Tourism statisticsCountry2026
Bulgaria Tourism Statistics: 5.6M Arrivals in 2022
Bulgaria recorded 5.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2022, UN Tourism reports, via Our World in Data. This counts people crossing a border, so domestic trips are not in it. AirROI estimates 153,826 Airbnb stays in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026, with Sofia the most booked city. The busiest month was August.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 774,019
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 5.0 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- August
- From abroad, among guests who left a review
- 78%
Key facts
Bulgaria Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- UN Tourism puts Bulgaria at 5.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2022, via Our World in Data.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in Bulgaria at 153,826 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Bulgaria added up to 774,019 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in Bulgaria lasted 5.0 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 37 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks August the busiest Airbnb month in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by July and September, with January the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the six busiest Airbnb months in Bulgaria ran unbroken from May to October in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Bulgaria in July were booked furthest ahead, about 53 days, against 22 days for November, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 78% of Bulgaria Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by the United Kingdom at 12% and Germany at 8.3%.
By place
- AirROI ranks Bulgaria 25th for Airbnb stays among Europe's 45 countries in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Sofia had the most Airbnb stays of the 16 towns it lists in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026, at 66,307, ahead of Varna and Plovdiv.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit Bulgaria?
UN Tourism counted 5.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2022, via Our World in Data.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6 millionInternational tourist arrivals | Trips by visitors arriving from abroad who stay at least one night, each arrival counted separately | 2022 | UN Tourism, via Our World in Data |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in Bulgaria
Bulgaria had 10,605 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 153,826 stays and 774,019 nights. A typical stay lasted 5.0 nights and was booked about 37 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 49 towns it tracks in Bulgaria; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 10,605
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 153,826
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 774,019
- Typical stay
- 5.0 nights
- Booked ahead
- 37 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in Bulgaria?
On Airbnb, August was the busiest month in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026, then July and September. January was the quietest. The six busiest months run unbroken from May to October.
August ranks first, January last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: August, July, September, June, October, May, December, November, February, March, April, January.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| August | 11.0% | 49 days |
| July | 10.3% | 53 days |
| September | 9.6% | 30 days |
| June | 9.0% | 35 days |
| October | 8.6% | 28 days |
| May | 8.3% | 33 days |
| December | 7.8% | 32 days |
| November | 7.3% | 22 days |
| February | 7.3% | 27 days |
| March | 7.2% | 23 days |
| April | 7.1% | 28 days |
| January | 6.5% | 25 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Bulgaria Airbnb Guests Come From?
Among Bulgaria Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 78% came from abroad, led by the United Kingdom at 12% and Germany at 8.3%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Sofia was the top origin city at 12%, ahead of London at 3.7%. The figures rest on 372,845 reviews, written over many years.
78% from abroad
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From abroad 78%
- From within Bulgaria 22%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in Bulgaria
Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv took 65% of Airbnb stays in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026. August is the busiest Airbnb month in 5 of the 16 towns, led by Varna, and July in 5, led by Burgas. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 49% in Stara Zagora to 89% in Slanchev Bryag.
| Sofia | 66,307 |
| Varna | 17,771 |
| Plovdiv | 16,639 |
| Bansko | 8,905 |
| Burgas | 6,034 |
| Veliko Tarnovo | 4,890 |
| Sozopol | 2,856 |
| Nesebar | 2,813 |
| Stara Zagora | 1,921 |
| Sveti Vlas | 1,805 |
| Ruse | 1,672 |
| Samokov | 1,567 |
| Pomorie | 1,145 |
| Razlog | 1,107 |
| Balchik | 1,039 |
| Slanchev Bryag | 819 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. Lists the 16 of Bulgaria's 49 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in Bulgaria
How many tourists visit Bulgaria?
Bulgaria had 5.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2022, according to UN Tourism, via Our World in Data. Domestic trips are not in that count. AirROI estimates 153,826 Airbnb stays in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in Bulgaria?
The busiest Airbnb month in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026 was August, then July and September. The six busiest months run from May to October.
What is the quietest month in Bulgaria?
January was the quietest Airbnb month in Bulgaria in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and April ranked 11th. Stays in January were booked about 25 days ahead, against 53 days for July.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in Bulgaria?
A typical Airbnb stay in Bulgaria lasted 5.0 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 37 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 4.1 nights in September to 6.1 nights in July.
Where do Airbnb guests in Bulgaria come from?
Of Bulgaria Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 78% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were the United Kingdom at 12% and Germany at 8.3%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Sofia at 12%, ahead of London at 3.7%.
What is the most booked town in Bulgaria on Airbnb?
Sofia was the most booked town in Bulgaria on Airbnb, with an estimated 66,307 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Varna and Plovdiv.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. UN Tourism counts international tourist arrivals (5.6 million in 2022). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 153,826 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 49 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 372,845 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.