Where should we go in Bulgaria?

@AshAdu

If you're thinking apartments, I reckon you need one of the bigger cities. We're in Plovdiv, the former European Capital of Culture, and it has been a great choice. But you'll see as you're starting your visit here. Despite your concerns, I think Varna and Burgas are worth considering too. I don't know many of the smaller cities, but perhaps Veliko Tarnovo and Stara Zagora are also interesting options.

However, a lot depends on your budget. We have friends in Plovdiv, and they started off with a very nice, fully furnished 1 bedroom apartment in the central area - for 700 euros per month. Our apartment is in the Hristo Smirnenski district and we'd highly recommend it. It's close to the centre (10-15 minutes by bus/bike/escooter), and it has Mall Plovdiv, Kaufland/Lidl supermarkets, and easy access to Plovdiv's biking/walking network and three large parks/green areas (Regatta/Maritsa River, Youth Hill, and Bunardzhik Hill).

We have a vacation apartment in Bansko, and it's the largest ski resort here, with a very charming town centre, and a shiny new Billa supermarket. The Pirin National Park (just above the town) is spectacular. Razlog is right next door (5km) and between the 2 towns maybe 30k population and plenty of amenities. This might be good option too, especially if you like outdoors/snow sports.

Good luck!

Thanks very much for your quick detailed reply. I guess the bigger reason for an apartment is the lock up and go element if we were still to do an odd housesit each year.

Are rural houses normally safe if locked and left ? I have heard of many people buying and then just going on holiday initially & then retiring, so I guess they must be safe?

We are in Portugal at the moment but we have confirmed that  we have missed the boat with housing & rental prices rising exponentially here. But cost of living is still very reasonable.

@AshAdu

Hi Ashley and Adu,

Welcome to Bulgaria,

I am also new in Bulgaria but according to my search;

• If you want to travel by plane oftenly, better to find a place close to Sofia,
• If you want to discover all Bulgaria and want to live in a good city, better to live in close to Plovdiv,
• Burgas and Varna is an option to live near seaside and I think humidity is not too much as you guessed,
• But all these three options are most expensive ones. There is lots of smaller cities that living costs are lower. If you are a long term housesitter, better to live in small cities.

For the lock up and go is not safe in everywhere. But you can make a contract with COTs(Security companies)

@Kykers

Good points!

Wizzair and Ryanair have many low-cost flights from Sofia to all over Europe, so proximity is definitely an issue if you want to travel frequently (as we do). BUT (a) Sofia is very expensive, and (b) they also have a FEW flights from Plovdiv airport, and (c) Plovdiv is a very easy drive (90 mins door-to-door, usually traffic is not heavy) from Sofia airport. Airport parking is very cheap, or a limo service is maybe 75 euros each way (trains/buses are a few euros, but take 3-6 hours). The coast cities have few flights and too far from Sofia airport to be convenient. So Plovdiv still gets my vote! :-)

For lock-up-and-leave you can't beat apartments! We are very relaxed about our apartments, don't give them a single thought when away. Houses are always a source of worry, even when you have a secure house in a good village, as we do. And there are lots of not-so-good villages, and not-so-secure houses, And lots of storms and cold weather to blow your tiles off or flood your basement. Plus it depends whether you're leaving occasionally for a few days on the beach in Spain, or whether you're often away, for months at a time (word kinda gets around, I suspect).

If I wanted to travel a lot I'd also look at apartments rather than houses.

We don't live in our Bulgarian house yet, and over spring and summer, even leaving it a month between visits means coming back to a jungle of head-high weeds! Plus even in the nicest, safest, most crime-free village, houses left alone, as Gwyn said, can suffer significant damage in just a few months due to storms and cold. I'm always a little nervous what I might find when I turn the key in the door!

Plus an apartment would be far easier to rent out while you're not there, while that's not really an option with village houses.

You need deep pockets for a house to buy...or an old one that needs renovation.

The whole of bulgaria is cold in winter

With snow in most places and temperatures as low as minus 20

Summer can reach 40 degrees..the hottest is Plovdiv..

I love on the coast..not far from Burgas

A major town..with an airport and good bus connections..my town Pomorie. is 15 minutes from the airport.30 minutes from Burgas and the bus fare is 5 lev

Last june..July..august the rate was...

2.25.to £1..

A beer is 50p..cigarettes are £2.20 for rothmans..£11 in the UK...and that's from the high st.

Electric and water has risen this year but I cannot tell you by how much..that's my wife's dept.lol

We have SOT security in our apartment...and 2 front doors..one wood..and the other metal..with 3 sets of bolts..3 pins..then 4..then three.

7 in total...very secure..our security is 300 Lev per year...our service charges are 105lv per year..that's for lift and general maintenance.we are 5 minutes from the centre and the same for the beaches...and blue sea...and no snow in winter...but we dont visit often in winter..although I did have a petchka

Kamina installed..3000 Lev..but a posh one..mantlepiece incl..and a hidden wood burner...that's all I can say about that..a quote from a tom hanks film.lol