As well as the more lively resorts there are quieter, historic spots including Nessebur and Sozopol, both worth a visit for their charming Bulgarian Revival architecture, plentiful seafood restaurants and unmistakable Bulgarian atmosphere. Varna, on the Northern coastline, is known as Bulgaria’s sea capital with its lively old town, seaside gardens and beaches. Burgas, in the south, is another sea city, busy with the normal hub of city life, it is perhaps the coastal villages which surround it that are worth visiting for relaxing holidays, none the least, Nessebur.

As well as sea and mountains, Bulgaria’s other attractions include the city’s capital, Sofia, complete with yellow brick road (well, almost, it’s a yellow brick path that leads you around the centre of the city), it has some very interesting architectural sites such as the large gold-domed St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in the early 20th century to commemorate the 200,000 Russians who died in the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. Fine eateries and cafes are dotted around the centre - long gone the days when you wandered round aimlessly trying to find somewhere to eat.

Other notable historic sites include the Rila Monastery, 120km south of Sofia; Plovdiv with its Old Town beauty of clustered National Revival houses huddled along its cobbled paths (bear in mind that to see the beautiful old town you have to first confront the new, grey apartment blocks which are present throughout Bulgaria’s cities) and Veliko Turnovo set dramatically on the banks of the River Jantra (once Bulgaria’s capital).

Another site worth mentioning are the Valley of the Roses, where the area’s prime crop is understandably, roses. Resting two and a half hours east of Sofia, the biggest town in the valley is Kazonlak which during the summer months is filled with the fragrance of roses.

Bulgaria is an intriguing place to lay your hat. As well as its beauty, it also has its strangeness. Dancing bears, for example, are still led around by the nose by the gypsy caste whose work it is to tame them and to make money from them.

Some of the roads are still an adventure to ride upon, but they are getting better thanks to EU money being pumped into the country (Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007). Some things are changing for the better. But gone are the days when you could be the only one sporting a sexy bikini (12 years ago even the most attractive woman was clad in full crimpelene seventies costume). If only those days could return, now the place is littered with sexy minxes coming in from Gdansk to Sevastopol.

Unfortunately no dirt cheap flights from the UK yet, but it cannot be long away ...

The winter months are long, which is good for skiing of course in the mountains. Also, one can be sure of a wonderful, cheap, baking hot summer period.

Ask a Professional

There are investment prospects in Eastern Europe, but it is essential that you seek independent expert professional advice before undertaking any property purchase. There are lots of things to bear in mind, including local laws and regulations, taxes, surveyor's assessments of the building, financial currency exchange, dealing with interbank transfers, volatity of the housing market, etc. etc. In some European countries there are various restrictions on foreigners owning land or property, so this needs to be checked out fully. Any property purchase is a major undertaking.

It may seem obvious but it's well worth going on holiday to a country several times to see if you like it.

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