(1) Visit PERNIK in Bulgaria from 24 to 26 January 2025

Between January 24 and 26, one of the biggest festivals in Europe will be held – the Surva international masquerade kuker festival, for which in 2009 Pernik was officially declared as European carnival capital. In 2025, the 30th edition in the history of the festival will be celebrated, and all visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the festival procession, in which about 6,000 kukers from over 100 masquerade groups will take part. Participants from all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria will join, as well as international representatives from Europe, Africa and Asia.

(2) Visit INNSBRUCK in Austria

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Innsbruck are a wonderful start to the new year, especially if you combine it with a ski holiday in the Austrian Alps. Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and is the largest ski resort in the Alps. This picturesque town will fascinate you, and in January it will offer you wonderful ski conditions.
How to get there?  Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport is  the largest airport in Tyrol, with direct scheduled flights from Vienna and Frankfurt, as well as seasonal flights from several other destinations. From Bulgaria, it is probably better to arrive via Munich Airport, which is a 2.5-hour drive away.

(3) Visit MALTA between 9 and 25 January 2025

From 9 to 25 January 2025  in Valletta will be held a Baroque FestivalRaised by the Knights of St. John During the Great Siege of 1565, Valletta became not only a heavily fortified fortress, but a centralized place for the development of culture, economy and politics. Decorated during the Baroque period, Valletta attracts millions of tourists, especially during its International Baroque Festival, when musical and theatrical performances are held throughout the city on the occasion of the glorious past. More information can be found at Festivals Malta | Valletta Baroque Festival
How to get there? Ryanair has direct flights from Sofia to Malta. Many other international carriers land at Valletta International Airport, with Maltese airlines Air Malta having regular flights to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. There are regular bus lines from the airport, which can take you anywhere on the island.

(4) Visit HELSINKI, Finland between 8 and 12 January 2025

There is a saying “there is no bad weather, there are only bad clothes!”, so if you don’t mind the cold weather, Helsinki is a great place to visit in January. Despite the winter darkness, from  January 8 to 12,  2025 the whole city will shine from the festival of light – Lux Helsinki, which presents a wonderful light show. Helsinki also prides itself on building and maintaining various artificial ice rinks that are free of charge. Another unique experience in January in Helsinki is drifting with Hovercraft through the frozen coastal archipelago, revealing the other icy side of Helsinki.
How do to get there? Probably the best way to get to Helsinki from Sofia is by Lufthansa, with a transfer in Munich.

(5) Visit JAIPUR in India between 14th and 16th January 2025

Jaipur is a land of fairy tales and festivals, with each holiday having its importance, such as welcoming and sending off the seasons, wishing long life and favoring the trees and animals that are God’s creatures. One of the most colorful festivals is that of kites, when the whole sky is colorful and becomes fabulously beautiful. More information about the festival itself and the venue can be found at http://www.jaipur.org.uk/fairs-festivals/kite-festival.html and International Kite Festival Jaipur- History and Rituals (indianholiday.com)
How to get there? Jaipur Airport (JAI) is located in the city of Sanganer and offers charter flights to London and Dublin. If you don’t want to travel to London, the fastest flight for the moment from Bulgaria is from Sofia-Istanbul-Abu Dhabi and then Jaipur.

(6) Visit the SERENGETI National Park in Tanzania

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is a wonderful place to escape from winter. January is one of the best months to travel there, as this is when many of the animals migrate and move throughout the park. The Serengeti is without a doubt the most popular wildlife sanctuary on the planet. In addition to the truck safari, you can also make a balloon safari, with a wonderful panorama of the entire park. As for accommodation, choose a safari hut or luxury tent camps.
How to get there? The nearest international airport to the Serengeti is Kilimajaro Airport near Arusha. From Sofia, probably the best way to Arusha is with Qatar Airways with a connecting flight to Doha.

(7) Visit HONG KONG at the end of January

On January 29, 2025, the Chinese New Year begins. One of the best places to celebrate this already international holiday is Hong Kong. On the day itself, a huge lavish parade takes place, and the next day there are spectacular fireworks. In addition to being festive, Hong Kong has numerous attractions that will impress even the most demanding tourists.
How to get there? Probably the most convenient flights from Sofia to Hong Kong are with Qatar Airlines with a connection in Doha, or with Turkish Airlines with a connection in Istanbul.

(8) Visit COSTA RICA

January is one of the driest months in the tropical country in Central America, making Costa Rica the best place for beach and surfing, as well as numerous outdoor concerts, bullfights and wildlife viewing opportunities in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
How to get there?  There are  3 airports on the island, the largest serving most international flights being the one in San Juan. The easiest way to get to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) is from Sofia with a Lufthansa flight, with a transfer in Frankfurt.
Their other international airport, Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), has direct flights from the United States, Canada, and London.
The third Tobias Bolanos International Airport is served by most domestic flights, as well as those to nearby destinations such as Nicaragua and Panama.

(9) Visit PATAGONIA in Argentina

Probably January with its longest days and warmest temperatures is the best time to visit this unique place. It is then that there are great conditions for kayaking, rafting and walks in the glacial lakes. Be sure to visit the penguin colonies near Ushuaia,  the southernmost city in the world. You can get to Patagonia from Buenos Aires airport and then take a flight to Río Gallegos, or travel by bus or car through the mythical Ruta 40 road, which passes through 11 provinces, 20 national parks, 18 major rivers and 27 passes in the Andes.
How to get there? Probably the best way to get to Buenos Aires from Sofia is with Italian airlines ITA Airways with a connecting flight to Rome.

(10) Visit MELBOURNE in Australia

January is one of the best months to visit Australia, it is when the country is in the midst of summer, and undoubtedly a visit to Melbourne will impress you – the city has won the undisputed title of the cultural capital of the country. January 12, 2025 is also the opening of the Australian Open Tennis World Championships, which kicks off the Grand Slam season. More events and concerts in Melbern for January 2025  can be found here What’s on in January, Victoria, Australia (visitmelbourne.com)
How to get there? Melbourne is served by two main airports: Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Avalon Airport (AVV). Probably the fastest (only 20 hours) is the flight from Sofia to Melbourne Airport with Qatar Airlines and with a transfer in Doha. Cheaper, but much longer are the flights of French Airlines (Sofia-Paris-Shanghai-Melbourne).