Everything that makes Bulgaria special features on this day trip from Varna. You'll discover Roman baths, then head into the hills to the village of Solnik, where a folkloric performance awaits. Ivan, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Solnik is a typical mountain village, but Granny Radka's house is anything but typical – it's like a mini museum. The house has displays of traditional costumes and textiles all over the walls, most of which were made by Granny Radka herself.'
The Roman thermae in the centre of Varna will be your first stop of the day. And what an impressive start – you'll wander through the largest surviving ancient building in Bulgaria with your guide, who'll bring it all to life with stories of the past. The Roman fell out of use over 1,500 years ago, but you can still see the layout of what were once the fourth-largest baths in Europe. Afterwards, you'll head out of town towards the hidden village of Solnik, where time appears to have hit the pause button.
Here, you'll stop off at Granny Radka's, where you'll be warmly welcomed into the house and gardens. There's the opportunity to take a look at the display of typical clothes, try some local liqueur and tuck into a tasty lunch of dishes from the region, freshly prepared with locally sourced ingredients. You'll get to know Bulgarian folklore by watching a song and dance performance by the village elders dressed in the traditional costume. You'll round off the tour with a boat trip along the River Kamchia.
