Bulgaria, a country with a historical and cultural heritage, and attractive natural landscapes, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. Tourism, as an industry, has been an important source of economic growth. In 2007 Bulgaria was visited by 5.2 million tourists, measured as outlined by the World Tourism Organization. Tourists from the top 3 countries - Greece, Romania and Germany, account for 40% of all visitors. In 2008 Bulgaria is estimated to welcome 6 million visitors.^[1] The country has historical cities and towns, summer beaches, and mountain ski resorts. New types of tourism, including cultural, architectural and historic tours, eco-tourism, and adventure tours, expand the range of services available to visitors.

Traditional tourism

Winter tourist centres, such as Borovetz, Bansko, Pamporovo and Vitosha are picturesque and popular ski resorts. The Bulgarian summer resorts along the Black Sea coast, include destinations, such as the summer resorts: Sozopol, Nessebur, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, Albena and St. St. Constantine & Helena. Some guests, such as the Germans, Russians or Scandinavians favour the summer beach resorts, while winter tourism, and the ski resorts, are the favorites of the British.

Emerging forms of tourism

Emerging types of tourist activities, such as "ethno-tourism" and "architectural-cultural" tourism, are increasingly gaining ground, catering to specialized tastes. These are new types of tours, which involve interaction with and living amongst the local people, in small mountain villages.

For the more adventurous, active recreation, involving mountain hiking and bike tourism, provides a close connection with nature. Climbers scale the granite mountains of Rila, Pirin and the Balkan. Hikers enjoy the mountains of Vitosha and the Rhodopes - the latter being the mythical birthplace of Orpheus. Mountain biking, and bicycle racing are also recreations, and Bulgaria is one of only six countries to annually host the official 1,200 km Randonnees - ultra-marathon bicycle rides patterned after Paris-Brest-Paris.

Cultural and historical tourism

Situated at the crossroads of the East and West, Bulgaria has been home to many civilizations - Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, Proto-Bulgarians, and Ottomans. Although Bulgaria is rich in historical artifacts, many of the museums and monasteries still need to be properly advertised and maintained, and some of the most interesting heritage sites may not be easily accessible, due to poor infrastructure. Yet, some visitors regard such "underdevelopment" as desirable - those who prefer to experience history first-hand rather than look at artefacts behind glass.

"100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria" is a Bulgarian national union established in 1966 to promote tourism among Bulgaria's most significant cultural, historic, and natural landmarks.

As part of this program, each chosen landmark has its own individual seal, which is used to stamp passport-like booklets issued by the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU). These booklets can be purchased at any tourist union center or at any of the one hundred selected tourism sites.

Depending on how many stamps they collect, tourists receive bronze, silver or gold badges. For example, tourists who visit twenty-five of the one hundred sites receive a bronze badge. Those who visit fifty earn a silver badge. And those who visit all one hundred sites are awarded a gold badge. Then, each August, the National Organizational Committee holds a lottery for the previous year's badge earners. Prizes include domestic or overseas trips, bicycles, tents, sleeping bags, and other travel-related items.

Some landmarks in the original program highlighted Bulgaria's Communist government, which collapsed on November 10, 1989. In 2003 the BTU removed many of these sites from the official list. (Both the original and current lists appear below.)

A variety of organizations and institutions participated in developing and promoting the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria. These include:

• The Bulgarian Tourist Union
• The Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria
• The Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria
• The Bulgarian State Agency for Youth and Sports
• The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
• The Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria
• The Union of Bulgarian Motorists
• The Bulgarian Red Cross
• The Bulgarian National Radio
• Bulgarian National Television.

The 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria

The Wonderful Bridges

The Boyana Church

The National Museum of History

Black Sea, the Kaliakra Rocks

The Bachkovo Monastery

Hristo Botev’s House in Kalofer

Pliska, the first Bulgarian capital

The Seven Altars Monastery in the Balkan Mountains

Cherni Vrah, Vitosha’s highest peak

The Balkan Mountains – the heart of Bulgaria

Sofia, Monument to the Unknown Soldier

Stalagmite of the Snezhanka Cave in the Rhodope Mountains

The Belogradchik Fortress and rocks

The Medieval Bulgarian Baba Vida Fortress - Vidin

Malko Tarnovo – centre of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising – Museum of History

1. Bansko — Velyanov House, Neofit Rilski Museum, Nikola Vaptsarov Museum, Art School of Bansko Icon Museum, Holy Trinity Church of Bansko.
2. Pirin — Vihren Peak.
3. Dobarsko village — Theodore Tyro and Theodore Stratilates Church.
4. Melnik — Historical Museum of Melnik, Kordopulov House, Rozhen Monastery.
5. Petrich — the Rupite Area, St. Petka Church, Samuil’s Fortress.
6. Malko Tarnovo — Petrova Niva Site, Museum of History.
7. Nesebar — Architectural Reserve, Archaeological Museum.
8. Sozopol — Archaeological Museum.
9. Varna — Museum of History and the Maritime Museum.
10. Devnya — Museum of Mosaics.
11. Veliko Tarnovo — Tsarevets architectural reserve, Museum of History, Arbanasi architectural reserve.
12. Svishtov — Aleko Konstantinov’s House.
13. Vidin — Baba Vida Fortress
14. Magura Cave.
15. Rocks and Fortress of Belogradchik.
16. Vratsa — Ledenika Cave, local Museum of History.
17. Okolchitsa — the place of Hristo Botev’s death.
18. Kozloduy — Radetzky ship-museum, Monument of Hristo Botev.
19. Gabrovo — Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex.
20. Bozhentsi village — Architectural Reserve.
21. Tryavna — Museum of the wood-carving and ethnographical arts.
22. Dryanovo — Dryanovo Monastery, Kolyu Ficheto Museum, Bacho Kiro Cave.
23. Dobrich — House of Yordan Yovkov.
24. Balchik — The Castle architecture park; Kavarna — Kaliakra Headland, Kaliakra Archaeological reserve.
25. Kardzhali — ancient town of Perperikon, local Museum of History.
26. Kyustendil — Vladimir Dimitrov - Maistora Art Gallery, House of Dimitar Peshev.
27. Ruen Peak in Osogovo Mountain.
28. Rila Monastery.
29. Skakavitsa Hut and the Seven Rila Lakes.
30. Lovech — Museum of Ethnography, Kakrina Inn, Vasil Levski Museum.
31. Cherni Osam village — Natural Science Museum, Troyan Monastery.
32. Teteven — Museum of History.
33. Saeva Dupka Cave.
34. Berkovitsa — Kom Peak, Museum of Ethnography.
35. Pazardzhik — Holy Mother Church, House of Stanislav Dospevski, regional history museum.
36. Panagyurishte — Oborishte Area, House of Rayna Knyaginya.
37. Peshtera — Snezhanka Cave
38. Batak — Museum of History.
39. Tran — the Gorge on the Jerma River.
40. Pleven — St George the Conqueror Chapel Mausoleum, Pleven Panorama, Regional History Museum.
41. Plovdiv — Roman Amphitheatre, Old Plovdiv architecture reserve, Ethnography Museum, Museum of History, St. Konstantin and Elena Church.
42. Perushtitsa — Museum of History.
43. Sopot — the Nunnery, House of Ivan Vazov.
44. Karlovo — Vasil Levski National Museum.
45. Kalofer — Hristo Botev National Museum.
46. The Botev Peak.
47. The Bachkovo Monastery.
48. Razgrad — Abrittus Archaeological reserve.
49. Isperih — Museum of History, Sboryanovo museum of history and archaeology, Thracian Tomb, the Thracian town of Chelis, Demir Baba Tekke — Sveshtari village.
50. Rousse — House of Zahari Stoyanov, Pantheon of National Revival Heroes.
51. Silistra — Museum of History, Medcidi Tabi Fortress.
52. Srebarna Nature Reserve.
53. Tutrakan — Military Tomb Memorial Complex, Museum of Danube Fishing and Boat-Making.
54. Sliven — House of Hadzhi Dimitar, National Textile Museum.
55. Sinite Kamani Natural park, Karandila Hut.
56. Kotel — Georgi Sava Rakovski’s Panteon and the Museum of Famous People of the Bulgarian Revival Age, Natural Sciences Museum.
57. Zheravna village — Architecture and Ethnography Reserve, The House of Yordan Yovkov.
58. Sofia — The National Museum of History
59. Sofia — Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
60. Sofia — National Church Museum of History and Archaeology of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
61. Sofia — National Palace of Culture.
62. Sofia — National Art Gallery.
63. Sofia — Institute of Ethnography and Museum maintained by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
64. Sofia — Earth and Men Museum.
65. Sofia — National Museum of Natural Science maintained by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
66. Sofia — Sport History Museum located in the Vasil Levski National Stadium.
67. Starosel village — Thracian Temple.
68. Sofia — Institute of Archaeology and Museum maintained by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
69. Sofia — the Zoo.
70. Sofia — National Boyana Church Museum.
71. Sofia — St. Sophia Temple.
72. Sofia — the Sinagogue and its history museum.
73. Dimitrovgrad — History Museum, the House of Penyo Penev.
74. Vitosha — Cherni Vrah.
75. Koprivshtitsa — Archaeology and History Reserve.
76. Sredna Gora — Bogdan Peak.
77. Klisura — Museum of History.
78. Osenvlag village — Seven Altars Monastery.
79. Samokov — Museum of History, the Nunnery.
80. Rila — Musala Peak.
81. Botevgrad – the Clocktower.
82. Skravena village, St. Nikolai Monastery, Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Ossuary of the members of Hristo Botev's depatchment.
83. Uhlovitsa Cave.
84. Pamporovo — Snezhanka Cave.
85. Golyam Perelik Peak, The Wonderful Bridges.
86. Zlatograd — Ethnography Complex.
87. Shiroka Laka village.
88. Trigrad Gorge, the Devil’s Throat Cave.
89. The Yagodina Cave, Buynovo Gorge.
90. Stara Zagora – the Neolithic Houses, the Roman Forum of Augusta Traiana, the Stara Zagora Defenders memorial complex, Museum of History.
91. Kazanlak – Chudomir Art and Literature Museum, Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak.
92. Shipka village - Shipka Memorial Church.
93. Shipka Peak — Shipka Park-Museum, Shipka Memorial.
94. Shumen — Shumen Fortress Reserve of Architecture and History, Founders of Bulgaria Monument, the local Museum of History.
95. Shumen — Tombul Mosque.
96. Pliska — Archaeological Reserve.
97. Madara — Archaeological Reserve.
98. Veliki Preslav – National Reserve of History and Architecture.
99. Yambol – the Ancient town of Kabile, Museum of History.
100. Elhovo — Museum of Ethnography.

1966-1989

List of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria from 1966 to November 10, 1989:

1. Bansko — the Nikola Vaptsarov Museum
2. Pirin — the Vihren Peak.
3. Melnik — the local Museum of History.
4. Burgas — the Petrochemical Plant.
5. Nesebar — Sunny Beach Holiday Resort.
6. Sozopol — the local Museum of History.
7. Varna — the Aladzha Monastery.
8. Varna — the Naval Museum and the Museum of Friendship among Nations.
9. Pobiti Kamani.
10. Kamchiya River’s debauchment – The Divers Monument.
11. Vidin — the Baba Vida Fortress.
12. Rabisha village – The Magura Cave.
13. Belogradchik — TheBelogradchik Fortress and rocks]].
14. Vratsa — regional historical museum.
15. The Ledenika Cave.
16. Kozloduy — the monument of Hristo Botev.
17. Okolchitsa — the place of Hristo Botev’s death.
18. Veliko Tarnovo — Museum of History, Tsarevets, Preobrazhenski Monastery.
19. Svishtov — Aleko Konstantinov’s House, the place where the Russian army crossed the Danube river.
20. Gabrovo — Mitko Palauzov’s House.
21. Gabrovo — Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex.
22. Dryanovo Monastery and Bacho Kiro Cave.
23. Tryavna — Museum of wood-carving.
24. The Balkan Mountains — Partisan Hut.
25. Kyustendil — regional museum of history, the Vladimir Dimitrov - Maistora Art Gallery.
26. The Rila Monastery.
27. Rila — the Seven Rila Lakes.
28. Kardzhali — The Lead & Zinc plant, the Kardzhali Dam.
29. Lovech — The Museum and Monument of Vasil Levski.
30. Troyan Monastery.
31. Teteven —Museum of History.
32. Kostina Area - Monument of Georgi Benkovski.
33. Golyam Izvor (Lovech Province) – The First Regional Revolutionary Committee in Bulgaria Museum.
34. Brestnitsa village – Saeva Dupka Cave.
35. Kakrina — Kakrina Inn Museum.
36. Berkovitsa — the House of Ivan Vazov.
37. Petrohan – Cascade and Monument of Georgi Dimitrov and Vasil Kolarov.
38. Pazardzhik — Stanislav Dospevski Art Gallery.
39. Mihaylovgrad – Museum of the September 1923 Uprising.
40. Batak — Museum of History.
41. Batak – Teheran Partisans’ Camp.
42. Velingrad — the House of Vela Peeva.
43. Bratsigovo — Museum of History.
44. Peshtera — Peshtera water power-station.
45. Panagyurishte — Museum of History.
46. Panagyurishte — the Oborishte Area.
47. Pernik — Regional Museum of History.
48. Kovachevtsi, Pernik Province – the House of Georgi Dimitrov.
49. Slishovtsi village – Partisans' ossuary.
50. Pleven — Military Museum, Kaylaka Park.
51. Plovdiv — Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.
52. Perushtitsa — Local Museum of History.
53. Kalofer — the House of Hristo Botev.
54. Karlovo — the House of Vasil Levski.
55. Sopot — the House of Ivan Vazov.
56. Klisura — Museum of History.
57. The Balkan Mountains — Botev Peak.
58. Hisarya – Local Museum of History.
59. Bachkovo village — Bachkovo Monastery, Asen’s Fortress.
60. Sredna Gora — Buntovna Commemorative Tourist Complex.
61. Razgrad — Abrittus Archaeological reserve.
62. Rousse — Tonka Obretenova’s House, Giurgiu-Rousse Friendship Bridge.
63. Silistra — Regional Museum of History.
64. Sliven — the House of Hadzhi Dimitar, the Art Gallery.
65. Kotel — History Museum.
66. Zheravna village — Architecture and Ethnography Reserve.
67. Karlovo — Karanovo Hill.
68. Sofia — Museum of the Revolutionary Movement.
69. Sofia — Dimitar Blagoev’s House.
70. Sofia – Georgi Dimitrov Museum.
71. Sofia — Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Archaeology.
72. Sofia — Museum of the Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship.
73. Sofia — National Art Gallery, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Crypt.
74. Vitosha — Cherni Vrah.
75. Kremikovtzi – the Metallurgic Plant.
76. Samokov — History Museum.
77. Rila — Musala Peak.
78. Koprivshtitsa — The Houses of Lyuben Karavelov, Todor Kableshkov, Georgi Benkovski, Yako Dorosiev, Dimcho Debelyanov, the Oslekov House.
79. Sredna Gora — Bogdan Peak.
80. Zherkovo Area - Museum and Monument of Chavdartsi.
81. The Balkan Mountains — Chavdar Hut.
82. Smolyan — Regional historical museum, the Smolyan Lakes.
83. the Rhodope Mountains — Pamporovo Holiday Resort.
84. the Rhodope Mountains — Persenk Peak, the Wonderful Bridges.
85. Stara Zagora — Regional Museum of History, Lenin Park.
86. Kazanlak — Museum of History, Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak.
87. Shipka Peak — Shipka Memorial.
88. The Balkan Mountains — Buzludzha Park-Museum.
89. The Balkan Mountains — Stoletov Peak, Monument of Liberty.
90. Maritsa-Iztok Energy Complex, Komsomolska Steam-Power Plant.
91. Balchik — The Castle, Albena Holiday resort.
92. Kavarna — Kaliakra headland.
93. Yastrebino village — Monument of the 18 Partisans and their supporters.
94. Dimitrovgrad — Museum of the socialistic construction, Nitric Fertilizers Plant.
95. Shumen — Regional Museum of History, House of Vasil Kolarov.
96. Madara — Museum of Archaeology and Madara Rider.
97. Pliska — Museum of Archaeology.
98. Preslav — Museum of Archaeology, Patleyna.
99. Yambol — Regional Museum of History.
100. A model co-operative farm of choice.