen:
Link to video.
And the beautiful rhodopes mountain with kaba gaida music:
Link to video.
Have a wonderful time!
Here is a great monument they have there in Shumen:
Link to video.
And the beautiful rhodopes mountain with kaba gaida music:
Link to video.
Have a wonderful time!
Japanrocks12
tired of being a man
Could you explain why this is?
I'm in Bulgaria now on the hotel's computer. I have a lot to tell but I'll do that later, not much time.
about rakia - Turkish raki is normally mixed with water so I was just asking if that's ever done with rakia.
I went to the archaelogical museum and it said Plovdiv has been inhabited since 5000 BC but the oldest structures there are Roman and in ruins.
There don't seem to be any buildings here older than the 19th century, I mean maybe parts of some of the buildings like the churches are older but the current structures are mostly 19th century. The 2 mosques are pretty old I think.
It's cool that you're interested in Bulgaria Clement, why don't you think you can visit? It's not so expensive. I love the food, it's kind of like eating in Italy but without the expense.
Japanrocks, I can only stay in Turkey for 90 days and then I have to leave the country and re-enter or get a residence permit. Because I don't know how long I'm planning to stay in Turkey I just decided to leave the country briefly. Bulgaria or Greece were the closest and I've already been to Greece and I think the more interesting spots of Greece are a bit further away.
about rakia - Turkish raki is normally mixed with water so I was just asking if that's ever done with rakia.
I went to the archaelogical museum and it said Plovdiv has been inhabited since 5000 BC but the oldest structures there are Roman and in ruins.
There don't seem to be any buildings here older than the 19th century, I mean maybe parts of some of the buildings like the churches are older but the current structures are mostly 19th century. The 2 mosques are pretty old I think.
It's cool that you're interested in Bulgaria Clement, why don't you think you can visit? It's not so expensive. I love the food, it's kind of like eating in Italy but without the expense.
Japanrocks, I can only stay in Turkey for 90 days and then I have to leave the country and re-enter or get a residence permit. Because I don't know how long I'm planning to stay in Turkey I just decided to leave the country briefly. Bulgaria or Greece were the closest and I've already been to Greece and I think the more interesting spots of Greece are a bit further away.
Awesome, i love seeing old buildings, especially ancient buildings and ruins.
Sadly health reasons for the unforeseeable future, but who knows perhaps one day
