GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Bulgaria is situated in the Southeast part of Europe, in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. Its neighbors are Romania from the North, divided by Danube River; Macedonia and Serbia from the West; Greece and Turkey from the South; and Black sea from the East. It has very strategic location, being situated on the entrance from West and Central Europe towards Asia. It covers an area of 111 000 sq. km.
Bulgaria is a country of rich cultural and historical heritage, with magnificent nature and hospitable people - the tourists are going to have enough time to be convinced in this during their stay in the country, but it is important to know from beginning the following information:
POPULATION: Less than 8 millions of inhabitants are now living in Bulgaria, one quarter of them are in pension age. Ten percents of the population of Bulgaria are of other ethnical communities: Turks, Jews, Armenians, Gypsies and so on.
STATE SYSTEM: Parliamentary republic, with unicameral parliament and President for a head of state.
THE CAPITAL: Sofia, the biggest city in the country, with 1.5 millions of inhabitants or 10 % of the population of Bulgaria.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Bulgarian, with Cyrillic alphabet, created by the brothers Cyril and Methodii in 9th century. Other countries that are reading and writing in Cyrillic nowadays are Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Macedonia, even Mongolia. Despite all the major international languages (English, French, German and Russian) are studied by most of the Bulgarians, so there will be no problem in the communications. There is news in Turkish on the National television for the most numerous ethnical community in Bulgaria - the Bulgarian Turks.
RELIGION: 85% of the population is Eastern Orthodox, 8% Muslims and 7% are professing other religions. Each ethnical community in Bulgaria has right of freedom of religion, guaranteed by the Constitution and all religions are existing in the conditions of mutual tolerance. There are no ethnical conflicts here like these in Bosnia and Kosovo. The people in the mixed regions are living not only peacefully, but in the spirit of mutual respect as friends and neighbors. It is a tradition to visit each other during the holidays. Cases of helping not only for building of their houses, but of their temples are not rare, too.
NATIONAL CURRENCY: The main monetary unit is the Lev. One Lev = 100 stotinki. The Bulgarian paper notes comprise the following denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva. They are of emissions not earlier than 1999. Currency board is operating in the country as since of 1997, which liquidated the hyperinflation and had brought financial stability, connecting the Lev with the German Mark in 1:1 proportion. Since 2002 the Lev is attached to the EUR and now the official rate on the Bulgarian National Bank is 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: it could be made in all Bulgarian banks from Mondays through Fridays between 09.00 till 16.00 hour, as well as in all licensed change offices without any commission added. Some of the change offices are working even in the week-ends or nonstop. It is absolutely necessary for the client to check the foreign exchange note first, to sign it and after that to make the exchange of the money. In principal the exchange offices at the major hotels, railway and bus stations and international airports are working with lower than the official rates. Usually the rates at the exchange offices or banks is 1 EUR= 1.94 BGN and 1.96 BGN = 1 EUR.
CREDIT CARDS are used in most of the big hotels. Mainly VISA and MASTER CARD, less AMERICAN EXPRESS.
PAYMENTS in the Republic of Bulgaria are effected only in Leva or in Leva equivalent. In larger resorts and at places authorized to effect foreign exchange, certain payments may be effected in foreign currency. There are shops selling only for foreign currency and duty free shops at the border checkpoints and in the tax-free zones of the country.
As a rule every article in a shop (selling in Leva or foreign currency) must have a price tag. Bargaining over prices is not customary in Bulgaria. The bargaining habit known from markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia may be done only on the free private market, on flea markets, and in wholesale trade - on commodity markets, ramp-side trade or auctions.
The WORKING HOURS of the stores are usually between 09.00 till 19-20.00 h. the banks and the other financial institutions are working between 09.00-16.00 h.
VISAS FOR BULGARIA: The Republic of Bulgaria requires no visas for the citizens of the European Community countries as well as for the citizens of Island, Republic of South Korea, Estonia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Hungary and Switzerland. A foreign citizen may enter Bulgaria only if he possesses a valid document for traveling abroad or any substituting document instead, for a period of 90 days.
The citizens of Tunis, who possess a valid document for traveling abroad or any substituting document instead could stay in Bulgaria without visa for a period of 60 days.
The citizens of Australia, Andorra, Vatican, Israel, Canada, Lichtenstein, Litva, Latvia, Macedonia, New Zealand, Poland, USA, Slovakia, Czech, Cherna Gora, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania and Croatia, who possess a valid document for traveling abroad or any substituting document instead could stay in Bulgaria without visa for a period of 30 days.
The citizens of all other countries, who possess a valid document for traveling abroad or any substituting document instead could stay in Bulgaria only with an entry visa.
For more detailed information you could check the necessary information in the relevant embassies or consulates of Republic of Bulgaria.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: "Traveler" - this is every physical person, who crosses the boundaries of Bulgaria.
Every tourist visiting the Republic of Bulgaria may import goods which does not have trade character. The admissible number and quantity of the imported goods for personal use is:
Citizens, younger than 16 years, could not import the listed above goods, except for medical needs.
Citizens, older than 16 years, could import duty-free goods, different from the ones, listed above, only if they are at a sum up to 100 USD or equivalent sum in other currency. For citizens, younger than 16 years, this sum is 50 USD or equivalent sum in other currency.
Goods of personal use, necessary for the tourists for everyday use during their stay are also duty-free.
ELECTRICITY: 220 V.
POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS: To send a letter abroad, one shall obligatorily have the envelope weighed and charged according to its weight in grams. For printed matter a lower tariff is applied, and excise bands may not exceed 2 kilograms.
Parcels and small packages (not exceeding 2 kg) are subject to mandatory customs control. Packaging services are available at the post offices in bigger towns, and where no such service is available, the public and tourists are expected to pack up their parcels in the post office hall after examination by the customs authority.
Registered, express and special deliveries are charged under a higher tariff. All kinds of parcels must bear sender's and recipient's name and address clearly written.
Telephone services in the country comprise local urban, interurban and international calls. Local urban phone services are effected by means of automatic street telephones operated with tokens or electronic cards.
The price of one token is 0.20 Leva, and one can buy them in the post offices or news-stands. The duration of a call is limited to 3 minutes.
There are three types of card public phones for local urban, interurban and international calls and cards sold by MOBIKA and BULFON. MOBIKA cards are of 50 to 400 impulses, BULFON, cards are of25 to 400 impulses. The price per impulse is lower for the cards of greater number of impulses. The public phones operated with cards display the remaining impulses. At post offices one pays after the call and calls are usually 1/3 cheaper than if made at card public phones.
Dialing a phone number abroad may be done with cards from public phones in the streets or at post offices. Every international dialing begins with 00 + the code of the respective country, the settlement and the private phone number.
The dialing code for Bulgaria is +359.
The Republic of Bulgaria is part of the international analogous and cellular phone networks. There are three cellular operators in Bulgaria - M-Tel, Globul and Vivatel. Debit impulse cards or SIM cards could be found in specialized shops. The prices from 20 Leva to 100 Leva vary depending on the number of impulses and the validity term. Internet clubs are something natural for the first 100 bigger towns in the country. There for about 1.20 Leva - 2.00 Leva one can check his e-mail address, send e-mail message or open the Web page of interest. In these clubs one can also print out the messages either received there or from a personal diskette or CD.
TRANSPORT: Air, rail, road and water transport connects Bulgaria to Europe and the world. The main parts of the tourist arrive in Bulgaria by air. The flight from the countries of Central Europe is about 2-2.5 h. Air links are maintained through the country's local and international airports. There are four international airports in the country - in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bourgas.
You could arrive in Bulgaria also by car, bus or train. Each driver in Bulgaria should have valid driving license and insurance.
THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION is mainly consisted of buses and in some cities - of trolleys. There are trams and metro only in Sofia. The price of the tickets is not high. They could be bought in the vehicle or at certain kiosks. The tickets should be perforated immediately after getting into the vehicle. There are shuttle buses in the bigger cities.
TAXI - All taxies in Bulgaria are in yellow color and should have obligatory taximeter installed. All taxis have their radiophone numbers written on the cars, the tariffs are written on the front windows. Two different types of tariffs are applied: daily tariffs - from 06.00 till 22.00 h and night tariffs - from 22.00 till 06.00 h. When the taxi is called by phone a starting fee is additionally included.
RENT-A-CARS are offered in the big cities, at the airports and in the big resorts. There are branches of all major international firms for rent-a-car services in Bulgaria. You should have a valid driving license in order to rent a car. There are still no fees for the roads in Bulgaria. There are enough gas-stations in the country. The prices of the fuels are close to the European ones.
THE MEDICAL SERVICES for the foreign citizens are taking place in the relevant first-aid centers, while the services are paid and their prices are regulated in the Official State newspaper. Medical insurance is needed to cover the expenses for the medical examination and the corresponding treatments.
RELIEF: Bulgaria is known by its diverse nature variety, which could be seen in comparatively not big range - from 0 to 2925 m above the sea level. The length o the sea side of the country is 378 km. almost 40% of the area of Bulgaria is taken of woods.
FLORA AND FAUNA: You could enjoy the abundance of different and numerous representatives of the vegetation and animal life in the separated regions of the country. There are 3 national and 9 natural parks and 16 biological reserves in Bulgaria. Two of them - the National Park of Pirin and the reserve of Sreburna are included of the list of UNESCO for cultural and nature heritage.
CLIMATE: The climate in Bulgaria is defined of four totally different seasons - warm summer, long and sunny autumn, winter with deep snow and short and magnificent spring.
Average temperature of the air and the water at the Black Sea side:
|
Month |
Temperature of the air |
Temperature of the water |
| January | 1.2 | 4.3 |
| February | 2.5 | 5.5 |
| March | 5.1 | 7.0 |
| April | 10.0 | 9.1 |
| May | 15.5 | 14.6 |
| June | 20.1 | 22.4 |
| July | 25.6 | 26.7 |
| August | 25.4 | 26.2 |
| September | 19.0 | 21.6 |
| October | 13.9 | 16.4 |
| November | 9.1 | 10.8 |
| December | 4.0 | 6.1 |
 |
||
* All values are in degrees Celsius.
THE WATER in Bulgaria is drinkable. Especially the one in the mountain region is with perfect quality. Mineral water is sold everywhere; it is of exclusively good quality, without any smell of sulphur, factory-bottled and duly sealed. It is offered in bottles of 0.5 l, 1.5 l till 10 l. Everywhere on sale are also natural juices without preservatives, manufactured by Bulgarian and foreign producers. Tea and coffee is offered everywhere in the country as well as beer, locally brewed and imported is very popular, either tapped or bottled. The products of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Bulgarian soft drinks can be found in every food or specialized shop. Boza, an Arab boiled-grain drink popular in Bulgaria is also widely sold.
THE FOOD in Bulgaria does not particularly differ from the traditional European cuisine, but still have some influence from the Oriental cuisine. Bulgarians consume all kinds of meat from industrially bred animals and fowls, fresh-water and sea fish, more seldom (wild) game. Bread is invariantly present on Bulgarian dinner table. The tradition of meeting visitors with bread and salt is very much alive. The Bulgarians' cuisine is moderate, with meals seldom too salted, hot or sour. Fruit and vegetables grown in Bulgaria are of unique taste. The Bulgarian yogurt (cow's, sheep's, buffalo) is famous all around the world. The microorganisms, which are used for its production, are called "Bacterium Bulgaricus". The Bulgarian wine is known for its exceptional quality, and the traditional for Bulgaria alcoholic concentrate is called rakiya (40°), which could be made of plum or grapes. Imported brand drinks are available everywhere. Their price is close to that in the producer countries. All alcoholic drinks should mandatory bear an excise band.
BULGARIAN CUISINE: The Bulgarian cuisine is pursuing every tourist in Bulgaria. We are offering you a short introduction with the most famous meals:
Salads and hors d'oeuvres:
Soups:
Main dishes:
Desserts:
Bulgarian wines: The tradition of wine producing in the lands of Bulgaria is from the time of the Thracians. There are large producers of wines in Bulgaria nowadays. The great number of sunny days makes the South part of Bulgaria more suitable for the production of red wines and the North part - for white ones. Here is one of the best kinds of wines in Bulgaria:
Red wines:
White wines:
CULTURE: The huge cultural heritage of Bulgaria is a result of its rich history.
There are 36 cultural reserves, 160 monasteries, about 40 000 cultural monuments, 7 of which are included in the list of UNESCO for cultural and natural heritage. Numerous monuments from different historical epochs are preserved: prehistoric findings, Thracian tombs, Findings from the period of Hellenism, Roman and Byzantine fortresses, historical monuments from the time of the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms and the period of the National Renaissance, architectural ensembles in the big cities, as well as whole villages with preserved authentic atmosphere and architecture.
The oldest worked up gold in Europe was found in the Necropolis of Varna. The gold treasures of Vulchedrum, Panaguiriste, Vratsa, Lukovit and Letnitsa are famous all around the world, as well as the silver one from Rogosen. In lots of regions of Bulgaria is preserved the typical atmosphere from the period of the Renaissance, such as the old part of Plovdiv, Veliko Turnovo, Koprivstitsa, Triavna, Arbanasi, Bojenci, Jeravna, Menik, Bansko, Kovatchevitsa, Nessebur, Sozopol and so on.
There are lots of churches and monasteries in Bulgaria. The most famous ones are Rila, Bachkovo, Rojen, Troyan and Preobrajenskii monasteries, as well as the rock monastery of Aladja. Major interest attracts the hundred churches, in which unique examples of Bulgarian icon-paintings, wall-paintings, wooden-carves, frescoes and icons are preserved.
In some of the monasteries the tourists could be accommodated.
FOLKLORE: Bulgaria has a big reason to be proud with its folklore traditions. Folk dances, music, traditional costumes and customs had been plaid and are playing now an important role in the life of Bulgarians. There are lots of feasts and rituals, which could be visited by foreigners:
ARTS: Bulgaria is a place of numerous cultural events. Lots of its cities had become centers of music entertainments, theater productions, art exhibitions:
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
112 - Universal European telephone number for all kind of emergency calls
150 - First Aid
160 - Fire Station
166 - Police Station
146 - Road Assistance
