Must-see entertainment in Bulgaria

  • Cultural Centre G8

    Sofia

    This trendy, art-house cinema does triple duty as a contemporary art gallery and a secluded, garden drinking spot.

  • Sound & Light Show

    Veliko Târnovo

    Marvel as Veliko Târnovo's Tsarevets Fortress skyline is bathed in multicoloured light and lasers during the Sound & Light Show. This 40-minute…

  • Sofia Live Club

    Sofia

    This slick venue, located in the National Palace of Culture (NDK), is the city's largest live-music club. All swished up in cabaret style, it hosts local…

  • National Palace of Culture

    Sofia

    The 'NDK' (as it’s usually called) has 15 halls and is the country’s largest cultural complex. It maintains a regular program of events throughout the…

  • National Opera House

    Sofia

    Opened in 1953, this monumental edifice is the venue for classical opera and ballet performances, as well as special concerts for children. Enter from ul…

  • Ivan Vazov National Theatre

    Sofia

    One of Sofia's most elegant buildings, the Viennese-style National Theatre opened in 1907 and is the city's main stage for Bulgarian drama.

  • Club Terminal 1

    Sofia

    Live music on two floors, with several adjoining bars, marks this as the centre's best-known and most popular alternative music venue.

  • Red House

    Sofia

    Occupying a unique early 20th-century mansion, this avant-garde institution hosts everything from political and cultural debates (in various languages) to…

  • Festival Hall & Congress Centre

    Varna

    This big, boxy concert hall at the entrance to Primorski Park hosts the film and music festivals as well as music and dance performances throughout the…

  • Sea Casino Cultural Centre

    Burgas

    The city's renovated 1930s casino is now a cultural centre, hosting a varied program of concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and readings. Ask at the…

  • Varna Opera Theatre

    Varna

    Varna's grand opera house hosts performances by the Varna Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra all year, except July and August, when some performances are…

  • Ruse Opera House

    Ruse

    One of the town's finest buildings, open since about 1890, the Ruse Opera House is known for hosting top productions. Buy tickets at the box office or…

  • Marmalad

    Plovdiv

    This two-storey place is one of Kapana’s best for live music. Split across a bar and a live-music venue, Marmalad hosts rock bands, karaoke, retro-themed…

  • Swingin’ Hall

    Sofia

    Long-standing club offering an eclectic program of live music each night. The acts, ranging from jazz and blues to rock and folk pop, typically attract…

  • Mixtape 5

    Sofia

    The best in Bulgarian and international live rock and alternative acts play here in two good-sized halls located behind the National Palace of Culture …

  • Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre

    Ruse

    The Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre is well known for its quality productions. Buy tickets at the box office, or through the tourist information centre.

  • Kino Odeon

    Sofia

    Legendary cinema from communist days specialising in smaller European and art-house movies. Hosts several small film festivals throughout the year.

  • Burgas Opera House

    Burgas

    A regular program of opera, ballet and concerts is held at the city's opera house. Buy tickets at the venue box office or online over the website.

  • Euro Cinema

    Sofia

    Cute retro cinema, close to the heart of the city, features the best in European and international art-house film.

  • Melon Live Music Club

    Veliko Târnovo

    Popular spot for live music, from rock and R&B to Latin jazz. Admission to live events is around 4 lv or 5 lv.

  • Dom Na Kinoto

    Sofia

    Shows a varied program of Bulgarian-language, independent and vintage foreign films.

  • Bulgaria Hall

    Sofia

    Home of the excellent Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

  • CSKA

    Sofia

    Widely considered Bulgaria's most successful football club; the team's logo is marked by an iconic red star. The name stands for Central Sports Club of…

  • RockIT

    Sofia

    If you're into rock and metal, get your horns up here. Dance parties are best on Friday and Saturday nights, while the scene is mellower during the week…

  • Club Jack

    Veliko Târnovo

    This house and dance-music club draws a young, well-dressed crowd at weekends with its popular formula of themed nights, cocktail promotions and local DJs…

  • Vasil Levski National Stadium

    Sofia

    This 43,000-seat stadium is the home of the Bulgarian national football team, and is the main venue for international matches, athletics and other big…

  • Open-Air Theatre

    Varna

    Com­plete with mock ivy-covered Roman arches, this theatre, in the central-northern part of Primorski Park, hosts everything from ballet to rock concerts…

  • PFC Levski Sofia

    Sofia

    Football club that competes in Bulgaria's A division, the top football league. The team plays its home games in Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, about 5km east…

  • State Opera House

    Plovdiv

    Classic and modern European operas are performed in Bulgarian at this distinguished hall. Check the website for performances at other venues, including at…

  • Nikolai Masalitinov Dramatic Theatre

    Plovdiv

    This historic theatre, dating to 1881, is one of the best in Bulgaria, and features Bulgarian-language performances ranging from Shakespeare and Greek…

  • Adriana Boudevska Drama Theatre

    Burgas

    This stylish venue hosts classic and contemporary drama, though will only be of limited interest to most visitors as performances are normally staged in…

  • Vaptsarov Theatre

    Pirin Mountains

    Musical theatre and contemporary drama grace the stage of this theatre named for Bulgaria's beloved revolutionary poet. Closed during August.

  • Lucky House of Cinema

    Plovdiv

    Watch foreign films in their original languages (with Bulgarian subtitles) at this cinema near Tsar Simeon park.

  • Kino Arena

    Varna

    On the top floor of the Grand Mall Varna shopping centre (right behind the main bus station).

  • Kino Eccoplexx

    Plovdiv

    Hollywood blockbusters dominate the program of this movie theatre, 1km west of the old town.

  • Summer Theatre

    Burgas

    Live music, dance and drama performances often take place here.

  • Faces Cinema

    Plovdiv

    See recent foreign films in original languages (with Bulgarian subtitles) at this cinema, 3km southwest of Plovdiv's old town in the Trakiya neighbourhood.

  • Kino Arena

    Veliko Târnovo

    The cinema at the western edge of the city offers up a standard movie menu of Hollywood blockbusters and family films. A taxi costs around 4 lv to 5 lv.

  • Vasil Drumev Theatre

    Bulgaria

    Bulgarian-language theatrical productions take place inside this brutalist-style theatre on the main pedestrian street. Performances cost around 19 lv.

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