Extending your visit...

For those interested in antiquities, it is worth spending an extra day in Veliko Tarnovo to explore the Roman ruins at Nikopolis ad Istrum and the wooden architectural complex at Tryavna.

Plovdiv in the southwest of the country has extensive remains of Roman and Hellenic fortresses and an ancient Roman Amphitheater, which is still used for opera and theater festivals and concerts.

For those who seek adventure, there are plenty of hiking, diving and spelunking opportunities along the Black Sea coast.