A beautiful southeastern European country has stunning beaches, a capital with architecture to rival the continents top destinations – and the cheapest housing costs in the EU.
That’s according to the latest report about housing in Europe by Eurostat, which found that Bulgaria had the lowest outlays on housing in the bloc.
Costs include money spent on water, electricity, gas and other fuels as well as rent.
The Balkan nation, which has a population of around 6.4million, was found to have costs 61 percent below the EU average in 2023, with Poland the second lowest on 56 percent.
The highest housing costs last year compared to the EU average were found in Ireland, which was 101 percent above the EU average), followed by Luxembourg (86 percent above) and Denmark (80 percent above), according to the report.
Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, is also known as one of the more low-cost destinations, despite its wealth of grand architecture.
But it’s not just the comparatively low living costs that makes it an attractive spot for a holiday. Sofia is a favourite among those familiar with the region, but it’s still said to be much less crowed than the likes of nearby Prague or Krakow.
Highlights include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, with its iconic turquiose and gold domes, which which dominates the city’s skyline.
One TripAdvisor reviewer who visited in January and gave it a five-star review wrote: “Stunning cathedral symbol of Sofia. The roof is very beautiful and with the reflection of the sun makes it fantastic. The interior is also very nice.”
Other standout spots include Vitosha Boulevard, the city’s main pedestrianised shopping street and if you want a break from the hustle and bustle, Vitosha Mountain outside the city offers incredible views of Sofia.
Plovdiv is among various other destinations worth visiting, and stakes a claim as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city.
Believed to have been founded in around 6000BC, the metropolis was named the European capital of culture five years ago due to its rich history and cultural heritage.
The southern city is synonymous with its ancient Roman theatre, cobblestone streets and quirky Old Town.
Bulgaria is also famous for its beaches on the Black Sea and towns so pretty some consider it an underrated riviera.
According to Balkan Holidays, the most popular beach resort in the country is Sunny Beach, noting that it was voted the best-value holiday destination in a 2021 report.
Other popular beaches in the country include Cape Kaliakra, Kavatsite Beach, Nirvana Beach, and Irakli Beach.
