Another great shopping area is in the vicinity of the streets of Shipka, San Stefano and Oborishte. This is a good place to wander into tiny shops and lovely boutiques that promise personalized care and attentive service (albeit with less variety than the larger stores).

If you're a bargain hunter then it is a good idea to explore the market stalls.

The craft market near Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a wonderful place to shop for souvenirs.

For some al fresco book shopping, there's no place like Slaveikov Square. You may even find some good CDs on sale at the stalls there.

For Souvenirs

For souvenir shopping, it's a good idea to head to the stores at 14 Vitosha Blvd, Shishman St, 11 Knyaz Al Dondukov Blvd, TSUM, and at the area around the underpass at Dondukov Blvd.

The Bulgarian Union of Artists' stores on Shipka St have some really unusual souvenirs available at extremely good prices.

For Great Food

For foodies, the Central Halls (Halite) at Maria Luiza Blvd are hard to beat. Over a 100 stores stock the freshest of produce and the best that Bulgaria has to offer. To sample some local cooking, head to their food court and then indulge in some retail therapy at the fashionable boutiques on the other three levels. An added incentive to visit is the crèche facility for families travelling with small children. Afterwards, visit a café or try shopping at the charming Pirotska Street nearby.

What you should Buy

Bulgaria is famous for locally made textiles, handicrafts, embroidery, art, carpets, ceramic work and wood carving.

Taking back a genuine Bulgarian national costume is a great way to relive your holiday when you're home.

Table cloths embroidered with delicate patterns, locally made lace, Trovan pottery that doubles up as tableware, handmade toys and Russian dolls all make great gifts. Travellers looking for bigger buys for their homes will appreciate the variety of artwork and antiques on display.

Don't leave Bulgaria without some local Rakia (schnapps) in quaint little ceramic urns or a few bottles of value for money Bulgarian wine.

Bulgarian Shopping Tips

Several of the older shops still don't accept credit cards, so do carry cash just in case. Larger stores have now begun to accept Mastercard and Visa, but keep cash handy for emergencies.

Don't expect the standard rules of customer rights to apply. Some stores may not allow you to return or exchange goods once you've walked out of the store. If you feel you may want to come back and exchange something, check before you buy. Also, the store owners aren't especially friendly, so if you do land a smile...be delighted!

If you're picking up an antique do check if you require an export certificate to be able to take it out of Bulgaria.

Shop usually open at 9 or 10 am and stay open until 6 or 7pm through the week. On weekends, stores close early (usually by around 1pm on Saturdays). There are some city centre shops that now do stay open even on Saturday afternoons - check in advance when you arrive so you can plan accordingly.

Clothing sizes