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Bulgaria Information

Overview

Bulgaria, one of the EU’s newest members (joining in January 2007), has been through mammoth changes in the last few years. Many of the cities and resorts have been undergoing construction booms galore, tempting buyers from Western Europe with relatively cheap property.

Bulgaria’s beach and ski resorts are expanding quickly as a result. The main cities have shrugged off their weary Communist-era image and have become vibrant and attractive, with well-kept boulevards, varied shopping and lively nightlife. 

Spectacular mountains occupy half the country’s territory and the swathe of golden beaches along the 370km- (232-mile-) long Black Sea bring in hordes of tourists from around the world.

Visitors can stay in towns and villages that have aimed to preserve the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality. Bulgaria is especially proud of its rich folklore traditions, and folk dances, music, national costumes and traditional rituals play an important part in the life of Bulgarians.

Bulgaria has had a turbulent history and recently experienced radical political changes. Having been a satellite of the Soviet Union for nearly half a century, Bulgaria chose its first democratically-elected president, Zhelyu Zhelev, in 1990. A constitution was adopted in 1991, the political parties were restored, and privatisation and restitution of the land started. Such changes escalated in the run-up, and subsequent accession, to the European Union in 2007.

Top Things To See

 Discover the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish architectural styles of the capital, Sofia, boasting museums, churches, art galleries and opera houses. The stunning gold-leaf domed Nevski Memorial Church is the most famous sight, with the sixth-century St Sofia and the Museum of archaeology nearby.

 Be fascinated by the vast collection of murals, woodcarvings, old weapons and bibles written on parchment at Rila Monastery, 121km (75 miles) from Sofia. Fire has destroyed most of the early 10th-century architecture, and the present buildings date from the 19th century, with the exception of the 14th-century Khrelio’s Tower.

 Enjoy the fruits of the vine in Melnik. The tiny town, with 18th- and 19th-century houses perched on strangely-shaped limestone and sand pyramids, is famous for its wine cellars. At weekends, Bulgarians flock here for its wonderful mehanas for traditional food and the local brew. 

 Wander Plovdiv’s old city. Bulgaria’s second-largest city is divided by the Maritsa River. Get lost around the narrow cobbled streets and quaint houses, and visit the Roman Amphitheatre. The hub of the new city is the lively pedestrianised ulitsa Alexander Batemberg, with shops, cafes and galleries. 

 Explore Batchkovo Monastery, 8km (5 miles) from Plovdiv, founded in the 11th century, with some rare frescoes, icons, manuscripts and coins. Batchkovo lies within the area known in ancient times as Thrace, and many items of archaeological interest have been discovered, including wonderful gold Thracian objects.

 Inhale the scent of roses: for centuries Bulgarians have planted roses, and extracted their heavenly essence - attar of roses. The Rose Valley is magically transformed with breathtaking blooms in May and early June each year when The Festival of Roses is celebrated in many towns of the region.

 Visit the ancient museum town Veliko Turnovo, capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1187-1393), situated on three hills circled by the River Yantra. It contains extraordinary collections of historic works of art, including church relics. 

 Discover Bulgaria’s nine UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites, including the perfectly preserved fourth-century murals in the Thracian Kazanluk Tomb, the Sveshtari Tomb near Razgrad, the 13th-century Boyana Church on the outskirts of Sofia, and the Ivanovo Rock Monasteries near Rousse.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

Swim in the Black Sea: Bulgaria has over 370km (232 miles) of glorious coastline with sandy beaches. Try busy resorts Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, picturesque Albena, historical Nesebar, the cultural and historical city of Varna, or the Mediterranean ambience of port city Bourgas.

Ski the slopes. Quaint Bansko (website: www.banskoski.com) is the newest ski area, set in a historical town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains; Pamporovo (website: www.pamporovoresort.com), in the Rhodopi range, is Europe’s southernmost ski resort; and Borovets (website: www.borovets-bg.com), in the Rila Mountains, is Bulgaria’s oldest and largest mountain resort.

Hike along Bulgaria’s 35,000km (21,749 miles) of waymarked paths. One- or two-week trips through the wild mountains can be arranged. Guides are provided and accommodation is usually in mountain chalets, guest houses or camps.

Climb every mountain: organised mountaineering and climbing trips can be arranged in the areas of Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Trojan, Maliovitza and Roussenski Lom. The steep rocks of the Pirin, Rhodope, Rila and Stara Planina are popular with expert climbers, and there are numerous caves and spectacular rock formations, many with ancient cave paintings.

Saddle up: horse riding has traditionally been popular in Bulgaria; possible itineraries include the Danube Valley, the Balkan, Rila and Stara Planina mountains and the Valley of Roses.

For mountain biking enthusiasts, the Rhodopi mountains provide excellent trails, while cycling along the Black Sea coast is a popular family activity.

Relax in Bulgaria’s many mineral water spas. The curative properties of the Bulgarian mineral waters have been known and used for centuries. Ancient mineral complexes were built near the mineral springs and there are now plenty of top hotels with spas, especially around the Black Sea coast. 

Sample the folklore: Bulgaria’s traditional music festivals are an important part of Bulgarian rural life. Pirin Pee festival features the famous Pirin Folk Ensemble (website: http://ensemble-pirin.com), a major group based in Blagoevgrad.

Get back to nature in Bulgaria’s national parks. These include the ancient Bailusheva pine forests and limestone rocks in Pirin National Park, the seven lakes and 10th-century monastery in Rila National Park, and the Raiskoto Praskalo waterfall, the highest in the Balkan peninsula (website: www.bulgariannationalparks.org).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

Dinner is a social occasion, with traditional music and dancing in many restaurants, especially in resorts and in some Sofia eateries. Food is hearty and good. Meals usually start with a salad, from which there are many to choose from on the menu. Locals usually sip rakia, the local brandy, during this course. Many meals include meat, potatoes, white cheese and beans. In the main resorts and bigger cities, vegetarians are well catered for. Fruit is particularly good and cheap throughout the year.

There is a wide variety of national dishes, as well as Western European standard dishes, which can be chosen on the spot at any restaurant. All good hotels have restaurants and there are many attractive folk-style restaurants and cafes throughout the country. Menus are usually written in Bulgarian, English and often German in the main resorts and cities. Eating out is good value.

National specialities:
• Tarator (cold soup made from cucumber, walnuts and yoghurt.).
• Shopska salata (huge salad starter with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and white cheese).
• Kavarma (individual casseroles of pork or veal, onions and mushrooms).
• Surmi (stuffed vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat).
• Kebapche (small, strongly spiced, minced meat rolls).
• Banitsa (pastry stuffed with white cheese).

National drinks:
• Coffee, served espresso style, is particularly popular.
• Drinks made from infusions of mountain herbs and dried leaves, particularly lime.
• White wines include Evksinograde, Karlouski Misket and Tamianka.
• Heavy red wines include Mavroud and Trakia.
• Liquors include mastika (aniseed spirit, usually diluted) and rakia (local brandy).

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Apart from the top hotels, restaurants rarely add service charge so a 10% tip is customary.

Nightlife

Some restaurants have folk dancing and music. Opera is performed at the State Opera House in Sofia, as well as in Plovdiv and other cities. You can also listen to classical concerts performed by local orchestras or the National Folk Ensemble. 

Bulgaria has a thriving nightclub and bar scene, with Sofia, Bourgas, Plovdiv and other resorts pumping out great music including chalga (home-grown gypsy/dance/techno music) and international sounds. Good ‘what’s on’ guides on major cities and resorts can be found in tourist offices and hotels, and include free booklets such as Sofia in your Pocket, Programata (website: www.programata.bg) and City Info Guide for Varna, Bourgas and their nearby beach resorts.

Shopping

The main shopping area of Sofia is on both sides of bulvard Vitosha. Bulgarian products, clothes, shoes, handicrafts, wines, spirits and confectionery can all be purchased. Ulitsa Graf Ignatiev and ulitsa Pirotska are busy streets with local clothes and electrical stores.

Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Fri 1000-2000, Sat 1000-1400.

Climate

Varies according to altitude. Summers are warmest with some rainfall, with the south feeling the influence of the Mediterranean. Winters are cold with snow. It rains frequently during spring and autumn.

Required Clothing

Mediumweights most of the year; warmer outdoor wear necessary in winter.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
3 Mar National Day (Day of Liberation). 
23-24 Mar 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.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
3 Mar National Day (Day of Liberation). 
10-13 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.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No

Health Care

If European visitors or any of their dependants are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during a visit to Bulgaria, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available - in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). All nationals are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Lev (BGN; symbol Lv) = 100 stotinki. Notes are in denominations of Lv100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Lv1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 stotinki.

Note: (a) The Lev is tied to the Euro at a fixed rate; €1 = Lv1.955. (b) Notes dated 1997 and earlier are now out of circulation.

Currency Exchange

Visitors are advised to exchange money at banks, at large hotels and at independent currency exchange offices, where the rates are clearly displayed. Travellers should not be tempted by a ‘better rate’ offered at unofficial sources on the street. It is illegal for commission to be charged when changing money at official offices.  No store, bank or bureau de change will accept mutilated, torn or excessively dirty foreign currency.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in large cities, in larger hotels and car hire offices, and in some restaurants and shops, mainly in Sofia. However, Bulgaria is still a country that operates mainly on cash. ATMs are widespread, although it is best to check with the relevant bank/card provider prior to travel. Not all Bulgarian bank machines accept every overseas credit or debit card; it may take more than one attempt to withdraw cash successfully.

Traveller's Cheques

Accepted in major hotels and restaurants, although cash is far more common. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Euros.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1600.

Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/2
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/2
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/2
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: 1
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Note: 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.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following lengths of visit:
(a) nationals of EU countries for stays of up to 90 days; for stays longer than 90 days nationals will need to register with the local police and obtain the appropriate permit;
(b) 2. nationals of Australia, Canada and USA for touristic stays of up to 90 days.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Contact Addresses

National Tourist Information Centre

ploshtad Sveta Nedelya 1, 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: (02) 933 5811.
Website: www.bulgariatravel.org

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the UK

186-188 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5HL, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 9400 or 9433 (general enquiries) or 0906 550 8950 (visa section; recorded information; calls cost £1 per minute) or (020) 7589 3763 (visa section; individual enquiries; Mon-Fri 1300-1500 only).
Website: www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800 (general enquiries) or 0930-1230 (visa applications with appointment) or 1230-1400 (visa applications without appointment).

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the USA

1621 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 387 0174 or 7969 (consular office).
Website: www.bulgaria-embassy.org

Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Bulgaria are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civillian targets, including placed frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

• Bulgaria Overview
• Bulgaria Things to See
• Bulgaria Things to Do
• Bulgaria Events
• Bulgaria Climate
• Bulgaria Public Holidays
• Bulgaria Health
• Bulgaria Currency
• Bulgaria Passport & Visas
• Bulgaria Contact Addresses
• Bulgaria Travel Advice