Anda
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path attraction in Bulgaria, I recommend visiting the Cars of Socialism Museum in Peshtera. It’s a unique experience, a chance to step into a not-so-distant past that left its mark all over Eastern Europe.
Where is Peshtera Bulgaria, and how to get there?
Peshtera is a town in southern Bulgaria, close enough to Plovdiv or Sofia for a day trip. The town is in the Rodopi Mountains, so you can make the most of your trip and explore some of these beautiful mountains too.
The most convenient way to reach Peshtera is to rent a car. Then, design a full-day itinerary. It takes less than one hour to reach Peshtera from Plovdiv. From Sofia, the driving time is about 1,5 hours.
There is also a direct train from Plovdiv to Peshtera, and the ride takes about one hour. However, there are only a couple of trains every day and the hours are not very convenient.
Even if there are plenty of things to do in Plovdiv, a day trip is always a good idea. This is definitely not something you see every day. Plus, I also have a few other recommendations for this particular trip.
The Cars of Socialism Museum in Peshtera Bulgaria
The unusual museum is very easy to find in the center of Peshtera. Just look for Heat Hotel on the main street, the museum is inside. The Cars of Socialism Museum was opened in 2016 in the old movie theater in Peshtera.
As soon as you enter the museum hall, the colorful cars from the Soviet era will catch your eye. You’ll be standing above the ground level with a full view of the room. At the other end of the hall, a giant poster makes the cars on display look like they’re driving in Sofia.
But, as you start descending the stairs, other things will catch your eye as well. Aside from the retro cars, you will discover objects people had in their houses in the socialist period, from 1945 to 1989. Anything from TVs, cigarettes, toys, phones (remember those?!).
For young visitors, it’s a great opportunity to learn about everyday life during those times. Some of the Bulgarian elders even visit this museum with a sense of nostalgia.
Wherever you are coming from, the Cars of Socialism Museum is well worth a visit for a glimpse into the past. You will probably spend around 30 minutes inside, it’s not a large museum.
The Cars of Socialism Museum in Peshtera is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. A full ticket costs 6 BGN (roughly 3€).
Other Things to See in Peshtera
Outside the museum, Peshtera is a quiet town. There’s an ethnographic museum in a traditional house, an old clock tower still working, and a pedestrian street with shops and a few cafes.
Snezhanka Cave
However, if you explore further, you will find more hidden treasures of the Rodopi Mountains. Snezhanka Cave is one of them. It’s about 5 km away from Peshtera, and some signs are pointing in the direction of the cave. The road is pretty bad, but you can leave the car farther and walk the rest of the way to the cave. It’s an uphill and somewhat difficult walk through the forest. At the end of it, you will be rewarded with some great views once you reach the entrance to the cave.
Snezhanka (Snow White) Cave is not very large. It has three accessible rooms, and it is almost 150 meters long. You will see some beautiful formations, stalactites, and stalagmites. It takes about 45 minutes to see everything.
The cave can be visited every day from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM. The 5 BGN (about 2.5€) entrance ticket includes a guided tour that starts every 15 minutes or so. However, the tour is only in Bulgarian, so you won’t find out too many things, probably.
One more thing: inside the cave, the temperature is around 8 degrees Celsius at any time. Bring a sweater or something, even if you visit in the middle of summer.
Batak Reservoir
If you want some more exploring, you can visit Batak Reservoir. It’s about 25 km down the same road. The lake is quite popular with Bulgarians looking for camping sites. You can drive along the lake and find a place you like for a break. There are a couple of areas where you can eat or try some water activities.
Disclosure
Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!
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I recognize some of these models from when we were in Havana! We love finding these kinds of museums.
Thanks for sharing, this looks a lovely place to visit 🙂
I remember some of the cars that came over in the 90s. The Skodas did not like the one in your photo, that’s sure. Museum looks like a lot of fun.
Haha, Skodas definitely didn’t look like that on the streets of Bucharest. It’s a small museum, but there’s a lot to discover there.
Loved reading your post. Always Europe travel is concentrated upon Mediterranean regions, France or Switzerland. Look beyond and there are stellar destinations such as Bulgaria to explore. I don’t know much about Bulgaria but your article has got me really interested in this destination and its unique attractions. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Divya! I hope you’ll get the chance to visit Bulgaria, it’s a great destination.
What an interesting idea for a museum!
I was surprised to see that these cars all seem to be in top shape! Do you know if they were restored?
I believe most of them have been restored by the family who owns the museum.
That must have been a lot of work!
I haven’t read much about Bulgaria. Thanks for sharing! These colored cars reminds me of colored taxis in Bangkok and we call them M&M cars. lol.
M&M cars sounds about right! 😀
Love this abnormal museum and I’m sure we would have a blast here.
This looks like a really interesting museum! I love quirky “weird” museums like this. Plus, a visit to the lake and the cave? Perfect day trip 🙂
Great post and love your photos! Looks like some great things to see here!
I usually don’t seek out car museums when I travel, but this one looks very interesting, especially given all the additional artifacts from bygone times