Lonely Planet, a world leader in guidebook publishing, has compiled a list of the best trips we can take in 2023. The publication has listed the top 30 attractions in its annual ranking, which includes five categories: Eat, Journey, Unwind, Connect, and Learn.
The Sofia-Istanbul international train is among the top destinations. “The recently restored overnight service between Sofia and Istanbul will whirl two adventures into one, leaving the place where east meets west in Istanbul and depositing you in Bulgaria’s laid-back capital city 11 hours later,” Lonely Planet's train expert Tom Hall writes. He describes the Istanbul-Sofia night express as “threading across fortress-like frontiers into Bulgaria and crossing mountain passes before arriving in underrated and very affordable Sofia.”
In Tom Hall’s words “leaving Istanbul, you’ll cross ancient landscapes and borders, then take in superb scenery as you chug through Bulgaria’s mountains. From Sofia, pathways open up to further epic journeys across Europe.”
Upon arriving in the capital of Bulgaria the Lonely planet advises the traveler to visit the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery Quadrat 500.
The author mentions where tourists can have a tasty brunch and drink good craft beer. “Local travelers I spoke to recommended the narrow-gauge journey from Septemvri to Dobrinishte as a very scenic backcountry detour just off the Plovdiv-Sofia line, Tom Hall adds at the end.
The tourism sector in Bulgaria has been growing in recent years, both in the summer and winter seasons. According to data from the relevant ministry, by the beginning of October, Bulgarian citizens who visited tourist destinations in the country were 1..
The Rhodope narrow-gauge railway is one of the world’s most scenic autumn train journeys, according to an international survey by the British JR Pass tourist platform. The Rhodope Caterpillar - the train that crosses mountains and time..
An ancient water clock known as clepsydra, restored according to ancient models, has been unveiled on the top of Sahat Tepe Hill in Plovdiv . The only clock of this type installed outdoors in Bulgaria has become the city's newest attraction. The..
Overcast, rain
Rain