From mountain fairways to the Black Sea: our golf trip through Bulgaria

Bulgaria may not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a golf trip, but that is part of its appeal. A Bulgaria golf holiday offers quality courses, spacious accommodation, impressive scenery and excellent value, without the crowds found in some of Europe’s more established golf destinations.

Our five-night trip took place in mid-August, a good time to visit for warm weather and long days. For slightly milder golfing conditions, May and September are also excellent choices.

The trip took us from the mountains surrounding Bansko to the Black Sea coast. Along the way, we stayed at three very different resorts and played four of Bulgaria’s leading courses: Pirin Golf, Lighthouse Golf, BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs.

When we arrived in Sofia, a private transfer was waiting to take us to our first stop. The journey from Sofia Airport to Pirin Golf & Country Club takes around two hours, depending on traffic. Transfers are included and arranged as part of Golfbreaks packages, so once we had collected our luggage, the rest of the journey was taken care of.

That sense of ease continued throughout the trip. Everyone we met was friendly and happy to help, while the excellent weather made for a relaxed introduction to golf in Bulgaria.

The variety was another major attraction. In one trip, we could play beneath the Pirin Mountains before travelling east for clifftop golf overlooking the Black Sea. Few European golf destinations offer such a dramatic change of scenery within the same itinerary.

Insider tip: A multi-centre trip is the best way to experience Bulgaria's contrasting landscapes. Having the transfers arranged in advance made travelling between the mountain and coastal resorts straightforward.

Our first two nights were spent at Pirin Golf & Country Club, a large resort in the Razlog Valley beneath the Pirin Mountains.

The resort has the feel of an upmarket ski lodge, with alpine-style buildings, warm interiors and spectacular views. Our accommodation was extremely spacious and felt more like a private mountain apartment than a traditional hotel room, making Pirin a comfortable option for couples and groups.

Although the resort covers a large area, getting around was easy. Buggies are available to transport guests between the accommodation, restaurants and facilities, while much of the property can also be explored on foot.

There is an all-inclusive option and a choice of seven a la carte restaurants, so we had plenty of variety during our stay. Bansko is also around a 10-minute drive away, giving guests the option to explore beyond the resort.

During the change of seasons, it is possible to combine golf with skiing. Bansko’s ski season can continue into April, creating a short window for time on the slopes alongside a round at Pirin, subject to snow and course conditions.

The Ian Woosnam Course was an excellent start to our trip. It was in very good condition, but it was the setting that made the biggest impression.

This is a mountain resort course rather than a links layout, with broad fairways moving through rugged terrain and native vegetation. Its main defence comes from 80 bunkers, four lakes and a river, so careful positioning matters even when there appears to be plenty of room from the tee. The bunkering gives the course a noticeably more strategic feel than the open coastal layouts later in the trip, while the changes in elevation keep the mountain backdrop in view.

It is challenging enough to remain interesting, but the relaxed resort atmosphere is never lost. Quite often, we found ourselves pausing between shots to take in the view.

Together, the golf, spacious accommodation and alpine surroundings make Pirin feel like a complete destination in its own right.

After two nights at Pirin, we travelled east towards the Black Sea coast. The transfer to Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort covers roughly 540 kilometres and takes around six and a half to seven hours by road, so it is worth treating this as a travel day and planning a comfort stop along the way. Watching the landscape change from rugged mountain scenery to open coastal terrain became one of the most memorable parts of the itinerary.

Our base for the next two nights was Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort. The transfers between the resorts and courses were organised for us, removing the need to hire a car or plan each journey independently.

Lighthouse has more of a traditional hotel feel than Pirin, although the rooms are similarly generous in size. Each has a balcony overlooking either the golf course or the sea.

The resort also offers an all-inclusive option and has three restaurants, including two a la carte choices and a buffet restaurant. It made a convenient and comfortable base for exploring the Black Sea courses.

One of its biggest advantages is the access it provides to Lighthouse Golf Club 9on-site), BlackSeaRama (about 5 minutes away), and Thracian Cliffs (a 15 minute transfer). Transfers are available to all three, allowing golfers to experience contrasting courses while remaining at one resort.

For larger parties, Lighthouse is likely to be the most practical base. It offers the space, dining options and flexibility needed for a group trip, with straightforward access to the region's headline courses.

Lighthouse Golf Club provides an enjoyable challenge and rewards thoughtful course management. It is an open, gently rolling, links-style resort course rather than a layout that runs directly beside the sea. Its generous fairways make it playable for a range of handicaps, but deep fairway bunkers, exposed coastal winds and five lakes place a premium on positioning and club selection.

The experience is also about more than the golf. The popular halfway hut provides a memorable stopping point and adds to the sociable atmosphere of the round.

Staying at the adjoining hotel made everything particularly convenient. We could move easily between our accommodation, the practice facilities and the first tee, while the organised transfers opened up the other courses nearby.

Our next round was at BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas. This Gary Player design is a classic clifftop links-style course, with wide fairways, oversized greens and very few trees. It felt more exposed than Lighthouse, with the wind providing much of the challenge and its elevated plateau creating expansive views across the Black Sea. Although it overlooks the coast, most of the holes occupy the open clifftop rather than running immediately beside the water.

The 18th was a particular highlight and one of the most memorable finishing holes of the trip. It captures much of what makes BlackSeaRama special, combining strong course design with a beautiful coastal setting.

The resort is also a good alternative base for groups, particularly those who prefer villa-style accommodation and a little more independence.

For our final night, we moved to Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort. Located a short transfer from Lighthouse, it immediately felt more private and exclusive.

Accommodation is provided in spacious apartment-style villas with large communal living areas. This makes the resort particularly well suited to couples, families and smaller groups looking for more space.

There are two restaurants but no all-inclusive option, and the resort sits at the more premium end of the market. For a special occasion or the standout final stop on a multi-centre trip, however, it is an excellent choice.

The golf course was absolutely breathtaking.

Carved into the cliffs above the Black Sea, it delivers one dramatic view after another. The Gary Player design follows around 4.5 kilometres of rugged coastline, with views of the sea from every hole. Several holes hug the cliff edge directly, creating forced carries, sharp elevation changes and far more dramatic tee shots than the broader, flatter layouts at Lighthouse and BlackSeaRama.

The sixth and seventh holes were particularly memorable. Standing on the elevated tees and looking along the coast was one of those moments that reminded us why we travel to play golf. The views are extraordinary, but the quality and condition of the course ensure the golf lives up to the setting.

Thracian Cliffs is more than a beautiful course. It is a genuine bucket-list experience and was the perfect finale to our trip.

Each resort offered something different, so the right choice depends on the type of trip you are planning.

• Pirin Golf & Country Club: Best for mountain scenery, spacious accommodation and access to Bansko. Its all-inclusive option and wide restaurant choice also make it suitable for a longer stay.
• Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort: The most convenient base for groups wanting to play the three leading courses on the Black Sea coast.
• BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas: A strong option for coastal scenery and villa-style accommodation, particularly for golfers who prefer more independence.
• Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort: The premium choice for couples and smaller groups looking for a special final stop and unforgettable golf.

Bulgaria delivered everything we wanted from a European golf trip: varied courses, spacious accommodation, welcoming service and excellent value. The combination of competitively priced packages, included transfers and optional all-inclusive stays means much of the cost can be covered before travelling, with less additional spending required once at the resorts.

What made the trip stand out was the contrast between its two main golf regions. Playing beneath the Pirin Mountains felt completely different from teeing off above the Black Sea, yet both experiences fitted naturally into the same itinerary.

Our journey covered five nights, three resorts and four courses, but it felt like several holidays rolled into one. From Pirin's mountain fairways to the clifftop drama of Thracian Cliffs, Bulgaria offered variety at every stage and saved its most unforgettable views for the final round.

If you are looking for a golf destination that feels distinctive while remaining easy to explore, Bulgaria is an excellent choice.