National park · Bulgaria
Nature Park BulgarkaПрироден парк Българка
Free to enter, no gate: base in Gabrovo or Uzana, walk the Uzana ecotrail or the First Steps loops in May–Oct, and treat Etar and Shipka as separate half-days on the E85.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
220 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (220 km²)
approximate
Established
2002
Best months
May–Jul, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
- Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
- Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
- Bulgaria ↗Bulgaria is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Bulgarian sources for your passport.
- Bulgaria ↗Drivers need an electronic road vignette for national roads outside towns; rental cars normally include it, but check.
- Bulgaria ↗Signs and timetables are often only in Cyrillic outside Sofia and the coast; learn the alphabet basics or carry offline translation.
At a glance
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Area
- 220 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (220 km²)
- About 22,000 hectares (220 km²) along the north slopes of the central Stara Planina; boundary figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 2002
- Best months
- May–Jul, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Nature Park Bulgarka protects about 220 km² of beech forest, cliffs and alpine meadow along the north slopes of the central Stara Planina, at the geographical centre of Bulgaria. It was established in 2002, making it one of the youngest of Bulgaria's nature parks, and it is a nature park rather than a national park: there is no gate, no ticket and no closing time. Almost all visitor infrastructure sits in the Uzana meadow, where the park directorate maintains two marked trails — the Uzana ecotrail and the two-loop First Steps for Magician Beginners route to Ispolin peak. The park's other draws are cultural and historical: the Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex, the Sokolski Monastery and the Shipka memorial on the pass, all on or beside the E85 between Gabrovo and Kazanluk. Forest covers roughly 80% of the area, mostly beech, with at least 360 plant species recorded and brown bear, wolf and golden eagle present; sightings of large mammals are rare. Access is by road from Gabrovo and Kazanluk or by rail to Plachkovtsi and Krustets on the Gorna Oryahovitsa–Plovdiv line.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2002.
Size and age
220 km² (85 sq mi)85 sq mi (220 km²) · national park since 2002
About 22,000 hectares (220 km²) along the north slopes of the central Stara Planina; boundary figures vary slightly by source (check).
Why go
- A protected mountain park at the geographical centre of Bulgaria, with no gate and no entry fee.
- Two marked, maintained trails start at Uzana: the Uzana ecotrail and the two-loop First Steps route to Ispolin peak.
- Forest covers about 80% of the park, mostly beech, with wolves, brown bear and golden eagle recorded.
- Etar, the Sokolski Monastery and the Shipka memorial sit on or beside the E85 inside the park area.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanSnow; Uzana is a ski area, trails unmarked under snow
- FebCold, lows near -12°C (10°F); snowCold, lows near 10°F (-12°C); snow
- MarThaw; mud and wet rock
- AprCool and rainy; trails open up
- MayGreen, wildflowers, long days
- JunWarm and dry; highs near 23°C (73°F)Warm and dry; highs near 73°F (23°C)
- JulDriest month; start walks early
- AugWarm; busiest at Uzana
- SepClear, mild, quiet midweek
- OctAutumn colour; first snow possible late
- NovGrey and wet; short days
- DecSnow; ski season at Uzana
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Songbirds and raptors, including golden eagle and common buzzardMar–Oct · Bird-watching tower at Markov Stol on the First Steps eco-trail. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Brown bear, wolf, golden jackal and wild boarAll year · Present in the forest; sightings are rare and mostly at dawn or dusk. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Beech forest in leaf, with orchids and other protected plantsMay–Jul · At least 360 plant species recorded, 31 of them threatened or endangered. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Autumn colour in the deciduous forestOct–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Gabrovo
Road on the E85 south towards Shipka; Etar is about 8 km (5 mi) out, Uzana about 22 km (14 mi) via Route 5006.Road on the E85 south towards Shipka; Etar is about 5 mi (8 km) out, Uzana about 14 mi (22 km) via Route 5006.
30–45 min
Open the page →
From Kazanluk
E85 north over the Shipka pass; the memorial is about 13 km (8.1 mi) north of Shipka village.E85 north over the Shipka pass; the memorial is about 8.1 mi (13 km) north of Shipka village.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Tryavna
Rail to Plachkovtsi or Krustets on the Gorna Oryahovitsa–Plovdiv line, then road into the park.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Sofia
Car or bus to Gabrovo, then local road into the park.
3.5–4.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Uzana | Alpine meadow at the geographical centre of Bulgaria; hotels, ski lodges, information centre and mountain rescue station. | Open; the main trailhead for marked walks. |
| Etar and Sokolski Monastery | Revival-era craft complex and a working monastery, both near the E85 south of Gabrovo. | Open; Etar ticketed. |
| Shipka pass and memorial | The 31.5 m stone tower and memorial park on the pass, with the Russian church in Shipka village below. | Open; tower ticketed. |
| Krustets and the south-east | Mountain village with a railway station, road crossing and links to the B1 and K11 trails. | Open; the quietest corner of the park. |
Sketch map
- 1Uzana · Village≈42.751, 25.240Trailhead, hotels and mountain rescue.Map ↗
- 2Shipka Memorial · Viewpoint≈42.748, 25.322Map ↗
- 3Hristo Smirnensky reservoir · Beach≈42.818, 25.268Drinking-water lake for Gabrovo; popular for fishing.Map ↗
- 4Krustets village · Ranger station≈42.770, 25.552Rail stop and trail links in the south-east of the park.Map ↗
- 5Gabrovo · Town≈42.874, 25.334Nearest city with full services.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from Uzana to Krustets, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No gate and no fee; it is a nature park, not a national park. |
| Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex | Free | person | Ticketed separately; 2026 estimate, check current price at the gate. |
| Shipka Memorial | Free | person | Small entry charge for the tower; 2026 estimate, check. |
| Uzana parking | Free | car | Roadside and hotel parking around Uzana; charges vary, check locally. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Fishing no permit
Herb and mushroom gathering no permit
Hunting permit or guide
Park rules
- No entry fee or gate
- The park is open at all times; there is no controlled access.
- Fires
- Use only the built fireplaces and rest areas along the marked trails; do not light fires in open forest.
- Protected species
- Hunting is legal in the park but brown bear and other protected species may not be taken.
- Mushrooms
- Gathering is allowed for personal use, but many of the roughly 300 fungi species in the park are toxic; identify before eating.
- Dogs and livestock
- Keep dogs under control around grazing animals and villages (check local signs).check
Where to stay
In the park
Uzana hotels and lodges
The main cluster of beds inside the park, with restaurants, an information centre and mountain rescue on site.
In the park
Etar area guesthouses
Small hotels and rental houses near the craft complex, convenient for the E85 sights.
Near the park
Gabrovo
Full range of hotels and hostels, 30–45 min from the Uzana trailheads.
Near the park
Tryavna and Shipka village
Quiet bases on the north-east and south sides of the park.
Safety
Getting lost on unmarked paths medium
Winter conditions high
Afternoon storms in summer medium
Wild animals low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Etar complex, Sokolski Monastery and the Shipka memorial park are reached by car with short, mostly level walks.
- The Uzana ecotrail is the easiest marked walk, but it is a forest path with roots and uneven ground rather than a paved route.
- The First Steps circles climb to Ispolin peak and the geographical centre; steep and rough, not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins away from the Uzana hotels.
- Buy from the craft workshops at Etar and eat in the villages so the park's communities benefit.
- Stay on marked trails through the beech forest to limit damage to the 31 protected plant species.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Nature Park Bulgarka?
Nothing. It is a nature park rather than a national park, so there is no gate, no ticket and no entry fee, and you can enter at any time. The ticketed sights inside or beside it — Etar, the Shipka memorial tower — are charged separately.
What are the best hikes in Nature Park Bulgarka?
The two maintained trails from Uzana are the safest choices. The Uzana ecotrail is a 1.5-hour forest loop with information boards and shelters. The First Steps for Magician Beginners route has a 3-hour first circle to Ispolin peak with views to Koprinka lake, and a 2-hour second circle past the geographical centre of Bulgaria to the Baba Yaga summer-house.
When is the best time to visit Nature Park Bulgarka?
May to October. June to September is warm and mostly dry, with summer highs near 23°C, and October brings autumn colour. December to March is a snow season: Uzana runs as a small ski area and the walking trails are unmarked under snow.
Do I need a guide or a permit?
No. There is no entry permit for walking, and fishing, herb gathering and mushroom gathering for personal use need no licence. A guide is only worth arranging if you plan to leave the marked Uzana trails.
How do I get to Nature Park Bulgarka without a car?
Take the train to Plachkovtsi or Krustets on the Gorna Oryahovitsa–Plovdiv line for the eastern side, or a bus to Gabrovo and then a taxi or local bus towards Uzana. There is regular bus service between Kazanluk and Gabrovo that stops at the Shipka memorial.
Is Uzana the same as Nature Park Bulgarka?
No. Uzana is the alpine meadow and resort area inside the park, at the geographical centre of Bulgaria. It is the main trailhead and where most of the park's hotels are, but the park itself covers about 220 km² of the central Stara Planina.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go