Travel Tips

Accommodation
It's often cheaper to arrive in Bulgaria with pre-booked accommodation than to book the same accommodation locally. You can book accommodation through our partners – www.hotelsinsofia.com. In recent times, the availability of modern, clean, well-run, private hotels throughout the country has greatly improved, especially in the popular tourist destinations. In some of Bulgaria's more rural beauty spots, private accommodation with families is available, although this is usually more basic and normally doesn't include private bathroom facilities.

Backpacking
To date, Bulgaria has not really been considered a backpacker destination, although it is of course quite possible to travel the country on a budget. Private bus companies operate regular services between all the major cities and the railways. These are far from luxurious, but extremely affordable. (You can download railway schedules from the English section of the German Railways' website. In mountain towns like Bansko, or along the Black Sea Coast, rooms can be rented from local families for reasonable, negotiated rates. Some of the old state hotels, which may be cheap for Bulgarian nationals, are not worth the money when you pay the (approximately double) 'foreigner' rate. Although hitchhiking is not forbidden and many young Bulgarians do it, it's not recommended for obvious safety reasons. Even foreigners traveling on a budget will be perceived as rich in some areas.

Communications
Mobile phones: There are two mobile operators, which between them cover most of the country, though do not expect coverage really high up in the mountains or in deep gullies. Both offer a prepaid card system - Prima (from Mtel) and b-connect (from GloBul) - which can be purchased from newspaper kiosks or mobile phone shops.
Internet: Almost all towns have at least one Internet club and rates are exceptionally good. Large hotels and many of the newer private ones also offer Internet facilities.
Post: Post offices can be found throughout the country, in most villages, towns and tourist resorts, though opening times are unpredictable and many close for lunch.

Drinking Water
Tap water is safe to drink all over the country but not always pleasant in taste or appearance in the cities or at the seaside. In mountain areas, tap water is delicious. Bulgaria's vast supplies of tasty and inexpensive mineral water are widely available in 0.5 and 1.5 litre bottles. Some of the best brands are Gorna Banya, Devin and Velingrad.

Gay and Lesbian Travellers
Bulgaria decriminalized homosexuality in 1968, however Bulgarians are not very open about the subject and homosexual men in particular tend to keep a low profile. There are a few gay bars and discos in Sofia. For more info you can check out www.bulgayria.com.

Language
The Bulgarian language, and the Cyrillic alphabet in particular, are possibly the biggest barriers you will face during your visit. In tourist resorts most signs and menus have translations and the service staff speak foreign languages. But street signs in the countryside and even in the cities are in Cyrillic and you may find that not every one in the streets understands your questions. It is definitely worth trying to grasp the alphabet and some basic vocabulary.

Map
To view a map of Bulgaria, click here.

Medicines and Medical Emergencies
Chemist's shops are well stocked only in the big cities so take what you need with you when you go to smaller towns and rural areas. All towns and villages have well qualified doctors but make sure that you have emergency insurance cover for unexpected occurrences.

Money and Payments
The national currency is 'leva' (plural). One lev is made up of 100 'stotinki'.
The following coins are available: 1,2,5,10,20,50 stotinki and 1 lev. The following notes are available: 1, 2, 5,10, 20, 50, 100 leva (BGN).
Beware: some old notes are still being used in money exchange scams! Spend a little time familiarizing yourself with the local currency and only exchange money in reputable places.

Money Exchange
Cash machines are widely available in cities and larger towns and provide a convenient access to local currency. All major European and North American debit cards are accepted.
Money can also be exchanged safely at most banks and also at reputable exchange bureaux. (Hotels and airports tend to give less favourable rates.) Exchange bureaux are no longer allowed to charge a commission for money exchange, so check this first. All bureaux are required to display clearly the exact exchange rates. Moneychangers have diminished in number in recent years but some still hang around the resorts in high season. NEVER change money with anyone who stops you on the street and offers a better rate. Although exchange rates fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, for orientation purposes you can assume the following rates: 1 Euro = 2 BGN; 1 US Dollar = 1.6 BGN; 1 Pound Sterling = 2.7 BGN.
Credit Cards: Most hotels, shops and restaurants in Sofia accept credit cards, but this is not so in smaller towns and rural areas. Cash is the accepted form of payment, so keep plenty of small notes on you.

Public Holidays
January 1st - New Year's Day
March 3rd - National Holiday
Easter - changes every year
May 1st - Labour Day
May 24th - Day of the Cyrillic Alphabet
September 6th - Day of Reunification (1885)
September 22nd - Bulgarian Independence Day
December 24th, 25th - Christmas
December 31st - New Year's Eve
Banks are closed, as are many shops, restaurants and bars.

Resources
The Rough Guide Bulgaria and Lonely Planet Bulgaria are both thorough and well written. If and when you are in Sofia, look for Sofia Inside&Out, a free seasonal city guide with an extensive section on Bulgaria published by two long-time British expats and distributed in Sofia's major hotels.
www.bulgariatravel.org is the official site for tourism of the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy.
www.sofiaecho.com is the on-line edition of Sofia Echo, Sofia's English language newspaper.
www.government.bg is the official site of the Bulgarian government.

Safety
Bulgaria is a relatively safe country and even the capital, Sofia, is subject to less random crime than other European capitals. The most frequent crimes here are pick-pocketing, mugging and car theft. Use your common sense when it comes to walking around cities at dusk or at night. Keep to well-lit areas and do not walk across parks in the dark. Pickpockets are most active in the city centres and unfortunately lurk around areas frequented by tourists as they offer the richest pickings. Make sure your bag has a zipper and try to avoid using a rucksack. You can also try a money belt to you wear under your clothes. Keep your valuables in the hotel safe. Sexually or racially motivated crime is rare.

Smoking
Bulgaria is a nation of heavy smokers and locally-produced cigarettes are a lot cheaper than those in the West (currently around 1.60 BGN). Cigarette prices are fixed by the state and are printed on the seal on the side of the packet. Retailers are not allowed to charge more than the stated price. There is very little consideration for non-smokers; very few restaurants offer non-smoking areas and in general Bulgarians will light up without asking first, either when out eating or during meetings. On the plus side, restaurants are increasingly investing in good air conditioning and there is plenty of opportunities to eat outdoors from April to October. Smoking is prohibited (and observed) on public transport and also in cinemas and concerts.

Stings and bites
Mosquitoes can be a real nuisance when the weather warms up and, although they are not disease-carrying in Bulgaria, they are likely to leave you with itchy bites. Bring an effective mosquito repellent with you or buy the imported brands in chemist's shops in the big cities.
Ticks, can be carriers of dangerous illnesses and can be a problem when outdoors in the summer. Avoidance strategies include: wear long trousers, headwear, shoes and socks, avoid long grass. Seek immediate medical help if you find a tick and have it removed properly. Some lotions and sprays (e.g. Autan) offer protection against ticks.
Snakes inhabit remote areas in the hot summer months and may attack readily. The adder's venom is poisonous and can even be lethal if you don't seek medical help.
There is rabies in Bulgaria, although incidents are isolated and tend to be in rural areas. Even so, it is advisable to seek medical assistance should you be bitten by a dog.

Tipping
A tip of 10% is generally expected by the waiting staff in restaurants, cafes and bars. Nonetheless, tipping is also recognized as a means of expressing one's satisfaction, so you are in no way obliged to tip if you feel the service did not merit it. Some restaurants automatically add a service charge, so check the bill before tipping.

Vegetarians
Vegetarians have nothing to be afraid of in Bulgaria, especially in the warmer months. Bulgarian vegetables are second to none and the traditional cuisine features plenty of excellent vegetarian dishes.

Visas
EU nationals, as well as those of USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and some other countries with reciprocal agreements can spend up to 30 days in Bulgaria visa-free on a valid international passport.