2010 was quite a year according to various surveys reporting on the nature of the travel market. Bulgaria featured very well indeed, supporting the idea that 2011 could turn out to be even better.

Perhaps the most notable success as far as Bulgaria is concerned is that it managed to reach the number nine spot on CNN’s list of top worldwide destinations for this year. Many other notable destinations reached the list too, with places including New York and New Zealand taking their own spots there. But Bulgaria’s inclusion shows that more and more people are realising just what a sensational place this is.

One of the most exciting things about a holiday in Bulgaria is that it can offer you lots of different things. For example it can provide you with a skiing holiday if you visit at the right time of the year. At other times you can pull on your walking boots and enjoy rambling through the mountains. As you can see, it really doesn’t matter what time of the year you want to go and explore what Bulgaria has to offer. You can always find things to do and lots of fascinating places to explore.

There is also a great degree of history here to appreciate. Tsarevets is a hill which also has a stronghold on it that dates back as far as 1185, although before then there was still ample evidence that people were there. This is a pattern that is repeated across Bulgaria, with hundreds if not thousands of years worth of history to explore. A visit to at least one local museum while you are there would be one of the best things you could do.

Veliko Tarnovo is a good example of a Bulgarian city you can explore as well. This is a compact city too, which offers still more benefits when it comes to getting from place to place.

This is just a snapshot of Bulgaria of course, but it shows just a few of the reasons why Bulgaria made it onto the top ten list as far as CNN is concerned.

Bulgaria is a country that can lay claim to many ancient cities and towns. But while many of them stretch far back into history, few can go back quite as far as Lovech.

It is this length of history that makes it quite charming to go and see, partly because it opens up the opportunity to unearth lots of ancient sights and historical venues to go and see while you are there. This is a town that has plenty to share with you, so if you are staying just north of the central part of Bulgaria, make sure you have the time to go and pay it a visit.

The town is well known for being immensely attractive, and not just because of the sights you will see here in terms of the buildings either. During the spring time the flowers are in abundant bloom, and lilacs are particularly well known for sprouting here. Any visit to the town during the spring will be rewarded by some magnificent displays of lilacs that simply beg for pictures to be taken in abundance.

As you might imagine there is an old section of the town that is well worth a visit. But this is far from being the only sight worth seeing when you arrive in Lovech. In addition to this you can see the Covered Bridge, a most unusual sight that joins the older part of town to the newer part on the other side of the river. This bridge dates back to the 1800s, although the one you will see today is not the original. That one burnt to the ground in 1925, and was subsequently replaced a few years later with a new one.

The bridge is indicative of how exciting and unusual many parts of Lovech are found to be. Covered shops exist on the bridge so any walk from the old to the new in Lovech can be enjoyed along with a spot of shopping as well. If you have yet to see this delightful town in Bulgaria, perhaps now is an ideal time to do just that.

Bulgaria is a country that is only now starting to be explored in many areas. As more and more people discover the secrets it holds, so it reveals yet more and convinces others to spend a holiday here as well.

Koprivshtitsa is a classic example of some of the amazing sights you can see in Bulgaria. You will find this pleasant town in the Sofia Province, nestled in the mountains and providing you with a wonderful experience and taste of Bulgaria itself.

Koprivshtitsa is known as a charming place and it has so many beautiful sights that you will be amazed at just how many times you will want to pull out your camera to capture them for later times at home. The buildings are quite eye catching, some more so than others. Many of them have painted exteriors, offering a splash of blue or some other colour to punctuate the landscape in some way.

This is a town where the architecture is almost a resident in itself. You will find it has a distinct blend of architecture hewn against the backdrop of mountains and greenery. Stone paths wind their way in between them to stitch them together and provide a cohesive whole. If you think this all sounds rather far fetched, wait until you see Koprivshtitsa for yourself. You will realise why it inspires you to try and find words and descriptions that adequately put this town on the map and in your mind forever more.

The Topolnitsa River runs through Koprivshtitsa, providing a further layer of beauty to add to the ones already there. Stone bridges provide crossing points here and there, and some of the houses standing nearby date back much further than you might imagine.

In some ways Koprivshtitsa is a testament to the history it has lived through. Although it still develops today, it also has plenty to remind us of the history it has seen. You will be amazed at how much you will fall in love with this town, as so many other people have before you. Don’t be surprised if you don’t want to leave!

You could say that every place on earth has its secrets. It would certainly seem to be the case with Bulgaria, where a small town called Pavel Banya has some delightful secrets worth uncovering.

The town is a relatively small one in comparison to the rest of Bulgaria, playing host to some four thousand permanent residents. Nestling right in the centre of the country it is nevertheless famous for one specific thing. Indeed many people do venture here when they go on holiday to Bulgaria, and it’s all due to the mineral springs that are here.

The natural presence of these springs goes right back to the Romans – and possibly well beyond that. The Romans certainly made good use of them and thankfully they haven’t stopped flowing. The mineral waters are said to be enormously helpful for alleviating symptoms of various ailments. This is especially true when referring to ailments that trouble the joints and similar parts of the body.

So in a sense Pavel Banya is at the centre of attention for more than being right in the centre of the country itself. The springs here are accessible for tourists in several different ways, and many people attest to their amazing properties. If you go back to explore the history of Pavel Banya it might surprise you to realise that there hasn’t been a civilisation in this area for as long as you might think. People came to use the mineral springs but they didn’t live here until a small group of people decided that living in the vicinity of the springs would give them regular and easy access to them.

Today you may find that Pavel Banya is a long way from wherever you were intending to spend some time while staying in Bulgaria. But do try and plan your time in the country so that you can visit Pavel Banya, if only for a day or two. This is especially advisable if you have ailments that the mineral springs could help. You may find Pavel Banya is one of the best places you could visit in the entire country.

This is one of those resorts you might see spelt a few different ways. But however you read it you will be glad you came across it. The Black Sea coast in Bulgaria is always a great draw for many people, and Nessebar is one of the key resorts along this coastal region.

It may be a very popular addition to the modern selection of resorts in Bulgaria, but Nessebar also has a long history that is worth exploring while you are there. You can trace the history of Nessebar back all the way to the 6th century, and indeed some of its history is still standing to be seen today. Watch out in particular for the fortifications that will greet you when you arrive in the city itself.

Of course many people come to Nessebar for the spectacular beach, and once you see it for yourself you will see why. It is truly impressive and is regarded by many to be the best beach along the Black Sea coast in all of Bulgaria. Needless to say it tends to get rather busy in the city during the summer months, when people come from all over Europe to see what Nessebar has to offer.

It would be a mistake if you were to visit the city and do little more than relax on the beach though. It may be gorgeous but the city’s history is nothing short of fascinating, and it has plenty of attractions to tempt you with as well.

You can learn a lot about the past here simply by looking for the churches, many of which have been standing for centuries. Look out for the Old Bishopric, which has stood since the 5th and 6th centuries. Just imagine the history and events that have surrounded it since then.

The city also boasts some charming wooden houses, although of course they do not date back anywhere near as far as the 5th century. You’ll want to grab your camera to take pictures of them though, as they form part of the attraction that is Nessebar.

Bulgaria is definitely an up and coming area when it comes to taking a holiday there for any length of time. It has lots of major sights and attractions that are worth seeing, and that means having to prioritise the ones you would like to see the most when you only have a weekend to spend there.

First of all you have to choose where in Bulgaria you want to be based for your visit. It’s no good picking half a dozen highlights to see if you then find they are spread out all over the country. Start with your base and go from there.

Sofia is popular with lots of people and it offers attractions including Mount Vitosha and Sofia Zoo. But Sofia is also right over to the west of the country so it won’t be the ideal spot to choose if you would prefer a weekend on the beach.

In this case you could opt for Varna. This has such delights as the remains of the old Roman Baths and the Archaeological Museum. These would be perfect to slot in between a spot of sunbathing. You can see many of the gold finds from the Varna Lakes area in the museum too, so it is definitely well worth a visit if you choose Varna as your base.

Just down the coast from Varna you can visit a place called Burgas. This is arguably more relaxed and laid back than Varna. If you really want to spend some serious downtime exploring the local restaurants and so on, you can certainly do it here. You will also have plenty of historical sights to watch out for in this area, as it has a long and interesting history.

As you can see it is vital to figure out what kind of experience you want from your break in Bulgaria. It could be anything from a city break to something with sand, sea and a view of the Black Sea. Whatever you choose you cannot fail to be charmed by what Bulgaria has to offer.

If you have never visited Bulgaria before, you might be wondering which locations are worth staying in. If you fancy heading for the east coast – the only part of Bulgaria that has a coast – you could opt to stay in Burgas. This can be found indented into the coastline about two thirds of the way down this side of the country.

However the point is what you will find there. This is a seaside resort and as such you will find plenty of suitable accommodation if you have a beach holiday in mind. The Sunny Beach resort is just a short distance to the north of Burgas if you are heading for this area.

But make no mistake - you have a good sized city to explore here too. In fact there are only three other cities in Bulgaria that are larger than Burgas, so you can see the opportunities there are to explore the streets and sights that will be laid out in front of you.

One of the key sights worth making time for is the District Museum of History. Many artefacts have been found in the area that date back hundreds of years. Some of them even go back as far as the Bronze Age. You can expect to see some fascinating exhibits when you visit the museum, as well as learning more about Burgas in general.

You can also look for the Sea Garden, which is a huge park in Burgas that draws lots of tourists to it as well as the locals. One of the best aspects of this is that it has a superb view out over the sea front, so it’s a good idea to take your camera with you when you go there. You’ll find many different places to stop and rest and watch the world stroll by, as well as grabbing some refreshments.

It’s no wonder that Burgas is such a well liked place for those looking for a beach based holiday in Bulgaria. It meets all the basic requirements you would expect – and throws in a lot more besides too.