Bulgaria Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Bulgaria

Former Name

None

Capital City

Sofia

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Area Size

110,910 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT +2 hours

Climate

Bulgaria has a temperate climate, with cool, damp winters, very hot, dry summers, and Mediterranean influence along the Black Sea coast. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains is felt throughout the country: Northern Bulgaria is slightly cooler and receives more rain than the southern regions. Average precipitation in Bulgaria is about 630 millimetres per year. The driest areas are Dobrudzha and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the mountains Rila and Stara Planina receive the highest levels of precipitation. In summer, temperatures in the south of Bulgaria often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, but remain cooler by the coast.

Geography

Geographically and climatically, Bulgaria features notable diversity, with the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny weather of the Black Sea coast, from the typically continental Danubian Plain (ancient Moesia) in the north to the strong Mediterranean influence in the valleys of Macedonia and the lowlands in the southernmost parts of Thrace. Bulgaria comprises portions of the classical regions of Thrace, Moesia, and Macedonia. The southwest of the country is mountainous with two alpine ranges.

Languages

Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Culture

A country often described as lying at the crossroads linking the East and West, Bulgaria was the centre of Slavic Europe during much of the Middle Ages, exerting considerable literary and cultural influence over the Eastern Orthodox Slavic world by means of the Preslav and Ohrid Literary Schools. Bulgaria is also the birthplace of the Cyrillic alphabet, the second most widely used alphabet in the world, which was developed in these two schools in the tenth century. Bulgaria is well-known for its rich folklore, distinctive traditional music, rituals and tales, but the country's contribution to humanity also continued in the nineteenth and twentieth century.

History

The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004.

Travel Information

The national airline is Bulgaria Air. Sofia (SOF) is 10km east of the city (journey time - 20 minutes). Buses run from near the arrivals terminal to the city centre regularly throughout the day. Taxis are also available; ensure the meter is used. The airport advises its passengers to use the taxi company OK Supertrans. Facilities: Banks and currency exchange (24 hours), post office, duty-free shop, nursery, restaurant, bar and car hire. Varna (VAR) is 9km from the city. A bus service to Varna city centre departs every 20 minutes from each of the two terminals. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shops, banking and currency exchange, Internet, ATM, restaurant, bar and car hire. Bourgas (BOJ) is 13km from the city. A bus service departs every 20 minutes to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and currency exchange, restaurant, bar and car hire. Main ports: Bourgas and Varna on the Black Sea. The official ferry crossing point from Romania is from Calafat to Vidin. There are frequent services between Sofia and Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessaloniki and Istanbul. Sofia is also directly connected with Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin. Main entry points include Koulata and Novo Selo (from Greece); Ruse, Kardom, Durankulak and Silistra (from Romania); Svilengrad and Kapitan Andrikeevo (from Turkey); Kalotina, Zlatarevo and Vrashkachuka (from Serbia) and Guyeshevo (from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Foreign citizens entering Bulgaria in a car must have documentation to prove their ownership of the vehicle and evidence that their motor insurance is valid for Bulgaria. They must also state their proposed border crossing and pay suitable road tax. There are daily bus connections from other cities, including Istanbul, Athens and Thessaloniki to Sofia. There are also daily buses from Varna and Bourgas to Istanbul. Eurolines runs regular coach services to Bulgaria.

Accommodation

There has been a vast increase in the number of hotels in most cities and tourist resorts, and notably more guest houses in Sofia. Advance booking is advisable especially when travelling in high season to major resorts, and to Sofia.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for the following lengths of visit: nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period; nationals of Australia, Canada and USA for touristic stays of up to three months. Nationals not referred to are advised to contact the embassy to visa requirements. Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals of countries referred to above except: EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU member state. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Please note that validity of the documents - EU passport and/or ID card issued from one of the EU countries, should be at least three months on the day they leave Bulgaria. Possession of a return ticket and sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit is required.

Getting Around

Bulgaria Air operates some domestic services, connecting Sofia with the Black Sea coast. Air travel is comparatively cheap. Bulgarian State Railways connects Sofia with main towns. Reservations are essential during peak seasons and first-class travel is advised. Traffic drives on the right. Road quality is variable and driving standards are generally poor. Night driving can be dangerous owing to poor lighting. Tolls are charged on motorways and main roads out of town. Vignettes can be purchased at ports, border points, post offices and DZI bank offices. Car-theft and car-jacking are both on the increase in Bulgaria. There is a good network of buses. The state-run buses in each town and city often run from a different location to private buses and minibuses. Private long-distance buses often have their offices gathered near each other, and offer good services on comfortable vehicles. Main coach operators include ETAP and Biomet. Taxi is available in all towns and also for intercity journeys. All vehicles are metered, unless they are privately owned. Car rental is available through hotel reception desks and at Sofia airport, and online in advance. Most of the major international car hire agencies are represented here. Bus, tramway and trolleybus services operate in Sofia; in addition, a metro covers a small area of the city centre, operating 0530-0000. Flat fares are charged on all transport and tickets must be pre-purchased. Buses and taxis operate in all the main towns. There are also trolleybuses in Plovdiv and Varna. Outside Sofia, bus tickets are purchased on board from the conductor.

Health & Safety

No vaccinations are required for entry to Bulgaria, though a Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended. The country poses few health risks beyond mild travellers' diarrhoea. Travelers who might come in direct contact with animals and who do not have medical insurance should be vaccinated against Rabies. Mains water is chlorinated, but occasionally causes stomach upsets, so bottled water is advised. Food is safe in hotels and restaurants, but street vendors should be avoided. Medical treatment can be expensive and payment is expected immediately. Facilities in local hospitals are basic and old-fashioned and specialised treatment and equipment is not freely available. Medical insurance, with provision for emergency evacuation, is therefore vital. Most visits to Bulgaria are trouble-free. Violent crime is rare, but criminal groups target casinos and nightclubs and groups of young pickpockets are active in city centres and the Black Sea holiday resorts. Car theft is common.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 3 Mar - National Day (Day of Liberation). 8-9 Apr - Easter. 1 May - Labour Day. 6 May - St George's Day (Day of Bulgarian Army). 24 May - St Cyril and Methodius Day (Day of Culture and Literacy). 6 Sep - The Unification of Bulgaria. 22 Sep - Independence Day. 1 Nov - Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders. 24-25 Dec - Christmas. 31 Dec - New Year's Eve.

Currency

Bulgarian Lev (BGN)

Electricity

220v AC, 50Hz

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.30pm.

Emergency Numbers

150(Ambulance) 160(Fire) 166(Police)