Five municipalities in Bulgaria receive half of the tourists in the country, according to data from a study by the Institute for Market Economics (IME).

In 2025, Nessebar is the most touristically active municipality with almost 1.5 million visitors. Sofia attracts 1.3 million tourists, Varna - 1.2 million, Plovdiv - 410,000, and Balchik - 378,000. The leading 5 municipalities form 50% of the tourist flow.

The top ten also include Velingrad, Bansko, Burgas, Hisarya, and Samokov. 19 municipalities have welcomed over 100,000 tourists. The municipalities are divided into seaside, mountain/spa resorts, and regional centers.

Regional trends are mixed, with most municipalities seeing an increase compared to 2024. Brezovo, Svilengrad, and Zlataritsa report significant growth. Primorsko and Sozopol are experiencing a decline.

Total accommodation revenue reaches 1.4 billion euros. Nessebar generates 382 million euros (27%), Varna - 252 million euros (18%), Sofia - 147 million euros (11%). Three municipalities account for over half of the revenue from overnight stays.

The profile of visitors is different. Nessebar leads in the share of foreigners (76%), followed by Varna and Kavarna (70%). In Sofia, the share is 63%, and in Plovdiv - 40%. Bansko relies more on foreigners (49%) compared to Samokov (30%).

The tourism sector plays a key role in local economies. In Primorsko, hotels and restaurants contribute 56% of the added value, in Nessebar - 55%, and in Sozopol - 54%.

The data is from a survey by the National Statistical Institute of accommodation facilities.