Travel video guide
Davud Akhundzada in Kazanlak: 4 Spots
This guide turns I Didn't Expect Bulgaria To Be Like This! The First Impressions Of Sofia 🇧🇬 from Davud Akhundzada into a practical travel map with 4 saved spots around Partyulbe, Rilski manastir, and Sofia. The mapped places include a hotel, a monument, a park, and a sports club. Use it to understand the places and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Davud Akhundzada was initially wary of Sofia due to its reputation for taxi scams and an attempted SIM card overcharge at the airport. However, he was ultimately impressed by the city's beauty and the unique safety technology in the metro system. He successfully navigated the city using affordable public transport and found the historical architecture of the capital to be quite striking.
What this map is good for
- Planning a hotel stop or short itinerary in Partyulbe.
- Seeing where the mapped places sit together before choosing what to visit first.
- Saving 4 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Tennis Court "Rose Valley"
Sports Club in ul. "Inzhener Feliks Vozheli" 3, 6100 Kazanlak, Bulgaria, ul. "Inzhener Feliks Vozheli", Kazanlak, Bulgaria - Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
Monument in Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, Partyulbe, 6102 Kazanlak, Bulgaria, Partyulbe, Kazanlak, Bulgaria - Rila Monastery
Park in 2643 Rilski manastir, Bulgaria, Rilski manastir, Bulgaria
Hours: Hours available - Apart Hotels Sofia
Hotel in Sofia Center, ul. "Iskar" 96, 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria, Sofia Center, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Experiences captured
- Took a train from Sofia airport to city center
- Avoided a $56 SIM card scam at the airport
- Observed unique rising safety barriers in the Metro
- Visited the Serdika metro station area
- Viewed the Monument of Saint Sophia
- Purchased a local SIM card for 15 Lev
- Explored historical buildings and a mosque in central Sofia
- Browsed local souvenir shops near the metro exit
Planning notes for Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain range. Historical records indicate continuous habitation of the site for approximately 7,000 years, beginning with Neolithic settlements in areas such as Slatina and the current city center. In the 8th century BCE, the Thracian tribe of the Serdi established a settlement named Serdica. The Roman Empire incorporated the city in 29 BCE.
Must-try foods nearby
- Banitsa
The quintessential Bulgarian breakfast pastry, consisting of layers of buttery phyllo dough filled with a mixture of whisked eggs and sirene (white brined cheese). - Shopska Salad
Bulgaria’s national dish, featuring a vibrant mix of diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and roasted peppers topped with a thick 'snowfall' of grated sirene cheese. - Tarator
A refreshing cold soup made from Bulgarian yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, walnuts, and dill. - Mekitsi
Deep-fried dough traditionally served for breakfast with powdered sugar, honey, or sirene. - Shkembe Chorba
A legendary tripe soup seasoned with a potent mix of garlic, vinegar, and hot chili flakes.
When to go: The best time to visit Sofia is from May to September, when the weather is warm and ideal for outdoor cafes and hiking in the nearby Vitosha Mountain. July and August are the peak tourist months with temperatures often exceeding 30°C (86°F).
Local tips
- Be aware that Bulgarians typically nod their head to mean 'no' and shake it from side to side to mean 'yes'.
- You can pay for all public transport, including the metro and trams, by simply tapping your contactless bank card or phone on the blue validators.
- It is customary to leave a tip of approximately 10% in restaurants, as service charges are rarely included in the bill.
- Tap water in Sofia is safe to drink and of high quality, so you can refill your bottle at any tap or public mineral fountain.
What travelers are noticing
- Eurozone Integration: Bulgaria officially adopted the Euro in January 2026, driving a surge in international investment and financial modernization across the capital.
- Sofia Airport Expansion: Construction of the new Terminal 3 is set to begin in Autumn 2026, part of a massive €450 million modernization project to increase regional connectivity.
- Jungle of the Future: A viral urban transformation project turning the Vladayska riverbed into a street art and community workshop hub.
Official tourism resource
The official tourism portal for Kazanlak, Bulgaria, featuring the Valley of the Roses and the UNESCO-listed Thracian Tomb located in Tyulbeto Park.
Planning questions
What are the best spots in Kazanlak from this video?
This guide maps all 4 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan your trip to Kazanlak.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this travel map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.