Sliven Travel Guide, Bulgaria

Sliven, Travel guide – Location

Sliven is a picturesque city located in eastern Bulgaria not far from the Black Sea shore, the capital city Sofia and Varna.Sliven travel guide has interesting information to present on the city. Just read below!

Sliven, Travel guide – Geography

The city is set at the foot hills of Sliven Mountain, reaching 1181m in their highest point, and is spread towards Sliven Plains in the south and east. The general topography is characterized by low hills and small valleys which create a unique and very attractive landscape.

The city has a transitional continental climate with milder temperatures all year round. The presence of the mountains acts like a moderating factor so winters won’t get too cold and summers too hot. A peculiar wind is also very present here, it is called “Bora” and usually blows in wither bringing cold air.

Three rivers cross the city of Sliven, Selishtka, Asenovska and Novoselska, shaping up beautiful valleys. The rivers represent the main fresh water source of the city together with several mineral springs located nearby.

Sliven, Travel guide – Flora and Fauna

Flora and fauna in Sliven are rich and diverse in spite of the intense human activities which take place here. Numerous trees can be observed throughout parks and gardens, especially beech, oak and elm. The elm tree is also a symbol of Sliven, certain important historic events being related to it. The cultivated species are represented by vines and fruit trees due to favorable topography and climate. The beautiful hills of Sliven are famous in Bulgaria for their peach orchards and for the high quality wine and brandy.

Fauna is also represented by several bird species, amphibians, reptiles and mammals which can be found near the rivers and in the few parks and other green areas in town. The waters of the three local rivers abound in fish especially carp, attracting numerous local fishermen and tourists.

Sliven, Travel guide – Transport

There are numerous ways to get to Sliven and one of the fastest is by plane. Bourgas International Airport is the nearest airport located in Bourgas, which is also a sea port, the. Transfer to the city can be made by regular bus route, train or you can rent a car from one of the local companies. Driving to Sliven will give you more flexibility and also the chance to see more of the beautiful places in Bulgaria. You can also travel by sea arriving again in Bourgas and then transfer to Sliven.

Within the city tourists can use the public transport system connecting efficiently different parts of the city or they can choose to walk in order to get a better look on the city and its attractions.

Sliven, Travel guide – Population and Economy

Sliven is one of the most populous cities in Bulgaria numbering about 112.000 people. The main ethnic groups here are the Bulgarians followed by Roma, Turks and Armenians and the main religion is Christian Orthodox.

The main economic activities in Sliven are agriculture, light industry, tourism, food industry and commerce. Due to the presence of important areas cultivated with vines, the wine industry has an important role here. Diary products are processed by several small factories and distributed throughout the country, carpet and wood manufacturers are famous as well for their work and the numerous natural attractions are the main element for a flourishing tourism.

Sliven, Travel guide – Cuisine

Sliven cuisine is characteristic for the Balkans and is mainly based on pork meat, diary products, many vegetables, aromatic herbs and more. Every meal is accompanied by savory salads, different sauces and of course a bottle of good local wine. The most poplar dishes here are the shkembe chorba, a soup made with pieces of cattle stomach and served with sour cream, mish mash, which is a combination of chopped vegetables served with boiled eggs and cheese, babek, which is a flat sausage made of lamb meat and so on.

Desserts are appreciated as well especially the very sweet ones like the Turkish baklava, the Kozunak, and Kompot made with boiled fruits and fruit syrup. The most common beverages are the mineral water, very appreciated here, coffee, beer, wine and brandy.