Bulgaria travel guide - Wikitravel
Open source travel guide to Bulgaria, featuring up-to-date information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, travel tips and more.
A beautiful holiday - with lots of flowers, music, and joy.Assumption Day - Golyama Bogodoritsa, August 15. A drink called "Ayrian" - a salty yoghurt-water mixture - is also very popular.[edit] Fast-FoodTraditional bakeries prepare different kinds of pastry products. A good place for quality golf at a reasonable price. A one way ticket to the Black Sea from Sofia is around EUR 12-15. A very beautiful site to visit is the region of the 7 Rila lakes, which is considered holy to the White Brotherhood and attracts pilgrims in Summer and on their "Days of the New Year" in August. After a series of bloody and brutal Balkan wars, Bulgaria had the further misfortune to be occupied by the losing side in both World Wars, and fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Alexander Nevski, the parliament, the central universal shop (CUM). All of the above are located in the southern part of Bulgaria, but if you cross the Balkans you will find the more agricultural region of Bulgaria. All the operators offer mobile internet via GPRS, and prepaid SIM cards.Intrafonica offers mobile phones for rent.Internet: Internet cafés are almost everywhere, with affordable rates. Also communication in English might be rather cumbersome. Among the most attractive cities are Sofia and Veliko Turnovo, the old capital of Bulgaria, a must see. Around Veliko Tarnovo there are nice rural towns like Elena and Rodina, where you can travel in a relaxed way. As a matter of fact, ancient Bulgarian (also known as Church Slavonic) is considered the "Latin" or mother language of the Balto-Slavs. Asenovgrad (Асеновград) - a small city close to Plovdiv at one of the entrances of Rhodope Mountains, famous for its Pamid red wine. Balkan (Балкан, Стара планина) - This is a mountain that separates Bulgaria's north from the south. Banks apply little or no commissions, and generally offer good rates. Bansko (Банско) - a beautiful old town in the Pirin mountains with refurbished homes, stone wall, and cobblestone streets, but increasingly being overtaken by resort hotels, as Bansko is a major ski destination in South-East Europe. Be sure to visit also the museum in Etura - an open air museum that is actually an old-style Bulgarian village, displaying traditional crafts and food. Be sure to visit the Castle of Asen and Bachkovo Monastery to the south of the city. Belogradchik (Белоградчик) - See the remnants of an old Roman outpost in the Bulgarian northwest. Bulgaria is famous for offering quality budget accommodation for rural and ecological tourism in charming small towns in its mountains as well as at the seaside. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878 largely due to the intervention of Russia, who clipped the wings of the declining Ottoman Empire in Bulgaria and elsewhere, and installed a minor German prince as a ruler of the newly independent country. Bulgaria remains a largely cash economy - credit cards and other methods of payment are rare. Bulgarian authorities are really cracking down on this. Bulgarian police have white Opel Astra patrol cars, marked "POLICE" with blue letters - keep that in mind, because in the past there have been several cases of fake police officers stopping cars and robbing travellers. Bulgarians are a very patriotic people and tend to be very positive towards all their Slavic brothers. Burgas (Бургас) - Known for its commercial port (Port of Burgas) and oil refinery. Cave tourism is also attracting many fans. Chauffeur services are also available on http://www.carrental.bg or http://www.escadra.bg. Cyril and Methodius Day (Ден на Кирил и Методий), May 24. Don't be surprised if an extra "border fee" is asked from each traveller by the bus driver - it makes your border passing quicker. Driving in Bulgaria can be a bit precarious - many roads do not have defined lanes, are not well marked, and are in poor conditions. During the winter, numerous ski resorts are there to attract tourists. EasyJet flies between Sofia and London Gatwick. Engaging in dialogue with these people is much advised and worthwhile.Certain beaches in Bulgaria may be off limits due to packs of wild dogs. Especially in the smaller cities, some families still distill their rakia at home; it is then usually much stronger (>50% vol).Another quite popular drink is Mastika (Мастика) (47% vol), a drink closely related to Greek Ouzo and Turkish Raki. Every tourist going to Bulgaria has to see the Rila monastery, it is a must. Following are several official resources for tourism and lodging in Bulgaria.[edit] LearnThere are many organizations that provide courses in Bulgarian language among others (e.g. For example, recent trains are scheduled from Bucharest to Sofia in the daytime departing 11:35/arriving 21:30 and a night train departing 19:35/arriving 06:10. For more information, please visit: Obedinenie. Gabrovo (Габрово) - A place to visit is the House of Humour and Satire. George and official holiday of the Bulgarian Аrmy.Ss. Go to the capital Sofia and see all the tourist attractions, e.g. Half of the boulevard is pedestrian area with a lot of cafes and night life. Have your German, Russian or French on standby. Here you can find a lot of bus schedules: http://www.transportbg.infoTraveling from Sofia to major cities in Bulgaria by bus is a good value. Higher commissions may be applied to traveller's cheques. Hissar - an nice little town a bit north of Plovdiv, known ever since roman times because of it's mineral springs. However it is actually easier than the other Slavic tongues as the other Slavs almost never use articles nor prepositions, but have noun cases instead, which makes them more difficult. However many of these do not have separate websites, so the Bulgarian embassies or Ministry of Education and Science is to be contacted for further information.[edit] WorkThere are many online agencies that offer jobs. However, they have been responsible for several deaths, so it is best to keep your distance.[edit] Stay healthyMost food is quite safe to eat. If not, usually your hotel will handle the necessary paperwork (ask). If you do not stay in a hotel, you will need to go to the police and take the tedious task of registering on your own. If you have booked with a travel agency, this will be taken care of. If you plan to spend more time in one city, it might be better to rent a parking space, which on the average costs 60 leva
a month. In a village called Shipka near Kazanlak there is a very beautiful Russian church built in memory of the Russian soliders who fell in the battle of Shipka Pass. In Bulgaria you have to pay road tax at the border (around 5 euros for 7 days). In general hitchhiking goes well in Bulgaria. In most cities there are many money exchange offices which are marked with signs that say "CHANGE". In north Bulgaria you can see the old Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo, also a must.[edit] DoBulgaria offers tourist attractions all around the year. In rural areas leaving your car should be safe, but in the big cities or tourist spots, it is advisable to stay on the safe side by parking either on the major streets or on guarded garages, where fees range from 6 leva a day to 2 leva an hour. In succeeding centuries, Bulgarian and the Byzantine Empires dominated South-East Europe, but by the end of the 14th century the region was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. In the beginning of September the city hosts the well-known Apollonia festival of arts. In the surroundings: See the Madara Horseman carved into the cliff wall. It features nice parks, a nice town center, many bars, pubs, and disco clubs, over 250 historic landmarks and architectural monuments, and a great deal of cultural places of interest. It is also the city with most churches per capita in the country. It is important to compare prices of several cars, because there are speculators.[edit] By carIf traveling by car, it will be helpful if you can read the Cyrillic alphabet at least a bit. It is much safer to exchange your money at a bank. It is one of Bulgaria's UNESCO world heritage sites. It is surrounded by Romania to the north, Serbia to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia to the southwest, Greece to the south, and Turkey to the southeast. It is the biggest city in North-western Bulgaria. It is usually drink with ice, with water in a 1:1 mixture or with peppermint liqueur, called Oblak (cloud).Bulgaria has several well known local wine varietals. It takes a short while getting used to the Cyrillic alphabet, an writing system of which the Bulgarians are justifiably proud (it having been invented by two Bulgarian monks,Cyril and Methodius). It’s situated south of the main ridges of the Rila Mountains, nestling in a wide field among pine forests. Kazanluk (Казанлък) - see the famous Bulgarian rose oil being made - it is best to visit in May or June. Koprivshtitsa (Копривщица) - although this town's name might be difficult to pronounce for many foreigners, it is a beautiful old Bulgarian village - certainly a must to visit if you are in this area. Locals often do not observe speed limits and do not signal when changing lanes. Management, IT, finance, professional education, consulting and tourism areas are known for being well-paid.[edit] Stay safeBulgaria is generally a safe country, and people are quite friendly. Many Bulgarians refuse to acknowledge the existence of a Macedonian nation, and they will insist that Macedonians are actually Bulgarians, and their language is a dialect of Bulgarian. Melnik (Мелник) - sample wonderful red wines from the region, see the sand pyramids, and take the long hike to Rozhen Monastery Nesebar (Несебър) - beautiful small town on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast a few hours south of Varna. Methodius (826-884), who created the Cyrillic alphabet. Most are legitimate, but some may rip you off. Most hotels have their own parking, and even at private lodgings it is often possible to park the car in the garden or so, just ask.[edit] By bicycleAll roads in Bulgaria are paved. Most young Bulgarians have at least a basic knowledge of English or/and a second foreign language (usually German, Russian, French or Spanish) and will often even take up a third one. MTel is the oldest one and for that reason they may offer better signal coverage in some areas. MyAir flies to Sofia from Milan, Bari, Brussels and Bologna. Near to its highest mount Botev is located the waterfall of Raiskoto praskalo (Paradise's shower). Normally, the bigger internet cafés offer a good service and a fast connection.This is a usable article. Not far away from Bansko, there are hot-water mineral springs, located at the villages of Banya (Баня) and Ognianovo (Огняново). Not far away is also Dryanovo Monastery, located in a beautiful canyon. Obedinenie (село Обединение) - A small Bulgarian village near to Veliko Tarnovo (Велико Търново). Of course, try to avoid eating at places that are obviously not too clean.The water in Bulgaria is safe to drink from the tap. Old, dirty or very worn bank notes may be refused. Orbis) and School in PlovdivHere is an unofficial list of institutions that offer international education in Bulgaria:[edit] UniversitiesMost Bulgarian universities offer admission to international students willing to study in Bulgarian language. Originally made from sheep milk, it is available from cow or goat milk, or mixed. Overnight accommodations can also be acquired at about a dozen of the monasteries. Pamporovo (Пампорово) - one of the most famous winter resorts in south-eastern Europe, it should be visited during the summer due to the beauty of the Rhodope Mountains at that time of year. Pamporovo is a favoured destination for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and all those who like holidays amid these beautiful mountains. People give each martenitsa (мартеница), a type of white-red yarn, as a symbol of health.March 3 (Трети март). Pizza, dyuner (Döner) or hamburgers are also very easy to be found at the streets. Plentiful roadside cafés can provide the cyclists' fuel and numerous roadside springs (pipes driven in to the sides of mountains or hills) provide a ready source of clean, cool water. Plovdiv (Пловдив) - The nation's second largest city. Plovdiv is a legendary city and the second biggest after Sofia, visit the old and rich of history part of Plovdiv, and drop by the Roman theater. Present-day Rousse is the fifth largest Bulgarian city and is an important economic, financial and cultural hub. Rila (Рила) - in the Rila mountains, is home to some of the most beautiful monasteries. Rousse (Русе) - More famous as the "Small Vienna", the city centre offers an unforgettable architectural ensemble that cannot be found any place else within Bulgaria. See http://europa.eu.int/youth/working/finding_a_job/index_bg_en.html for an extensive list of job portals. Semkovo (Семково) - a mountain resort 17 km to the north of the town of Belitsa. Several companies operate regular routes serviced by new and modern busses. Several kilometers away is the ski resort of Pamporovo. Sky Europe flies from Bratislava to Sofia, Varna, and Bourgas. Sliven (Сливен) - Well known for its permanent winds and blue rocks which can be observed from the city. Smolyan (Смолян) - Preferred destination for holiday makers and nature lovers, this municipality town is famous for its planetarium center, drama theater, historical museum. Some of these offer parallel supervision in English. South West of Shumen close to Kotel, there is a nice village, Medven, with old wooden houses, a nice little waterfall, and a good restaurant and hotel (30 leva for a double room). Sozopol (Созопол) - together with Nesebur these are two sea towns with traditional houses and ancient dig sites. Stepping in a hole is a much greater danger in Bulgaria than getting robbed.Unlike a number of people from other former Eastern Bloc countries, Bulgarians do not feel anger or resentment towards Russians. Still be careful if you go away from the main arteries, because the roads can turn quickly into some very bad and depleted pseudo-arteries. Summer seaside resorts, along the entire Black Sea coastline, are the most popular. Taxi tariffs in Bulgaria are not standartized. The Black Sea is a good summer destination, and the mountains (Balkan, Rila, Pirin and Rodopa) are a winter destination, but are worth visiting during the summer as well. The central parts of the town is surrownded by an imressive city wall from the roman times still in good shape. The city boasts various places of interest among which the Sexiginta Prista Roman Castle, The Theatre, The House of Caliopa, The Pantheon and so on. The country's iconic heroes were all freedom fighters to a man: whether Rakovsky (Раковски), who mixed revolution and literature, Vassil Levski (Васил Левски) - the Apostle of Freedom, or Hristo Botev (Христо Ботев), poet and fighter. The ethnographical village of Bozhenci is located near Gabrovo. The highest peak of Pirin Mountain (Vihren - 2916m) is at a day's walk from the city. The Lev is pegged to the Euro at 1.95583 Lev for one Euro. The most famous one and a must see is the Rila Monastery. The night life in Varna is notorious, especially during the summer season. The once-common practice of bribing a police officer to get out of a speeding or parking ticket is becoming the exception.Car theft isn't much of a risk, but shouldn't be underestimated. The original city castle and walls are reconstructed. The route runs from its mount Kom to the cape of Emine at the Black Sea. The Russian/East Slavic version of the alphabet is almost identical to the Bulgarian one.It is also important to remember the fact that many Bulgarians - contrary to most nationalities - shake their head for Yes and nod for No! The town is an important economic and administrative, tourist and cultural center. The water is bottled under the labele XNCAP and you can visit the local spa for a hot bath too. There are a lot of charter and last-minute flight offers to Varna or Bourgas leaving from Western Europe (especially Germany and Great Britain). There are also many local and international fast-food chains.[edit] DrinkThere are more than six hundred mineral water springs around the country, so this is something you'd better taste and drink. There are also plenty of guest houses and villas. There are big celebrations, especially in the main monasteries, with icons being paraded by the monks.Reunification Day (Ден на съединението), September 6. There are many spa, trekking and historical destinations that offer an incredibly rich variety of experiences. There are more than 70 mineral springs nearby, making it the city with the most mineral springs in a country rich with these vital waters. There are no tolls on Bulgarian roads.Besides the sticker, you may need to pay the Bulgarian authorities health insurance (2 euros per person for 3 days, slightly more for more days) and car disinfection costs (4 euros for a standard car). There are Thracian tombs and the two of the ancient capitals of the Bulgarian Kingdoms - Pliska and Preslav. There is a monument in honor of a battle for the liberation of Bulgaria visible from the city at Mount Shipka. There is extensive road reconstruction and you can meet some really dangerous drivers.From Sofia to Plovdiv, Chirpan and Dimitrovgrad, there is a highway with 2 or 3 lanes per direction.If you observe the rules, police will not bother you. There is Thracian tomb near Kazanlak which can be visited. These are mainly residents of other Balkan or Slavic countries. These are relatively common all over Bulgaria, and are usually little more than a nuisance. These tourist towns are dominated by Bulgarian, German and Russian tourists. They view Macedonian as merely a political classification made by Yugoslav leader Tito after 1944.Secondary languages, including Turkish and Romani, closely correspond to ethnic breakdown. This is also the highest mountain in the Balkan pennisula with highest peak mount Musala (2925 m). This is always dangerous, and your first offence will result in a long prison sentence. Today, reforms and democratization have brought Bulgaria into the NATO fold, with EU accession celebrated in 2007. Travel by train is not recommended as the trains are invariably in poor condition and are rarely maintained. Varna (Варна) - The nation's third largest city is a primary beach resort. Velingrad (Велинград) - The city is surrounded by the Rhodope Mountains. When travelling on the road Sofia-Greece, be very careful. Wizz Air flies directly between Sofia and Budapest and London and has a seasonal service to Bourgas. YambolPorts and harbors: Bourgas LomNeseburRousseVarnaVidin[edit] Other destinations Chiprovtsi (Чипровци) - A quaint mountain town in the Northwest that is famous for its carpets. You can also hire a driver for about 50-75 Euro per day plus accommodation. You can easily visit the Balcan mountain range and Koprivshtitsa from this base.[edit] Understand[edit] CurrencyThe Bulgarian unit of currency is the Lev (лев, abbreviated "лв", plural: Leva), comprised of one hundred Stotinki. You can go from German airports to Bulgaria and back for less than 100 Euro, if you are lucky.Recently, several low-cost airlines have also started offering regular flights to Bulgaria. You can look up train schedules and prices on the Bulgarian State Railways website [1][edit] By taxiMost of the taxi drivers do not speak proper English. You should however behave according to common sense when you are outside of the main tourist areas, i.e. You will get a special sticker that you have to place on your car.