Bulgaria Regions and Provinces
When exploring Bulgaria, understanding its regional and administrative divisions can make travel planning much easier.
Bulgaria is divided into several Bulgaria NUTS regions, provinces, and municipalities, each with unique cultural, historical, and geographical characteristics.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through these divisions to give you a clear idea of the country’s layout and diversity.
Bulgaria NUTS Regions
The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) system is used primarily for statistical and administrative purposes within the European Union.
It divides the country into three major levels:
- National
- Regional
- Local.
For travelers, these divisions can be useful to understand the structure of Bulgaria municipalities and how they fit into the broader regions.
Northern Bulgaria
Northern Bulgaria is divided into three subregions, each offering distinct attractions and characteristics.
North West
The North West area includes the following provinces:
- Vidin province
- Montana province
- Vratsa province
- Lovech province
- Pleven province
Known for its mix of natural beauty and cultural heritage, the region is less populated but offers unique experiences.
North Central
The North Central part of Bulgaria is home to:
- Gabrovo province
- Veliko Tarnovo province
- Ruse province
- Razgrad province
- Silistra province
This region is rich in historical landmarks and architectural treasures. The city of Veliko Tarnovo, a highlight here, is part of the historical regions of Bulgaria.
North East
The North East region includes:
- Targovishte province
- Shumen province
- Varna province
- Dobrich province
It’s famous for its coastal cities and beaches, particularly in Varna, which is also part of the cultural regions of Bulgaria and a significant part of the geographical regions of Bulgaria.
Southern Bulgaria
Southern Bulgaria, like the north, is divided into three distinct subregions.
South West
The South West comprises:
- Sofia city
- Sofia province
- Pernik province
- Kyustendil province
- Blagoevgrad province
As the capital, Sofia is a hub of culture and history, representing one of the major regions of Bulgaria.
South Central
The South Central part of Bulgaria includes:
- Pazardjik province
- Plovdiv province
- Haskovo province
- Smolyan province
- Kardzhali province
Plovdiv, known for its ancient Roman heritage, stands out as a key cultural destination.
South East
The South East region covers:
- Stara Zagora province
- Sliven province
- Yambol province
- Burgas province
This area combines seaside attractions with rich historical sites, making it a diverse part of the cultural regions of Bulgaria.
Tourist Regions of Bulgaria
Thank god, NUTS is not the only thing we can count on. In addition to administrative divisions, Bulgaria is divided into tourist regions, which align with specific travel interests.
Here are the 9 official tourist regions according to Bulgaria’s ministry of tourism.
1. Region Dunav (Danube)
The Danube region includes 67 municipalities with headquarters in Ruse.
It’s primary specialization is cultural and cruise tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Cultural-historical tourism
- River cruise tourism
- Adventure and eco-tourism
- Urban entertainment and shopping tourism
- Wine and culinary tourism
- Religious and pilgrimage tourism
2. Region Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains)
The Balkan region includes 32 municipalities with headquarters in Veliko Tarnovo.
It’s primary specialization is mountain and cultural tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Mountain hiking and recreational tourism
- Cultural-historical, festival, and creative tourism
- Adventure and eco-tourism
- Rural tourism
3. Region Dolina na Rozite (Rose Valley)
The Rose Valley region includes 19 municipalities with headquarters in Kazanlak.
It’s primary specialization is health and cultural tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Balneotherapy, SPA, and wellness tourism
- Cultural-historical and festival tourism
- Adventure and eco-tourism
- Mountain hiking and recreational tourism
- Wine tourism
4. Region Trakiya (Thrace)
The Thrace region includes 35 municipalities with headquarters in Plovdiv.
It’s primary specialization is cultural and wine tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Cultural tourism (all types)
- Wine tourism
- Business tourism (MICE)
- Urban entertainment and shopping tourism
- Health tourism (all types)
- Adventure and eco-tourism
5. Region Rodopi (Rhodopes)
The Rhodopes region includes 27 municipalities with headquarters in Smolyan.
It’s primary specialization is mountain and rural tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Mountain tourism (all types – skiing, hiking, recreational)
- Rural tourism
- Balneotherapy, SPA, and wellness tourism
- Cultural-historical and festival tourism
- Religious and pilgrimage tourism
6. Region Rila-Pirin
The Rila-Pirin region includes 23 municipalities with headquarters in Blagoevgrad.
It’s primary specialization is mountain and religious tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Mountain tourism (all types – skiing, hiking, recreational)
- Religious and pilgrimage tourism
- Adventure and eco-tourism
- Balneotherapy, SPA, and wellness tourism
- Cultural-historical and festival tourism
- Wine tourism
7. Region Sofia
The Sofia region includes 23 municipalities with headquarters in (duh) Sofia.
It’s primary specialization is mountain and religious tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Business tourism (MICE)
- Cultural tourism (all types)
- Mountain tourism (all types)
- Health tourism (all types)
- Religious and pilgrimage tourism
- Adventure and eco-tourism
8. Region Varna (Northern Coast)
The Varna region includes 25 municipalities with headquarters in Varna.
It’s primary specialization is maritime and sports tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Coastal recreational tourism
- Sports tourism
- Cultural-historical and festival tourism
- Business tourism (MICE)
- Health tourism (all types)
- Eco-tourism
9. Region Burgas (Southern Coast)
The Burgas region includes 13 municipalities with headquarters in Burgas.
It’s primary specialization is maritime and cultural tourism.
Expanded specialization:
- Coastal recreational tourism
- Cultural tourism (all types)
- Adventure and eco-tourism
- Health tourism (all types)
- Rural tourism
- Religious and pilgrimage tourism
Ethnographic Regions
Bulgaria’s ethnographic regions reflect its diverse cultural heritage, which varies by traditional crafts, folklore, dialects, music, songs and dancing.
There are 7 distinct ethnographic regions:
- Shopski region – Surrounding the capital of Bulgaria – Sofia, and the nearby areas, this region is known for its lively folk dances and the phenomenal three-part singing.
- Severnyashki region (Northern) – This is a vast region that takes up almost the entire Danube plain. It’s characterized by its enormous diversity and iconic songs that will keep the memory of Bulgarian hayduts, local rituals and harvesting traditions forever alive.
- Trakiyski region (Thracian) – Encompassing the Thracian Plains, this region’s songs are often about food rituals, agricultural traditions and gabfests (sedyanki). They are calm and gentle, mainly sung by women.
- Rodopski region (Rhodope) – As expected, this region covers the Rhodope Mountains in the South of Bulgaria. This region is famous for the bagpipes used in folk music.
- Pirinski region – Centered around the Pirin Mountains and the South West of Bulgaria, this area is known for an interesting music instrument, called “zurna”.
- Dobrudjanski region – Located in the northeastern plains, this region is characterized by slow songs and long texts, typically describing the everyday life of the local people. It’s almost certain that you will hear a “kaval” or “gadulka” playing in Dobrudzha.
- Standzhanski region – Although not official, the Strandzha region is mentioned in lots of resources as the 7th ethnographic region in Bulgaria. It covers the Strandzha and Sakar Mountains, the local music and dances are truly distinctive from the rest of the regions.
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Wine Regions of Bulgaria
I bet that wine lovers will enjoy this one – you can not only travel Bulgaria according to its administrative or tourist regions, but also according to its official wine production regions. Here, wine production is divided into several areas, each known for specific grape varieties and flavors.
If you are a fan of wine and planning to go on a trip in Bulgaria, you should know about:
- The Thracian Lowlands – Mavrud, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Muscat, Pamid and more
- The Danubian Plain – Muscat Ottonel, Gamza, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Aligote, Pamid and more
- The Struma River Valley – Wide Leaved Melnik, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- The Black Sea Coast – Muscat Ottonel, Dimyat, Chardonnay, Juniper Blanc, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc and more
- The Rose Valley – Red Muscat, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
FAQs
How many provinces are there in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is divided into 28 provinces, each further subdivided into municipalities.
How is Bulgaria divided?
Bulgaria is divided into Bulgaria NUTS regions, provinces, municipalities, and other divisions such as ethnographic regions and wine regions of Bulgaria.
What are the historical regions of Bulgaria?
It’s generally accepted that the historical regions of Bulgaria include the Roman provinces Macedonia, Thrace, and Moesia.