CHARMING AND HOSPITABLE, ANCIENT AND YOUNG, THE BEAUTIFUL BULGARIA WARMLY WELCOMES YOU!
WHY BULGARIA?
You will not be able to find another place such as Bulgaria – it is certainly one of the kind!
In recent years Bulgaria has become the top MICE location in Eastern Europe and for no reason.
It possesses a unique combination of an incredible landscape, fascinating historical background and architecture, central location, high-quality resorts and hotels, etc.
With its high mountains, vast sandy beaches, pure splendid nature and charming spots to visit and rest at, Bulgaria offers the best to have your holiday, your business event or both.
Along with the top class resorts and hotels with high quality standards and services, and friendly and safe environment, it is the location to mix business and pleasure and most importantly – at a modest price!
You could deep in the big city, visit a concert or have a fancy dinner, or you could enjoy the authentic country-site with the variety of opportunities, for hobbies, eco-tourism, interesting routes and natural and delicious food.
All the amazing venues and locations combine with the convenient transport – we have three major airports and the rest of the country is easily accessible by train, car or bus.
There is no other place that unites comfort, beauty and low price as Bulgaria – all the stimulus to visit it are here!
Don’t miss out!
Bulgaria offers pleasures for each one's taste.
Thinking of an active holiday?
Bulgaria has it - swimming, skiing, riding, climbing, hunting, fishing...
Thinking of relaxing - amazing nature, sunny beaches, healing spas, monasteries and churches, hospitable towns and villages...
Ancient culture, endless beaches and an emerald sea, high mountains with marvellous gorges and caves, clear lakes and rivers full of fish, wide valleys, healing springs, ancient culture, hospitable people, tempting cuisine and wines, diverse flora and fauna...
Explore this land!
Cultural map of Bulgaria
Bulgaria has an area of 110 993 sq km and occupies the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, having a varied terrain and mild continental climate. To the north is Romania, to the west are the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, to the south - Greece, and to the southeast lies Turkey. The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, which is the country's natural border, faces east and extends over 378 km / 236 miles /.
The geographical position of Bulgaria on the crossroads between the East and the West, where throughout history the paths of world civilizations have crossed, is influential to the country's rich and colorful cultural heritage.
Traces of the material and spiritual presence of the Thracians (2000 BC), the Hellenes, the Romans, the Slavs and proto-Bulgarians, the Byzantines and the Ottomans have been left in the Bulgarian lands.
After five centuries under the Ottoman yoke, the Bulgarian Revival, which started in the 18th century, brought the country closer towards Europe, modern times and contemporary culture.
A great number of items, jewelry and tombs have survived since Thracian times to present day.
The Romans left us as a heritage of strongholds, buildings and roads.
The Byzantines and the Turks have left towns, fortified settlements, fountains and baths.
Although their culture was overshadowed during the Ottoman Period, the Bulgarians continued to create their own authentic customs, traditions, rituals, songs and fairy-tales.
After the Liberation the architecture of Vienna, the German technical mind and European fashion had their impact. Magnificent buildings give charm and character to towns such as Rouse, Varna, Svishtov, Sofia and others.
Air raids during World War II (1943-44) destroyed some of the architectural and cultural sights but in the middle of the century (the 80's) modern-style buildings, monuments and parks were constructed.
After the democratic changes the borders were opened to cultural exchange.
Bulgaria's cultural and historical heritage, as well as its contemporary arts, has become famous all over the world.
Usefull information
State system of Bulgaria: Parliamentary Republic
Capital: Sofia (1.2 mil. Inhabitants)
Official language: Bulgarian, alphabet – Cyrillic
Religion: Orthodox (85%), Muslim (8%), others (7%)
Time zone: GMT (London) + 2 hours, East-European time (Germany) + 1 hour
Climate:
Continental to Mediterranean in the South parts of the country. Average temperatures during January vary from -2 to 2 degrees centigrade in the valleys to – 10 degrees centigrade in the mountains. Average temperatures for June vary from 19-25 degrees centigrade in the valleys to 10 degrees centigrade in the high mountains. Rainfalls are 450-600 mm in the valleys to 1300 mm in the mountains.
Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz
Entrance in the country: Most of the foreign citizens entering Bulgaria don’t need visa but they must carry their valid international passport. The list of the countries which citizens need visa, when entering Bulgaria, can be found at www.mfe.government.bg
Custom’s formalities and limitations:
Upon crossing the state border of the Republic of Bulgaria passengers may import and export duty free commodities that in type, quantities, and value are not of a commercial nature and personal belongings. Common custom declarations and restrictions are applied for import and export of currency, food, alcohol and goods. There is a special custom regime for antiquarian objects, historic and cultural treasures, medicines, narcotics, weapons, ammunitions.
Money exchange: The Bulgarian Lev is pegged to the Euro. 1 EUR = 1.955 BGN.
You may exchange money in banks and in any of the numerous exchange offices. Some of those offices are opened during the holidays. Euro-checks may be cashed on a lot of banks.
Roads - 37.3 thousand km.;
railways - 6.5 thousand km. (65 % electrical).
Sea ports – Varan and Burgas.
Danube ports – Russe, Lom , Vidin, Silistra etc.
International airports – Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna.
Taxi-cabs: In towns and resorts there are taxi-cabs situated in the respective taxi ranks. People can take a taxi by calling a taxi company or in the street.
Urban transport: In towns there is urban transport: buses and mini-buses. In Sofia there are trams, trolley buses and underground. Tickets are usually bought before getting on the vehicle.
Car rental : You can rent a car from international rent-a-car companies such as AVIS, Hertz, Budget , Eurocar, etc. Many of the hotels in Bulgaria offer this service through a licensed Bulgarian rent a car companies.
Post offices and telecommunication: Working time of post offices is from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Postage stamps and postcards may be bought from the desks in the post office or from pavilions selling newspapers. There are a lot of internet-cafes from which you may talk cheap or send e-mails (most of them work 24 hours).
Local and international telephone services are covered through automatic street telephones operating with tokens and calling cards. Tokens for local calls (0.20 leva) and calling cards are available for purchase from any post office or places where newspapers are sold.
Important phones:
Dialling code for Bulgaria from abroad +359
Fire-brigade 160
First aid 150
Police 166
Road assistance 146
Telephone information 144
Traffic police – car accidents +359 2/ 982 72 823, 866 50 60
Important web pages;
Airports in Bulgaria:
1. Sofia airport www.sofia-airport.bg
2. Varna airport www.varna-airport.bg
3. Bourgas airport www.bourgas-airport.com
4. Plovdiv airport www.plovdivairport.com
Sea and river ports in Bulgaria:
1. Sea port of Varna www.port-varna.bg
2. Sea port of Bourgas www.port-bourgas.com
3. River port of Rousse www.port-rousse.bg
4. River port of Lom www.port.lom.bg
5. River port of Vidin www.port-vd.com
Central railway station in Sofia www.bdz.creato.biz/bg
