Best places to run in Bulgaria

Vast fairytale sandstone rock formations stretching for kilometres, with trails and a clifftop fortress to explore on foot.

Sofia's oldest and largest park, a tree-lined expanse of paths and lakes that is the city's favourite running and walking ground.

Vitosha's biggest waterfall, reached by a forested loop from the edge of Sofia making it the city's favourite short hike.

Bulgaria's longest gorge, a narrow limestone canyon followed by road and trail with towering cliffs above the river.

One of Plovdiv's wooded syenite hills topped by the Alyosha monument, a short climb with panoramic city views.

A chain of glacial lakes descending the Banderitsa valley from Vihren hut, an accessible and very scenic walk below the high Pirin peaks.

A seasonal 141 m waterfall in the Iskar gorge reached by the scenic Vazov eco-trail between Bov and Zasele villages.

The highest summit of Stara Planina at 2376 m, a long strenuous climb through alpine pastures and rugged ridgeline.

At 2925 m it is the highest summit in the whole Balkan Peninsula, a long demanding climb past glacial lakes to a panoramic stone-built shelter.

A forested 1926 m peak above Pamporovo topped by a TV tower viewpoint, an easy walk with broad Rhodope panoramas.

A thundering cave where the Trigrad River plunges 42 m underground, linked by legend to Orpheus and reached on foot through the gorge.

A spectacular stone river of moraine boulders on Vitosha's slopes, a popular and easy walking destination from Sofia.

A long winding river gorge cut through the Balkan range with the dramatic Lakatnik cliffs and riverside walking routes.

A 2016 m peak that marks the western start of the long Kom-Emine ridge traverse, a fine grassy summit walk from Kom hut.

Bulgaria's longest marked trail, a 600-plus km ridge traverse of the entire Balkan range from Kom peak to the Black Sea.

A knife-edge marble arete between Kutelo and Banski Suhodol so narrow it has fixed cables, one of the most exhilarating scrambles in the country.

A series of turquoise travertine cascades followed by an eco-path of wooden bridges and steps through lush forest.

The eastern terminus of the Kom-Emine trail where the Balkan range meets the sea, a windswept cape with coastal cliff paths.

A narrow cape of red 70 m cliffs jutting 2 km into the sea, with a clifftop archaeological reserve and coastal paths.

A steel viewing platform at 1563 m hanging over the Buynovsko gorge, reached by a roughly 4 km uphill trail from Yagodina.

A picturesque beach where the Veleka River meets the sea, with coastal meadow paths leading on to hidden coves.

A surreal field of natural limestone columns in Bulgaria's only desert-like reserve, easily walked on flat sandy paths.

The largest and deepest glacial lake in Pirin, a remote alpine basin reached by a long ridge walk through wild high mountain terrain.

The Balkans' oldest nature park rising straight above Sofia, laced with trails to peaks, stone rivers and waterfalls.

A river-canyon park of limestone cliffs and rock-hewn monasteries, with hiking and birdwatching trails along the Lom valleys.

Bulgaria's largest protected area, a vast forested hill range with Thracian sites, villages and quiet trails near the Black Sea.

Bulgaria's largest and most famous monastery, a UNESCO site set deep in a forested valley and the gateway to many Rila walking trails.

A chain of seven glacial lakes between 2100 and 2535 m linked by a steep loop trail with a ridge viewpoint above the Eye Lake that takes in all seven at once.

A string of quiet forest lakes linked by an easy eco-trail, ideal for a gentle scenic walk in the Rhodopes.

The cobbled old town of one of Europe's oldest cities, a steep wander among Revival houses, Roman ruins and an ancient theatre.

The restored medieval hilltop fortress of the old Bulgarian capital, wrapped by the Yantra River with cobbled climbs and ramparts to walk.

Vitosha's 2290 m summit and the most-climbed peak in Bulgaria, an easy ascent from Aleko chalet just above Sofia.

Two enormous natural rock bridges in the Western Rhodopes reachable by marked forest trails from nearby villages.

A historic pass crowned by the Freedom Monument on Shipka peak, reached by steps and ridge trails with wide views.

A large central Sofia park with wide alleys and lawns, a popular flat circuit for runners and walkers.

A coastal archaeological reserve of cliff-cut caves and a fortress on a terraced plateau above the Black Sea, ideal for clifftop walking.