Vagabond, Bulgaria's English Magazine

Vagabond, Bulgaria's English Magazine The one and only high-end English magazine for expats and foreigners living in Bulgaria Vagabond is Bulgaria's first and only high-end English monthly magazine.

With articles on travel, fashion, sports, politics, real estate, arts and entertainment, plus interviews, listings, reviews and much more, we cater to all the needs of foreigners living in Bulgaria, as well as those living abroad with an interest in Bulgaria. We deliver fresh, informative, independent journalism and a unique perspective, providing an unrivaled window on Bulgaria for the English-speaking world.

🎉🎂20 years of Vagabond❤️🇧🇬When the first issue of Vagabond hit the newsstand, in September 2006, Bulgaria and the world ...
04/09/2026

🎉🎂20 years of Vagabond

❤️🇧🇬When the first issue of Vagabond hit the newsstand, in September 2006, Bulgaria and the world were so different that from today's standpoint it seems as though they were in another geological era. Two economic crises, a pandemic and a war that threatens to turn global were still in the future. Bulgaria's Boyko Borisov was just a rising star, not a cunning politician who would rule the country for close to two decades. Social media was yet to be born. Targeted advertising was in its infancy. Print media prospered. There was no AI slop.

🥳We are still here. Whatever happens, one thing is certain – we stick together to give our readers the best experience.

Browse through some of our past covers to see how we have changed over the years.

See more here: https://vagabond.bg/20-years-vagabond-5183

🥼🦷Dr Branimir Kirilov, a leading implantologist, oral surgeon and founder of Medical Dent Dental Clinic   Medical Dent, ...
02/09/2026

🥼🦷Dr Branimir Kirilov, a leading implantologist, oral surgeon and founder of Medical Dent Dental Clinic Medical Dent, keeps a demanding schedule: treating both straightforward and complex cases, attending conferences and training programmes, and managing a team of professionals. Drawing on this experience, he has identified a growing problem in modern Bulgaria – and he is ready to offer a practical solution.

An increasing number of Bulgarians choose low-cost dental procedures
abroad without fully understanding the risks involved. Complications are often unavoidable, and treating them can be both expensive and time-consuming. In response, Dr Kirilov has launched the national campaign "Choose Treatment in Bulgaria", which aims to encourage patients to seek care in Bulgaria, provide more affordable access to highly specialised dental treatment, and help build the next generation of qualified professionals.

❓What is the core philosophy behind the "Choose Treatment in Bulgaria" campaign?

‼️Our goal is to raise awareness of the problem. People need to understand that there are established treatment protocols, and that these must be followed if treatment is to be genuinely effective.
A possible solution at national level is to create opportunities for young dentists to undertake specialist training in quality Bulgarian dental clinics and, during that period, provide treatment at reduced prices.

Medical Dent, for example, is licensed as a postgraduate training centre for dentists in several specialities. The programme's theoretical component and examinations are conducted through Sofia University. Such training opportunities allow dentists in specialist training to treat patients at prices lower than standard commercial rates, which reflect a clinician's qualifications and the years of training they have invested in their career.

Read the entire interview here: https://vagabond.bg/dr-branimir-kirilov-choose-treatment-bulgaria-5184

🎉🎂2️⃣0️⃣😮This issue is very special for us! We celebrate 20 years of Vagabond Magazine!!!
01/09/2026

🎉🎂2️⃣0️⃣😮This issue is very special for us! We celebrate 20 years of Vagabond Magazine!!!

🇧🇬🌊 Cape Shabla lighthouse☝️Altitude above sea level: 37 m Built: 1856The oldest lighthouse on the Bulgarian Black Sea c...
26/08/2026

🇧🇬🌊 Cape Shabla lighthouse

☝️Altitude above sea level: 37 m

Built: 1856

The oldest lighthouse on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast was the first facility built by the Compagnie des Phares de l'Empire Ottoman in the region. On 31 March 1901, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale damaged the lighthouse; several months later the building was reinforced with a metal frame which can still be seen today. The lighthouse underwent an overhaul in 1934-1935, at a time when this part of the coast belonged to Romania.
Since then, the only changes to the lighthouse have been improvements to its optical system in 1957 and 1987.

Remains of the lighthouse's Ottoman origins are still visible today. A crescent and star adorn its roof, and the red tugra, or personal seal, of Abdülmecid I stands on one of its walls.

Find more lighthouses here: https://vagabond.bg/bulgarias-lighthouses-5144

📷 Anthony Georgieff

The investment markets shape the global economy, yet fewer people understand how they work, which investments are genuin...
26/08/2026

The investment markets shape the global economy, yet fewer people understand how they work, which investments are genuinely worthwhile and which trends have real staying power. Today, only some- one with decades of experience and a keen eye for emerging opportunities can confidently navigate the maze of futures, derivatives, swaps, short and long positions, ETFs, spreads and the tokenisation of assets. Martin Petrov is one of those people.

Mr Petrov has more than 25 years of experience as an investment banker, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, syndicated finance and structured transactions.

His primary business today is investing in publicly listed companies across the US, Europe, Canada and Asia. He is a shareholder and serves on the management of Sofia International Securities, an investment intermediary licensed by the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission, Serdika Capital, an asset management company also licensed by the Commission, and Microsmart, a non-bank lending institution licensed by the Bank of Greece that provides financing to small and medium-sized enterprises in Greece. As a member of the EFRAG group, he advises the European Commission on financial legislation.

❓When did you feel that investment was your true vocation?

❗We make investment decisions every day: where to study, where to work, what to buy, how to use our free time, with whom to spend time, what to be interested in. I have always liked to plan ahead, which helps a great deal with investing.

❓What is the most important quality of a business investment leader?

❗The ability to make decisions and take responsibility, both for your own decisions and those of your team. And keeping your word. In our business reputation is the main asset, especially with foreign partners.

The rest of the interview is here https://vagabond.bg/martin-petrov-taking-pulse-international-markets-5162

25/08/2026

🇧🇬🌊 Cape Emine lighthouse

☝️Altitude above sea level: 64.1 m

Built: 1880

Arguably the most picturesque lighthouse on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, the Cape Emine lighthouse stands 9.4 metres high at the vertiginous point where the Stara Planina mountain range meets the sea. Built in 1880 by the Compagnie des Phares de l'Empire Ottoman, it received new optics and electricity in 1962. It is now off limits as it is located within a military area.

The lighthouse remains vital for seafarers, as the waters around the cape are shallow and full of hidden rocks, and the prevailing strong winds often change direction.

Find more lighthouses here: https://vagabond.bg/bulgarias-lighthouses-5144

📷 Anthony Georgieff

Bozhidar Nikolov has been working in digital marketing for almost 20 years. In 2013, together with his business partner,...
25/08/2026

Bozhidar Nikolov has been working in digital marketing for almost 20 years. In 2013, together with his business partner, Lyubomir Zhivkov, he co-founded Дигитална Агенция Alpha Best, which has since become one of Bulgaria's leading digital agencies.

Over the years, Bozhidar has played a pivotal role in the development of more than 1,500 web projects for brands across the country, contributing both to their initial creation and their ongoing growth. He has also been a guest lecturer at SoftUni, the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at St Kliment Ohridski Sofia University, and has represented the business community on the university's State Examination Committee.

❓How did you discover that digital marketing was the career you wanted to pursue?

❗I have been working in digital marketing for almost 20 years, during which time I have delivered a wide range of digital services and solutions. What ultimately convinced me to build my career in this field was the transformation that the brands we work with are able to achieve. From creating a compelling digital presence for our clients, to seeing the impact of every improvement we implement, to building meaningful engagement with their target audiences and helping them achieve measurable results – every aspect of that journey can be tracked.

One of the most rewarding things about digital marketing is that success is tangible and measurable. Seeing the progress that comes from the time, expertise and energy you've invested is incredibly satisfying.

The rest of the interview is here https://vagabond.bg/bozhidar-nikolov-leadership-responsibility-5170

🇧🇬🌊 Port Burgas lighthouse☝️Altitude above sea level: 16.7 m Built: 1899Port Burgas was inaugurated by Prince Ferdinand ...
24/08/2026

🇧🇬🌊 Port Burgas lighthouse

☝️Altitude above sea level: 16.7 m

Built: 1899

Port Burgas was inaugurated by Prince Ferdinand I (1887-1918) in 1903 with a lavish ceremony. However, if everything had gone according to initial plans, the inauguration should have happened years earlier. The Bulgarian Parliament decided to build modern ports in Burgas and Varna to accommodate the growing trade as early as 1888. However, difficulties in finding a suitable developer meant that work was postponed several times. Construction of Port Burgas began in earnest in 1899. The 8.6-metre-high metal lighthouse that stands on the eastern mole today was built in the same year. It was installed by the French company Sautri & Harle and is now considered the oldest port lighthouse in Bulgaria.

Find more lighthouses here: https://vagabond.bg/bulgarias-lighthouses-5144

📷 Anthony Georgieff

When Attorney at law Hristofor Manchev and Attorney at law Zdravko Ivanov established their law firm in 2018, they decid...
24/08/2026

When Attorney at law Hristofor Manchev and Attorney at law Zdravko Ivanov established their law firm in 2018, they decided whose surname would appear first in its name in one of the oldest and most impartial ways, also known to the law: by drawing lots. From that moment on, however, nothing has been left to chance when it comes to serving their clients.

❓How did you choose the firm's professional focus?

❗It was a natural decision. Before qualifying as lawyers, both my partner and I had spent many years working in the financial sector. The experience we gained shaped our vision for the firm's development and the legal services we provide.

We have always believed that lawyers should develop deep specialist expertise. The law is an exceptionally broad field and no professional can be equally proficient in every area.
There is a well-known metaphor that medicine is the discipline closest to the law. Both professions shape people's lives. An unjust court ruling, like an unsuc- cessful operation, can have profound consequences.

If someone has an injured arm, they will consult an orthopaedic specialist rather than an ophthalmologist. The reason is specialisation. The same principle defines our philosophy: to provide highly specialised, practical and professionally grounded legal services in the fields where we have developed our strongest expertise.

The rest of the interview is here https://vagabond.bg/attorney-law-hristofor-manchev-trust-built-expertise-5163

😳🇧🇬Perperkion: City of Gods🔥🍷In the spring of 335 BC, Alexander III, the new king of Macedon, was climbing a hill in Thr...
07/08/2026

😳🇧🇬Perperkion: City of Gods

🔥🍷In the spring of 335 BC, Alexander III, the new king of Macedon, was climbing a hill in Thrace. It was not an ordinary hill, but a rocky stronghold of fortifications, houses and
towers, protecting something famed across the ancient world: the Thracian sanctuary of Dionysus. There, the god's will was revealed when wine was poured onto the flames of a sacred altar – one that had never been known to fail in its predictions.

🌪️Young and ambitious, Alexander had come to learn his future. He did. As the flames rose higher than anyone had ever seen, the oracle spoke. Alexander was going to conquer the entire known world.

👣⚔️Soon afterwards, he crossed into Asia, crushed Persia, became a god in Egypt and fought his way to India, subjugating every people and kingdom in his path until he reached the limits of the known world.

📚For years, archaeologists have combed Bulgaria in their quest to find the site of the ancient Oracle of Dionysus. The strongest contender is Perperikon, deep in the Rhodope mountains, some 20 kilometres from Kardzhali.

⛏Since active excavations started in the early 2000s, archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable place that over the course of millennia kept evolving alongside its inhabitants, their economy, society and religious beliefs. Perched atop a rocky hill, it covers over 1,200 acres – supposedly the largest megalithic site in the Balkans, a maze of altars, stairways, palaces, residential areas, chapels, churches, pagan temples and fortification walls all hewn out of, into or above the bedrock.

Read the full story here: https://vagabond.bg/city-gods-5143

📷 Anthony Georgieff

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