Bulgaria Outbound Travel Surges In August 2026 With Greece, Türkiye And Europe Leading Choices

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Bulgarians made more than 1.1 million international trips in August 2026. This increased international tourism from Bulgaria during the peak month for travel. Unlike 2025, when the pandemic limited travel, most Bulgarians preferred trips in the European Union in 2026.

According to preliminary figures from Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute, the number of overseas trips made by Bulgarian citizens increased by 3.5% compared with August 2025, showing continued demand for international travel despite changing tourism trends across Europe.

The latest figures highlight the strong appeal of neighbouring countries, with Greece and Türkiye emerging as the leading destinations for Bulgarian travellers. Both countries attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors from Bulgaria during the month, supported by their close geographical location, popular coastal resorts, cultural attractions and well-established travel connections.

Greece And Türkiye Lead Bulgaria’s Outbound Travel Surge In August 2026

Greece remained the most preferred international destination for Bulgarian travellers in August 2026, welcoming around 321,600 trips from Bulgarian residents. The country’s Mediterranean beaches, island escapes, historic sites and family-friendly holiday options continued to make it a top choice during the summer travel season.

Türkiye followed closely in second place, recording approximately 288,500 Bulgarian trips during the same period. The country benefited from strong demand for coastal holidays, shopping experiences, cultural tourism and affordable travel options, particularly in popular destinations along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.

The continued dominance of Greece and Türkiye reflects the importance of regional tourism links for Bulgarian travellers. Shorter travel distances, convenient road connections and competitive holiday packages have helped neighbouring destinations maintain their position among Bulgaria’s most visited foreign markets.

Beyond the two leading destinations, Bulgarian travellers also showed strong interest in several European countries, with Romania ranking third in popularity. Around 78,900 trips were recorded to Romania in August 2026, highlighting the importance of cross-border travel within Southeast Europe.

Serbia followed with 72,400 Bulgarian trips, while Germany secured fifth place with 67,300 visits from Bulgarian residents. The country’s role as a major European economic hub and a destination for both tourism and personal travel contributed to its strong position.

Italy France Austria And Spain Complete Bulgaria’s Top Foreign Destinations

The list of the most visited foreign destinations by Bulgarian travellers in August 2026 also included several major European tourism markets.

Italy, France, Austria, North Macedonia and Spain completed the top ten destinations for Bulgarian outbound travel during the month.

Italy continued to attract visitors with its combination of historic cities, cultural experiences, Mediterranean landscapes and popular holiday regions. France remained a significant choice for travellers seeking city breaks, heritage tourism and leisure experiences, while Austria benefited from demand linked to European mobility and tourism.

North Macedonia maintained its appeal due to its proximity, natural attractions and cultural connections with Bulgaria. Meanwhile, Spain continued to attract Bulgarian visitors with its beaches, warm climate and diverse tourism experiences.

The outbound travel data indicates that Bulgarian travellers are increasingly exploring a mix of neighbouring countries and wider European destinations, balancing convenient short-distance journeys with traditional holiday markets.

Foreign Visits To Bulgaria Decline Slightly Despite Strong Regional Demand

While Bulgarian citizens increased their international travel during August 2026, inbound tourism to Bulgaria recorded a moderate decline.

The country welcomed approximately 2.22 million foreign visits during the month, representing a 2.1% decrease compared with August 2025.

Romania remained the largest source market for international visitors to Bulgaria, contributing around 419,200 visits. The strong Romanian presence reflects close geographical links, easy road access and continued interest in Bulgaria’s coastal and cultural destinations.

Türkiye ranked second among foreign visitor markets with 346,500 visits, followed by Germany with 212,400 visits. Ukraine also remained an important source market, accounting for around 174,600 visits during the month.

The figures show that Bulgaria continues to attract visitors from neighbouring countries and key European markets, although overall foreign arrivals experienced a slight slowdown compared with the previous year.

Transit Travel Dominates Foreign Movement Through Bulgaria During Summer

The decline in foreign visits was influenced by changes across different travel categories. Business-related visits decreased by 5.5% year on year, while holiday trips fell by 3.9%.

At the same time, transit journeys represented a significant share of international movement through Bulgaria. Nearly 38% of all foreign visits recorded during August were linked to transit travel.

Bulgaria’s location between Europe and Türkiye, along major regional transport routes, makes it an important corridor for travellers moving between different parts of the continent. The high proportion of transit journeys reflects the country’s role as a connection point for road and regional mobility.

Despite the decline in some visitor categories, Bulgaria’s tourism sector continued to experience significant international activity during one of the busiest travel months of the year.

Summer Travel Trends Highlight Bulgaria’s Strong Regional Tourism Connections

The August 2026 travel figures underline the strong relationship between Bulgaria and neighbouring tourism markets. Greece and Türkiye remained the dominant choices for Bulgarian travellers, while Romania, Serbia and Germany also maintained significant positions.

The data also shows changing patterns in inbound tourism, with fewer business and leisure visits compared with the previous year. However, Bulgaria continued to welcome millions of international visitors, supported by its geographical position, coastal attractions, cultural heritage and regional accessibility.

As European travel patterns continue to evolve, Bulgaria’s tourism performance will depend on maintaining strong regional connections while expanding its appeal among wider international markets. The August results provide a detailed picture of how both outbound and inbound travel flows are shifting across Southeast Europe during the peak holiday season.