Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe, located at the crossroad between Europe and Asia, also the birthplace of some of the earliest civilizations in Europe. The natural landscape is diverse, about 70% of the country’s territory is hilly or mountainous land. There are two peaks of over 2,600 m elevation where beautiful alpine glacial lakes have formed in the circuses of these peaks, hikers will find some of the finest trails and ski resorts in Europa. Thanks to its position, Bulgaria is also home to a sandy, sunny coast, seaside town and resorts, a fine opportunity to diversify your vacation. At the foot of the Vitosha Mountains lies the laid-back capital city, Sofia, which is home to a great number of architectural monuments and museums. On the other hand, the famous Rila Monastery and the majestic landscape of the Pirin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Highlights

Sofia

Sami C, Attribution (CC BY 2.0)

Monasteries

David Stanley, Attribution (CC BY 2.0)

Churches

fusion-of-horizons, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ancient villages

Fidel.angelov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nenko Lazarov, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Beaches

Artur Malinowski, Attribution (CC BY 2.0)

Dilianakiryakova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

National parks

Спасимир, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Untravelled, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature landforms and formations

Alex Lovell-Troy, Attribution (CC BY 2.0)

Стоян Петков, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historical monuments

Klearchos Kapoutsis, Attribution (CC BY 2.0)

Михал Орела, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Thracian settlements

Klearchos Kapoutsis, Attribution (CC BY 2.0)

Interact-Bulgaria, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Bulgaria has a continental climate, with a Black Sea influence in the east and a Mediterranean influence in the south., with long, hot, dry summers and, in the interior at least, bitterly cold winters. The best time to visit is during the shoulder months from April to mid-June, and September – October, the weather will be pleasant, and the prices will be lower.

Sightseeing: spring, which is from March to May, and fall, which is from September to mid-October, are the best times for sightseeing in Bulgaria’s historic cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, etc. The weather is milder, and the tourist crowds are not as large.

Hiking: best time of year is August and September for elevations above 1500m, and September and October for lower elevations. Spring and early summer are typically wet, with lots of ticks and mosquitoes at lower elevations. Mid-summer can be very hot. After October, temperatures can be very cold, especially at higher elevations, with snow in winter.

Brown Bear watching: between April and May (after winter hibernation) and September and early October (before winter hibernation).

Skiing and winter walks: the peak ski season runs from mid-December through late March when slopes and trails are in the best condition. Bulgaria has excellent ski resorts in the mountain areas, such as Rhodopes, Rila, etc.

Black sea coast: the welcoming climate from late May to late September with average air temperatures of 26 Celsius.

Birdwatching: the best time is spring migration which comes to a head in May, with autumn migration creating some excellent sightings from mid to late September.

Rose festival: Karlovo is a town with a long history of Bulgarian rose oil production. The first weekend of June is the period of traditional gathering, people celebrate this festival. The town itself is replete with rose wreaths, streets, windows, balconies are colourfully adorned with roses galore. Rose Valley in Bloom is between mid-May to mid-June.

Practical information

Currency

The Bulgarian lev is the official currency. While Bulgaria is an EU member state, it has not adopted the euro as its currency. The exchange rate approximately is 1 Euro is 1,96 Bulgarian lev. 1 UD Dollar is between 1,60 – 2 Bulgarian lev.

Bulgaria plans to adopt the euro and become the 21st member state of the eurozone, the target date for introduction of the euro is 1 January 2025.

Language

The official language is Bulgarian, which is spoken natively by 85% of the country’s population. Other major languages are: Russian, Turkish (9.1%), and Romani

Visa

Since January 2007, the Republic of Bulgaria has been implementing the Common Visa Policy of the European Union. From 31 March 2024, the Republic of Bulgaria issues visa valid throughout the Schengen area. A Schengen visa issued by the Republic of Bulgaria after 31 March 2024 will allow its holder to travel throughout the Schengen area in accordance with the Schengen rules (no more than 90 days in any 180-day period), regardless of internal land border checks. The short-term stay (90 days in any 180 days) within the Schengen area begins to be counted from the moment of entry into the territory of Schengen, including for the Republic of Bulgaria. To conclude: citizens of other EU member states, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, and several other countries can stay in Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days. Other nationals should check the current requirements with their nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate before their departure or check this website: Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of foreign affairs.

Types of visas:

Visa A (for airport transit): the airport transit visa entitles the foreigner to cross or to stay in the international transit zone of the airport in the case of a transit landing or of changing flights for the purpose of continuing travel to another state.

Visa C (for a short stay for the purpose of transit or a planned stay): A short-stay visa for the purpose of transit is issued to a foreigner who wishes to transit through the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria in route to another state, for which he/she has a visa, if required. The overall duration of stay on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a transit visa may not exceed 90 days within every 6 months as of the date of the first entry.

Visa D (for a long stay): A long-stay visa with a validity term of up to one year and a right to stay up to 360 days may be issued to foreigners who perform science research or are students under tuition programmes for up to one-year, post-graduate or trainee students, foreigners sent on assignment by a foreign employer for the performance of specific tasks, etc.

ATM & credit card

ATMs in Bulgaria widely accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro. American Express may not be accepted everywhere. They can be found in shops, transportation hubs, and nearly all banks. However, travellers should be aware that skimming devices designed to steal card information can be common in Bulgaria, so it is recommended that you try to use ATMs that are found inside banks, as they tend to be safest. Many Bulgarian ATMs limit you to 200 leva per day. If you need more than this, you may need to go to multiple ATMs. Cash is still the most widely used form of payment; make sure you have withdrawn from these before visiting small villages in the mountains. It is an unfortunate reality that ATM use often comes with fees, here I will tell you some Bulgaria ATM Fees with No Withdrawal Charges: UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, Post Bank, Ziraat bank, Central Cooperative Bank.

Opening times

Banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 17:00. Public services are open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 17:00 with a one-hour break from midday to 13:00. The working week is 5 days Monday to Friday from 8/9 a.m. to 17:30 with a break from 12:00 to 13:00. Shops are open every day including public holidays from 9:30 to 19:00. Most restaurants are open every day, from 11 am until midnight.

Time: GMT +2 hours.

Main airports

Sofia International Airport (is the largest and busiest airport. The distance from the airport to the centre of Sofia is 11 kilometres. By car, it takes 20 minutes to get to the centre)

Sarafovo Airport (or Burgas Airport is the second busiest airport in Bulgaria and the closest airport to holiday destination Sunny Beach. The distance from the airport to the centre of Burgas is 12 kilometres. By car, it takes 15 minutes to get to the centre)

Varna Airport Aksakovo (the third largest airport in Bulgaria is widely used by holidaymakers who have chosen Golden Sands or Sunny Beach as their summer holiday destination. There are many seasonal charter flights between airports in Europe and Varna Airport. The distance from the airport to the centre of Varna is 9 kilometres. By car, it takes 15 minutes to get to the centre)

Plovdiv Airport (is the airport of the second largest city in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and is the country’s 4th busiest. Plovdiv Airport serves the nearby ski resorts and therefore serves mainly charter flights, during the winter season. The distance from the airport to the centre of Plovdiv is 15 kilometres. By car, it takes 15 minutes to get to the centre.

Public transport

Public transport in Bulgaria is inexpensive but often slow and not always clean or comfortable. Sofia has a convenient public transport network. The city is the only one in Bulgaria that has a metro. Sofia also has a developed transport system of buses, trolleybuses, and trams, which provide connectivity to all neighbourhoods and the centre. From the city centre to Vitosha Mountain there are regular lines with numbers 63 and 66, which travel every day, and there are 54 suburban public lines, which provide connection with the regions of Sofia Municipality. The vehicle fleet is constantly renewed, relying on zero-emission vehicles that meet environmental protection requirements.

By train, Bulgaria has a well-developed rail network. Rail routes connect Sofia to cities like Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas. International trains also connect the country to neighbouring countries. Most trains are operated by state-owned Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ). Most trains tend to be antiquated, outdated and some not especially comfortable, and journey times are usually slower than buses, but one positive thing is the scenery is likely to be more rewarding. Trains are classified as ekspresen, (express) barz (fast), or patnicheski (slow). International and inter-city train tickets can be bought online and at trains stations. See BDZ website for timetables and tickets.

By bus, Bulgarian buses have a regular and extensive services connecting cities, towns, and remote villages. Generally, you can buy tickets at the bus station at least an hour in advance when travelling between towns, but on some routes, they are only sold when the bus arrives. On rural routes, tickets are often sold by the driver. The largest company is Union Ivkoni and you can book a ticket through this website. Intercity buses are quite cheap, if you are traveling between cities in Bulgaria, you should travel with a private intercity bus operator, in most cases these companies have modern travel buses, with WIFI, seat belts and in some cases even movie systems. If you are on holiday at the black sea coast, and wish to travel between resort towns, you should avoid the public buses and instead take the privately operated shuttle buses / shared buses, which operate based in Burgas and Varna. The main hubs for domestic intercity buses are Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Burgas from these cities you have lots of travel options, buses between many of the cities are frequent, so it is easy to move around. Bulgaria has an extensive network of international bus routes, from Bulgaria there is among others buses, to Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, etc, or routes to the neighbouring countries, like Turkey, Greece, Serbia, North Macedonia. All the international bus routes are operated by private bus companies.

Bulgaria’s water borders are along the Danube River and along the Black Sea coast. The primary seaports offering marine transport in Bulgaria are the Varna and Burgas ports. Travelers can enter Romania through the local ports near Durankulak and can enter Turkey through Rezovo. These points are used for small seagoing vessels in transit rather than those embarking from Bulgaria’s territorial waters. Along the Danube River, there is a border checkpoint near the village of Vrav, as well as at other cities and towns along the river: Vidin, Lom, Oryahovo, Ruse, Tutrakan, and Silistra. Both passenger and freight water transport are available all along the Danube River and the Black Sea coast. Prices and travel schedules depend on the season, the type of vessel, and its category.

Driving in Bulgaria, when you take a taxi, be sure to use a licensed company and always check the rates before you start the journey. Do be aware of other companies without advertised rates as there are many cases of taxi drivers charging higher than normal rates to foreigners. Also recommended are the apps such as Yellow Taxi. The best way to travel around Bulgaria, especially when visiting remote villages, monasteries, and national parks, is to hire a car. Before you can drive on motorways, you will need to purchase and display a “vignette” in your vehicle. Vignettes can be bought at border crossings when first entering the country or at post offices and some petrol stations in Bulgaria. Rental cars hired within Bulgaria, should already have a vignette. To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old and have had a licence for at least one year.

Things to avoid

Bulgaria is mostly a cash economy. Outside the capital Sofia, only major chains accept card payments, the trick dealers at exchange kiosks use are adding an extra digit to the exchange rate, so normally it is a fake exchange rate, scammers might try to hand you old, invalid banknotes or coins when returning your change or exchanging money on the street.

Fake taxi companies are something you should be extra careful. The scammers fake their stickers and make their cars appear as if they belonged to a reputable company. They only change a letter in the logo of the company and a few digits in the telephone number. The safest way to catch a taxi is by using one of the official apps or asking someone you trust to call you a cab.

Sometimes in the streets or at underpass exits, a stranger might hand you something small: a postcard, a tiny Christian icon, or a bracelet, the person will insist it is free and it is a gift for good luck, good fortune, or whatever other reason. The moment you take it, they will tell you that you must pay them.

Inflated bills: always double-check the bill before paying to ensure everything is correct, as well double-check your receipts at the supermarket. Some cashiers try to pull off the same scam.

Be aware of stray animals, there is still an alarming number of stray dogs and cats freely roaming the streets. Keep your distance to avoid diseases or getting bitten.

Food

Bulgarian cuisine is part of the cuisine of Southeast Europe, sharing characteristics with other Balkan cuisines and share several dishes with its neighboring countries, with Turkish and Greek cuisine. Main courses are very typically water-based stews, either vegetarian or with lamb, goat meat, veal, chicken, or pork. Deep-frying is not common, but grilling, especially kinds of sausages. Pork is common, often mixed with veal or lamb, although fish and chicken are also widely used. Wine production has over a thousand year long tradition. Bulgaria is typically divided into five main wine regions with distinctive natural conditions and unique authentic styles of wines: Danube Plane, Thracian Lowlands, Black Sea Coast, Struma Valley, and Rose Valley. The main Bulgarian dishes are: “Bulgarian Gyuvech” (made with pork or beef, tomatoes, okra, mushrooms, peas, green beans, potatoes, eggplant, onions, herbs, and spices, and it is sometimes served with “Balkan Mixed Salad,” a mix of roasted eggplant, sweet roasted peppers, garlic, and tomatoes, and served in a casserole), “Shkembe” (is made with whole pork, beef, or lamb tripe, boiled for a few hours, chopped in small pieces, and returned to the broth. The soup is spiced with ground red paprika which is briefly fried, and often a small quantity of milk is added. Traditionally, the soup is served with mashed garlic in vinegar and hot red pepper), “Lozovi Sarmi” (made with grape leaves as a base, and stuffs them with minced meat, rice, herbs, yoghurt), “Shopska Salad” (with just a few fresh-cut vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and peppers as ingredients), “Banitsa” (is prepared by stacking up layers of filo pastry dough, butter, and traditional Bulgarian cheese before it is baked).

Electricity and plug types

For Bulgaria there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Bulgaria operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Health and insurance

Facilities in most Bulgarian hospitals are basic and old-fashioned compared to standards of most Western European countries. The level of medical care is generally good, but specialized equipment and treatment may not be available. The country provides universal healthcare and low hospital fees. Thanks to, National Health Insurance Fund, the Voluntary Health Insurance Companies (VHICs) and the Social Health Insurance (SHI) system are third-party payers who contribute to the insurance system along with the public healthcare providers and insured individuals. As I mentioned, the country is famous for its well-trained medical professionals. However, hospitals continue to suffer due to a lack of infrastructure and funding. Consequently, the private sector attracts medical practitioners with its lucrative opportunities. Citizens of other European Economic Area countries (EU, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) have access to free medical treatments in all public hospitals. It falls under the National Health Insurance Fund in Bulgaria. They should carry the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before travel, which entitles you to the same immediate medical treatment that is available to Bulgarian nationals. However, you should also consider buying an insurance policy that covers you for the worst scenario.

Qualified pharmacists run pharmacies in Bulgaria. If you are a tourist with a prescription, I advise you to obtain medical certificates in your native country. However, regulations on medical prescriptions are more flexible in Bulgaria.

Health risks in Bulgaria can occur, you should be careful of tick-borne encephalitis, which spreads by tick bites in some rural areas. Contraction risks are low, but if you are camping in rural areas, protect against bites by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.

Before travelling to Bulgaria, it is recommended that visitors ensure they have received the appropriate vaccinations. The following vaccinations are recommended: routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), polio and varicella, Hepatitis A and B.

Other

Tipping: rounding up a bill, or leaving 10% of the total, is standard tipping practice.

Tap water in Sofia is safe to drink in most areas. The water is treated and regularly tested to meet health standards. However, it is possible that in some older buildings or areas with outdated infrastructure, the water quality may not be as reliable. If you have any concerns, you can use a water filter or buy bottled water.

For several decades, Bulgarian roads have been among the most dangerous in Europe, and Bulgaria is recognized as one of the most accident-prone countries on the old continent.