Group trip to Bulgaria: discover Sofia, Bansko & Plovdiv with your colleagues!
Bulgaria is not immediately thought of by our clients as a destination for a group or incentive trip, but it is a very suitable destination if you want to organise a well-styled programme even with a somewhat limited budget. And that applies to both the summer and winter seasons! I – Project Manager Pascal – recently visited the Bulgarian cities of Sofia, Plovdiv and the mountain village of Bansko and in this blog I will take you to this surprising destination!
Bulgaria at a glance!
In under 2.5 hours you can fly from Amsterdam or Eindhoven to the capital of Bulgaria: Sofia. Bulgaria is a country with a great deal of diversity and culture. Think of Roman times, influences from the Balkans, but leading the way, and especially in the city of Sofia, the influences from the Soviet Union can still be felt and seen in the city's vibe. The good infrastructure and friendly atmosphere make travelling easy and enjoyable. Whether it is culture enthusiasts, nature lovers, adventurers or foodies, Bulgaria has something to offer every group.
Surprising Sofia: Roman heritage with a modern edge!
A surprising side to Sofia is that the city has many Roman ruins. Bulgaria has a rich past, after all, and Sofia was an important city on the route towards Western Europe. It is also the second-oldest city in Europe. When walking through Sofia, you will come across archaeological highlights in the most extraordinary places, which have been discovered and excavated over the years.
Sofia is characterised by the golden domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which immediately steal the show when you look out of the plane as you descend. Sofia has a population of 1 million, but when you include the suburbs, this easily reaches 2 million. Fun fact: this is 1/3e of the entire population of Bulgaria. Sofia can therefore certainly be called a vibrant city!
In recent years, the country has focused on promoting Bulgaria as a tourist destination and will continue to invest in this over the coming years. For example, luxury hotels have been built that have given Sofia's skyline a modern touch, and quite a few more are currently under construction. The Millennium Grand Hotel is an example of this. This 5-star hotel has 400 luxury rooms and opened its doors in 2020. You can enjoy the extensive spa, where you can even hire your own private room with a jacuzzi, sauna, massage tables, etc., or enjoy the wonderful view of the city from the upper floors while having a delicious dinner or a nice drink. All this for the price of a 3-star hotel in Western Europe! More and well-appointed restaurants are also springing up everywhere, with Bulgarian, Greek and Italian cuisine being particularly well represented. You can easily reach all of this by metro, but a taxi is also very fast and cheap. Of course, we will arrange all your transport and ensure that you will not miss out on anything this city has to offer.
You can discover the city wonderfully on foot; the centre is compact and has many cool locations. For example, discover all the Roman ruins or learn all about the Soviets and their architecture during a city tour. The tour guides also know where the action is in the evening. Vitosha Boulevard, which is located in the centre, has many diverse, nice restaurants, bars and clubs!
Enchanting Bansko: a ski resort for winter sports and summer adventures!
A two-hour drive from Sofia lies Bansko: a ski resort with nearly 70 kilometres of pistes, making it extremely well suited for madcap fun in the snow! Think snowmobiling and quad biking, sledging and, of course, skiing. Bansko has grown enormously in recent years and more than half of the accommodations will remind you of a typical Austrian winter sports village. Over the past 20 years, this charming village has been transformed into a lively winter sports location, where various summer activities are also organised during the summer months.
There are various luxury hotels to be found, which are interspersed with cute cottages and traditional taverns where live Balkan music is played every evening. These taverns, such as restaurant Obetsanova mehana, are decorated from top to toe and in the middle of the tavern a wonderful wood fire burns in winter to warm up the guests nicely. Just like in most winter sports resorts, you can also stay right by the piste here. The Kempinski Hotel, for example, is situated by the home run piste and only a 20-minute walk from the centre. In addition to a wonderful indoor pool which is open all year round, you can also enjoy the outdoor pool in the summer!
Bulgarian cuisine is one that will appeal to many Dutch people. You have a choice of various delicious dishes, such as game, beef and fish. But nowadays they certainly know how to pamper vegetarians culinarily too. Bulgarians are also true potato and cheese eaters—white cheese, that is to say. A Bulgarian evening meal is not complete without their traditional salad, which mainly consists of tomato, cucumber and grated goats' cheese, and is concluded with a delicious schnapps called Rakija. Not to be confused with Turkish raki.
As I briefly mentioned, you can not only enjoy yourself here in the winter, but there is also plenty to do in Bansko in the summer! From wonderful hikes, taking the ski lift up the mountain and quad biking, to jeep tours, mountain biking, canyoning or rafting. It is all possible!
Plovdiv: cultural capital and hidden gem of Bulgaria!
Finally, I will take you to Plovdiv: the hidden gem of Bulgaria! After Rome and Athens, this hilly little town is the city with the most archaeological sites, not all of which have even been discovered to this day.
Like Bansko, Plovdiv is about a 2-hour drive from Sofia. This vibrant city with its colourful facades and many pavement cafes is known, among other things, for its numerous graffiti artworks. In addition, the Roman amphitheatre, which was built in the 2e century AD, still used for open-air performances. Traces of the Roman Empire can be found all over the city. Even to such an extent that the Soviet-era buildings in Plovdiv have somewhat faded into the background. It is not without reason that the city was named European Capital of Culture in 2019.
Discover the city through an interactive city game, walking tour or bike tour. In addition, Plovdiv is surrounded by various award-winning wine producers where tastings and guided tours can be enjoyed. TIP: In addition to a tasting, organise a subsequent dinner or event on the terrace of one of the wine estates and surprise the participants with a Bulgarian dance show! Want to end the day in a lively bar or club? This is also very possible in Plovdiv within walking distance of the hotels.
Embark on an unforgettable trip to Bulgaria and experience the perfect blend of culture, adventure, relaxation and luxury. From exploring ancient historical sites to enjoying delicious cuisine, Bulgaria offers a unique and enriching experience for your team. Discover breathtaking landscapes, charming towns and warm hospitality that will create lasting memories and strengthen the bond within your company.
Make your group tour to Bulgaria even more complete!
Naturally you want your group or incentive trip to Bulgaria to have a maximum impact on the participants. With our Stretch-method We ensure that we start informing, enthusing, or activating your employees or clients at an early stage. This could involve announcing the trip in a fun way, or stimulating sales targets through the goMICE activation app or connecting the target audience on the way to this unforgettable LIVE moment.
Are you also interested in a Bulgarian experience together with your colleagues or business associates? Or a group experience to another beautiful destination in Europe, such as Bilbao, Milan, Edinburgh of Iceland?
Let us know your requirements and we will be delighted to put together a suitable and surprising programme for your group trip to beautiful Bulgaria, or to any other destination of your choice.