This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Arbanasi. To help you make friends with Arbanasi before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Deep in central northern Bulgaria you will find the small archaeologically interesting village of Arbanasi, high on a plateau between Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa, two larger towns in the province. A natural reserve, this village is famous for its rich Bulgarian history dating from the twelfth century, and has many fantastic buildings and monuments built in the seventeenth and eighteenth century too.
Arbanasi is an archeological-museum reserve, meaning that it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world for its preservation of sights of historic significance. You will find an abundance of religious buildings here; churches, convents and monasteries are serious staples in this village.
Many are declared architectural and artistic-cultural monuments, such as The Birth of Christ Church, one of the oldest churches in Arbanasi, which is also divided into a section for men and a section for women. The Holy Mother of God Convent has been around since before the Ottoman occupation, and the Saint Nikola Monastery was founded towards the end of the seventeenth century. If you looking for a destination heavy with history, Arbanasi is the place to visit.
You can stay for a very reasonable price in one of the hostels and various accommodation styles that the village offers up. These hostels are run like guest houses, and are mostly situated in the oldest parts of Arbanasi. The architecture of the hostels in the small Bulgarian village reflect the beautiful historical architecture of the surrounding buildings, and you will be made to feel very comfortable in these hostels.
Join the local people in the convent’s yearly festival celebrating the Day of the Virgin in August, or come to stay and try typical Bulgarian food, which you will find in a number of forms across the village. Whichever hostel you choose to stay at here, you can rest assured it will make you feel part of the history.
Written by local enthusiast for Arbanasi hostels
Jakob Lombardi
