Melnik, Bulgaria, is a little town that many visitors to the country would not know much about. I personally have been here a couple of times on long trips, and it only came onto my own radar recently. Now, it is one of my favorite places in Bulgaria. Melnik is deserving of at least a daytrip, and if you are in Sofia, it’s not that hard to get to.
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Table of Contents
- Where is Melnik?
- About Melnik
- How to get to Melnik
- Things to do in Melnik
- Places to stay in Melnik
- Trips and Tours
- Summary
Where is Melnik?
Melnik is located about 132 kilometers south of Sofia, however that distance is longer by road. Geographically, it can be found in South Western Bulgaria, and only 30 Kilometers from the Greek Border.
Melnik, while technically part of the Pirin Mountains, lies in the foothills of the range, surrounded by the famous Melnik Sand Pyramids, or Sand Castles.
About Melnik
Did you know that the legendary Gladiator Spartacus was from Melnik?
Melnik lies at the base of the Pirin Mountains in South Western Bulgaria, only 30 Kilometers from the Greek Border. It has a dwindling population that sits currently at 208 permanent residents. I’m not sure that it is still large enough to actually be called a town, but heritage listings and status allow it to maintain the title.
The history of Melnik begins around the time that the Thracian Medi Tribe settled the area. This is the same people that Spartacus belonged to. Several centuries later the Romans came and occupied the area, leaving behind a Roman Bridge that is still located in the town. Over ensuing years and centuries, Melnik saw Slavic occupation, who gave the town the name of Melnik after the Sand Pyramids, and then Ottoman Rule, Russian Rule, and finally the Bulgarian Revival period arrived.
There was a long period of time that the town prospered, around the 18th and 19th Centuries. In this time the Vineyards thrived, and trade with the duty free city of Dubrovnik saw the wines of Melnik become famous as far off as Austria and England, and trade flourished with places like Venice, Genoa, Budapest and Istanbul.
Whilst under Ottoman Rule the area of Melnik was bloated with a population of nearly 10,000 residents, the majority of which were Greek, hence the large interest in wines and vineyards. During the second Balkan War in 1913, Melnik and the area surrounding it became a permanent part of Bulgaria, and the Greek population were ordered back to Greece. This devastated the size of the town, and is the main reason that Melnik is now the smallest town in Bulgaria.
DID YOU KNOW? The grapes and wines of Melnik are famous worldwide. Even though the majority of visitors are “local” from around Bulgaria, or across the border in Greece, Melnik wines are actually exported vast distances into Europe and beyond. In fact, they are so highly rated, that throughout history they have had a few famous admirers.
The most famous of them all would have to be the ex British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. He loved the broadleaf Melnik grape so much that he had an annual standing order of 500L delivered to his residence in London. In fact, his annual delivery was so important to him, that even during World War II when Bulgaria was under Nazi occupation, the orders never ceased. Rumor has it that elite squads were sent behind enemy lines to ensure safe delivery of the wine. Now THAT’S commitment!
How to get to Melnik
Getting to Melnik isn’t easy as there are not that many public transport options. If you are in Sofia though, you will find that it is a lot easier to get to Melnik. Personally, when I first wanted to visit, I was in Bansko, and even though it is closer than Sofia, I had to actually return to Sofia first.
So if you are in Sofia, here are a couple of options you have for visiting.
- Car – This is the most obvious, and probably the easiest way to get there. The trip is around 180 kilometers by road and will most likely take around 3 hours. The drive is gorgeous, especially as you pass through Vesna Gorge.
- Bus – It is possible to catch the bus from Sofia to Melnik. These services run once a day, but be wary of this timetable. Many of the public bus services in Bulgaria are slowly disappearing due to lack of need. Most services running from centers such as Sofia and Plovdiv still run though. Taking the bus to Melnik will mean that you most likely will need overnight accommodation at a minimum, as there is only one service per day at this stage. There are other services from smaller towns nearer to Melnik, but once again, be wary of the timetables.
- On a Tour – If you are traveling and don’t have your own car, then this is probably the best way to see Melnik. A one day tour from Sofia will take you to all the best sites in the town and surrounds, and you pretty much get to see everything. Some tour companies will even do 2 and 3 day tours where you get to experience hiking and more wine tasting. Check the section further in this article for recommended tours.
Are you planning on renting a car or driving when you are overseas? Then make sure you are fully covered by having your International Driver’s Permit. Find out more, or pick one up easily at THIS LINK.
Things to do in Melnik
Melnik is the smallest town in Bulgaria, so you would be forgiven for thinking that there is not much to do there. In reality, the list is actually rather limited, but it’s not the quantity of activities that people come to experience. It’s the quality.
So let’s take a look at a few of the things to do in Melnik.
- Wine Tasting – This is one of the big reasons that people drive from all over Bulgaria, and even from Greece to visit. There are some world famous Wineries in and around the town, and the wine tasting is next level! My favorite is Villa Melnik, and even though I was traveling with just a backpack, I still picked up a bottle of red to take with me.
- Sand Pyramids – One of things that makes Melnik famous is its incredible Sand Pyramids, or Sand Castles. These are an incredible geological phenomena that completely surround the town, and stretch out around other local villages as well. Take a drive and explore, or better still, go for a hike! Just don’t forget your camera.
- Visit the Wine Museum – This is located towards the top end of the main street, and is perfect for wine enthusiasts that may not have their own transport to get to the Wineries. Inside, you can check out all the wines in the district, and even do some tastings for a minimal fee.
- Kordopulov House – This house was built by a Greek Wine Trader in the year 1754, and is open today as a museum. Like the houses in Plovdiv old town, you can take a tour of this house and see how they lived in the past. My favorite parts were the open air terrace that has a map of Bulgaria in the stones, and a tree planted right where Melnik is located, and the incredible wine cellar dug into the rock under the house.
- Eat and Drink – It sounds strange, but this is one of the reasons many make the trek to this little town. Along the main street you can find some really wonderful, open air restaurants. Sit under the beautiful trees, eat Bulgarian traditional food, and drink wine until your friends have to roll you home.
- Rozhen Monastery – This beautiful little Monastery is located about a 10 minute drive down the road. It’s nothing like Rila or Bachkovo Monastery, but being smaller it is also a lot more intimate. The grounds around the church are beautiful, especially when the trees and vines are green and the flowers blooming. Keep a look out for the signpost between the carpark and the entrance that points through the horse paddock toward a panoramic viewpoint. It’s worth the 15 minute hike to see!
Places to stay in Melnik
Melnik is not a very large town, as we have already discovered. But there are still places to stay, although I wouldn’t really recommend staying long term. This is a small town remember, and I have heard of people turning up to issues such as no hot water etc. Remember though, that these are issues that can be commonplace when you stay in remote locales. I have had similar issues just staying in Sofia!
For a quick and easy list of all the options available, check the below link to booking.com.
To narrow it down a little more, check out these options, that have always received good reviews.
SININKOVA HOUSE
A really nice house set in a great location in town. The rooms are neat and tidy, everything is within easy walking distance, and the premises even make their own wines!
MANOLEVA HOUSE
Manoleva House is a very modern house built in traditional Style. From its elevated location you get nice views, and the breakfasts at the property are delicious. What really makes Manoleva House a great place to stay though is the owners who are the nicest people and wonderful hosts!
Trips and Tours
If you are in Bulgaria and really want to visit Melnik (which you should) then the easiest way to do that is from Sofia on a day trip. There are several options available, and I personally went through them all when I was looking for a way to visit as well. Here are my choices for a tour to get you there.
- Full day tour to Rila Monastery and Melnik – This is the tour that I did, and I highly recommend it. Our guide Maya was informative, and knew all the local history and information. She took us to spots that we certainly would not have found ourselves. You will drive from Sofia, directly there through the incredible Vesna Gorge, visit the Rozhen Monastery, Kordopulov House, and then Melnik itself. On the way home to Sofia you will stop and do a guided tour of the wonderful Rila Monastery. Click HERE for details.
- From Sofia – Private Day trip to Melnik and Rupite – I personally have not done this tour, but it is another option available to you if you want a more private tour. As a side note though, the tour I did only had me and one other couple on it, so it was almost a private tour anyway, and a lot cheaper! If you are interested in checking out this option, click HERE.
Summary
Melnik is an amazing, picturesque and unique little town in Bulgaria. If you love wines, incredible landscapes, history and just having a darn good time, then a trip to Melnik is definitely for you.
Just remember not to drive and drive!
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