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Bulgarian Hiking Club

Mountain huts in Bulgaria

A Bulgarian hut (hizha) is a staffed mountain lodge with shared rooms and simple hot food — part refuge, part inn. Our map holds 379 huts and 188 unmanned shelters from OpenStreetMap. Here is how they work, what a bed costs in 2026 and the rules that matter.

Last reviewed 13 September 2026

What to expect

Expect bunks or beds in shared rooms and a short menu of hot food. Bring a sleeping-bag liner and a head torch, and ring ahead: many huts close outside the main season.

What a night costs in 2026

A bed in a shared room usually costs about €14–25 per person per night; rooms with their own bathroom cost more. Members of the Bulgarian Tourist Union get up to 20% off, though the discount varies by hut. Prices change, so check with the hut before you go.

HutPer person, per nightPrice list
Aleko (Vitosha)€20–23valid 1 Feb – 30 Sep 2026
Malyovitsa (Rila)€20.45–23undated
Uzana (Central Balkan)€14–16undated
Begovitsa (Pirin)€20 in rooms, €30 in bungalowsundated

Cash, cards and booking

Carry cash in small notes: some huts take cards, but many do not. In summer and at weekends call ahead, especially if you are a group.

A shelter is not a hut

A shelter (zaslon) is an unmanned refuge with no warden, no food and often no water. It is there for bad weather and emergencies, not as a free hut. High and remote huts of the Bulgarian Tourist Union must take in anyone who arrives when every bed is taken.

Rules at and around huts

  • Dogs are not allowed inside Bulgarian Tourist Union huts, except guide dogs.
  • In the Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan national parks a tent may go up only at designated, signposted places — most of them next to huts and shelters.
  • Fires are allowed only at designated fireplaces. Central Balkan National Park has banned all open fires since 13 July 2026, official fireplaces included.

Things to know before you go

Find every hut

Every hut and shelter on our map, as a list you can filter by mountain:

All huts and sheltersHuts on the map

Sources

Quick answers

How much does a night in a mountain hut cost in Bulgaria?

In 2026 a bed in a shared room usually costs about €14–25 per person per night. Rooms with their own bathroom cost more, and members of the Bulgarian Tourist Union get up to 20% off.

Can you pay by card in Bulgarian mountain huts?

Some huts take cards, but many do not. Carry cash in small notes.

What is the difference between a hut and a shelter in Bulgaria?

A hut (hizha) has staff, beds and hot food. A shelter (zaslon) is an unmanned refuge with no warden, food or water, meant for bad weather and emergencies.

Are dogs allowed in Bulgarian mountain huts?

Not inside Bulgarian Tourist Union huts, where only guide dogs are allowed. In the national parks dogs must be kept on a leash.