Bulgaria is in the TOP 52 Places to Go in 2025 in the New York Times ranking

Bulgaria is in the "New York Times" ranking of tourist destinations in 2025. The annual selection includes 52 countries for travelers, among which are destinations such as Greenland, Angola, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Amsterdam, Milan, Osaka, Washington, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, as well as the museums of New York, Los Cabos in Mexico, the Dolomites in Italy, the Lofoten Islands in Norway, Lumbini in Nepal, Toyama and Osaka in Japan, Delphi in Greece and others.

Travel to Bulgaria is becoming easier than ever, as visitors arriving from most European Union countries will no longer have to pass a border check, and soon this Eastern European country about the size of Virginia is expected to adopt the euro.

Once you arrive, a smart jumping-off spot would be Sofia, the capital city, an ancient cultural crossroads and home to the Triangle of Religious Tolerance, an area where Catholic cathedrals, Jewish temples, Muslim mosques and Orthodox churches sit together.

Later, hike through Rila National Park, a high-altitude wonderland, and visit the mystical Rila Monastery.

Save a day or three for Plovdiv, the country’s charming second city, with its buzzy nightlife.

Alternatively, climb the dramatic, cliff-side streets of the town of Veliko Tarnovo or relax at a Black Sea beach resort.

Just be sure to sample the many underrated Bulgarian wines along the way.

See the whole list here.