{"id":187472,"date":"2018-06-05T21:33:29","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T19:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/?p=187472"},"modified":"2026-06-05T21:04:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:04:44","slug":"trail-running-bulgaria-vitosha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/trail-running-bulgaria-vitosha\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day Trip from Brussels? Fly to Bulgaria for Trail Running"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stuck in an office in Brussels with no idea where to go on your day off? If you love trail running in Bulgaria and being out in nature, take a leaf out of Eda Ko\u017eu\u0161n\u00edk&#8217;s book \u2014 the author of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.prostebez.cz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prost\u011b b\u011b\u017e<\/a> (Just Run), who spontaneously decided on a Sunday evening to fly to Bulgaria for a run the very next morning.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7087.jpg\" alt=\"Trail running in Bulgaria \u2013 Vitosha Mountains near Sofia\" width=\"640\" height=\"482\" title=\"\"><\/h2>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/trail-running-bulgaria-vitosha\/#I_packed_my_running_backpack_and_twelve_hours_later_I_was_standing_at_the_foot_of_the_Vitosha_Mountains\" >I packed my running backpack and twelve hours later I was standing at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/trail-running-bulgaria-vitosha\/#In_the_first_five_kilometres_you_climb_almost_800_metres\" >In the first five kilometres you climb almost 800 metres<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/trail-running-bulgaria-vitosha\/#3_things_that_stand_out_about_running_in_the_Bulgarian_mountains\" >3 things that stand out about running in the Bulgarian mountains<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_packed_my_running_backpack_and_twelve_hours_later_I_was_standing_at_the_foot_of_the_Vitosha_Mountains\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">I packed my running backpack and twelve hours later I was standing at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"y1A-FzcRzfw\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"3 rozd\u00edly na b\u011bh\u00e1n\u00ed v hor\u00e1ch v Bulharsku\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y1A-FzcRzfw?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\">Whit Monday is a public holiday in Belgium, and I always forget about it \u2014 so on Sunday morning I started scrambling for plans. I miss mountains in Brussels, so when I checked cheap flights, the decision was easy. A return ticket to Sofia (<em>Bulgarian:<\/em> C\u043e\u0444\u0438\u044f) cost just 18 EUR. Bargain.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52197\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Snapseed-1.jpg\" alt=\"View of Sofia and Vitosha Mountains from above\" width=\"640\" height=\"482\" title=\"\"><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\">I packed my running backpack and just twelve hours after making the decision, I was standing at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains, which form a stunning backdrop to Bulgaria&#8217;s capital. The beauty of these mountains is that they&#8217;re less than a 20-minute taxi ride from Sofia Airport. If you&#8217;re flying from London, budget airlines like Wizz Air and Ryanair offer direct routes to Sofia, so you can easily replicate this kind of spontaneous adventure.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_the_first_five_kilometres_you_climb_almost_800_metres\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">In the first five kilometres you climb almost 800 metres<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/FullSizeRender.jpg\" alt=\"Trail running path in Vitosha Mountains, Bulgaria\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\">The run itself starts off as more of a brisk hike. Over the first five kilometres you gain almost 800 metres of elevation. As you climb, the terrain changes \u2014 mostly forest trails at first, but higher up expect loose gravel and huge boulders. I&#8217;d strongly recommend trail shoes. Road runners simply won&#8217;t cut it here, especially on the steep descent back down.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_things_that_stand_out_about_running_in_the_Bulgarian_mountains\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">3 things that stand out about running in the Bulgarian mountains<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The altitude.<\/strong> You&#8217;re running high. The Vitosha massif has 10 peaks above 2,000 metres, the highest being Cherni Vrah (2,290 m). Lower down, you&#8217;ll pass through vast coniferous and deciduous forests. Higher up, classic alpine meadows take over. The plateau called Platoto is a striking wetland landscape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-52203 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Snapseed.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain meadows and wetlands on Vitosha plateau\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Trail markings leave a lot to be desired.<\/strong> The signage is an odd mix of socialist-era relics and hastily spent EU grants. There&#8217;s no real system to it, and without GPS on my phone I&#8217;d have been seriously lost. On the other hand, better signage wouldn&#8217;t make much sense given how few people are up here. In four hours of lovely weather, I passed just three other hikers. So forget about buying anything along the way \u2014 but if you&#8217;re after beautiful, crowd-free scenery, you&#8217;ve come to the right place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7179.jpg\" alt=\"Empty trail with panoramic views in Vitosha, Bulgaria\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bulgaria is incredibly affordable.<\/strong> Accommodation, restaurants, transport \u2014 everything is significantly cheaper than in Western Europe or the UK. Your pounds will stretch a very long way here. You can find great deals on <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Booking.com\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/doporucujeme\/booking-com\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Booking.com<\/a> for stays in Sofia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52204\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7136.jpg\" alt=\"Delicious Bulgarian food after a trail run\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\">I always say I run so I can eat whatever I want, in whatever quantity. Bulgaria delivered on both fronts \u2014 an unforgettable trail experience and absolutely brilliant food. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my day and a half. And if you ask me about trail running in Bulgaria? <strong>My answer: Just run!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stuck in an office in Brussels with a surprise day off? Get inspired by Eda Ko\u017eu\u0161n\u00edk, author of Prost\u011b b\u011b\u017e (Just Run), who spontaneously decided to fly to Bulgaria for a day of trail running in the Vitosha Mountains near Sofia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":52199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","rank_math_title":"Trail Running in Bulgaria: A Day Trip to Vitosha","rank_math_description":"Discover trail running in Bulgaria's Vitosha Mountains \u2014 just a short flight from Brussels. 800m elevation, empty trails & cheap eats. Read the full story!","rank_math_focus_keyword":"trail running Bulgaria","rank_math_seo_score":""},"categories":[326,320],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-187472","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"category-travel"},"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_7087.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Lucie Kone\u010dn\u00e1","author_link":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/author\/lucie-konecna\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187472"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":187480,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187472\/revisions\/187480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}