bulgariatravel - the official website of Bulgarian Tourism

Area: 110,994 sq km (42,855 sq miles).

Population: 8,190,876 (1999).

Population Density: 73.8 per sq km.

Capital: Sofia

Population of Sofia: 1,190,547 (1997).

Geography: Bulgaria is situated in Eastern Europe and bounded to the north by the River Danube and Romania, to the east by the Black Sea, to the south by Turkey and Greece and to the west by Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge of the Black Sea and its golden beaches. The land is heavily cultivated, covered with forests and crossed by rivers. Although Bulgaria lies in the very southeast corner of Europe the climate is never extreme in summer, even on the red-earthed plains of Southern Thrace. The Black Sea resorts have some of the largest beaches in Europe and offer sunbathing from May until October, while in winter heavy falls of snow are virtually guaranteed in the mountain skiing resorts.

Government: Democratic Republic since 1990

Head of State: President Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov since 2002

Head of Government: Prime Minister Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski since 2001

Language: Bulgarian is the official language and the Cyrillic alphabet is used. English, German, French and Russian are spoken in major tourist resorts and hotels.

Religion: The majority of the population are Christian, the main denomination being Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Eastern Orthodox Chrisitianity is considered to be the traditional religion in Bulgaria. There is also a significant Muslim minority (nine per cent) and small Roman Catholic and Jewish communities.

Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

The Bulgarian state was founded in 681 AD as a union of Slavs, Thracians and Proto-Bulgarians. Tsar Boris I converted the state to Orthodox Christianity in 865. This First Bulgarian Kingdom, which stretched from the Carpathians in the north to the Balkan range in the south, fell to the Byzantines in 1018.The Second Bulgarian Kingdom, established in 1185 at Veliko Turnovo, reinstated the borders and a 'Golden Age' began in which Bulgaria bordered on three seas: the Black, the Adriatic and the Aegean Seas. From 1389 to 1878 the country was under the rule ('yoke' as the Bulgarians call it) of the Ottoman Turks. Sofia became the capital of Bulgaria after the Veliko Turnovo Constitution was accepted in 1879. From 1878 (liberation from the Turks) to 1945, Bulgaria enjoyed a brief but unstable period of freedom. In 1945 the Communist Party, led by Georgi Dimitrov, took power and proclaimed Bulgaria a 'People's Republic'. The oppressive Communist rule lasted till November 1989 when, following the lead of the other East European states, Bulgaria peacefully ousted Party leader Todor Zhivkov and declared itself as a democratic republic October).

Bulgaria is a parliamentary democratic republic with both a president and a prime minister. Bulgaria has declared its intention to join both NATO and the EU. Internal policy focuses mostly on the reform process and privatisation. Stable, though the standard of living is still quite low. A currency board, in which the national currency is tied to the EURO and all foreign investments are strictly monitored by the IMF, has been in effect since July 1997.

The exchange rate is fixed at BGL 1.95583 /EURO 1.

The Bulgarian currency is called LEV and 1 LEV consists of 100 stotinki. All payments should be made in national currency. There are banknotes of 1,2,5,10, 20 and 50 Lev and coins of 1,2,5,10, 20 and 50 stotinki. It is advisable to exchange foreign currency at exchange bureaus or banks. It is possible to do it at the hotel or at the airports as well.

The exchange rate is 1 (Euro)= 1.95 LEVS (BGL)

Currency Exchange

In banks and 24-hour change bureaux. The exchange rate is announced every day. The usual exchange rate is about 2.00 LEVA per 1 USD. It is recommended to perform exchange predominantly in banks.

Credit Cards

Visa, Master Card, JCB, Diners Club, American Express, Access, Airplus.
They can be used for the payment of all standard services in hotels, restaurants, night clubs, shops, car rentals, plane tickets, etc.

Main Banks

BULGARIAN NATIONAL BANK
1000 Sofia, 1 Knyaz Batenberg Sq
Tel.: (+359 2) 91 459
Fax: (+359 2) 980 24 25, 980 64 93

BIOCHIM COMMERCIAL BANK PLC 1000 Sofia, 1 Ivan Vazov St.
Tel.: (+359 2) 86 169, 861 64 99
Fax: (+359 2) 987 00 63, 981 84 38

EUROBANK PLC
1407 Sofia, 43 Cherni Vrah Blvd
Tel.: (+359 2) 685 496, 623 366
Fax: (+359 2) 681 085

REIFFEISENBANK-BULGARIA PLC
1504 Sofia, 18-20 Gogol St.
Tel.: (+359 2) 919 859
Fax: (+359 2) 943 45 28

ING BANK - SOFIA BRANCH
1000 Sofia, 7 Vassil Levski St.
Tel.: (+359 2) 980 93 01, 980 93 03
Fax: (+359 2) 981 41 11

Winter time: GMT +2 hours (October through March)
Summer time: GMT +3 hours (April through September)

To dial stationary number in Bulgaria (not mobile number) from outside you must dial " +359 " (National Telephone Code) first, then dial the area code and then dial the given phone number

Area codes for some cities

Sofia - 02
Example: +359 2 951 69-96

Plovdiv - 032

To dial mobile number in Bulgaria from outside you must dial " +359 " first, then dial the mobile operator code and then dial the given mobile phone number. Mobile operator codes available now are 088 7, 088 8, 089, 098, 048.

Example: +359 88 7 951 69-96

When you dial a stationary number in Sofia and you are in Sofia , you must miss international and area codes and dial just the number you have.

Example: 951 69-96.

Police - 166
Ambulance - 150
Road assistance - 146

Usual price is 0.28-0.35 leva per kilometer. It is recommended not to accept offers greater than 0.40 leva per kilometer for that transport.

AVIS, Hertz, Intertel, Europcar, Budget and International Car Rental in Sofia, the country's big cities and resorts

Balkan
Bulgarian Airlines
12 Narodno Sabranie Sq.
88 06 63
981 54 00

Balkan (LZ)
Bulgarian Airlines
Sofia Airport
79 321
791 206

Balkan (LZ)
Information and reservation by phone
981 51 70
980 66 03

Aeroflot (SU)
23, Oborishte St.
943 44 89
946 17 03

Air France (AF)
2, Saborna St.
980 61 50
981 97 83

Al Italia
40, Graf Ignatiev St.
981 67 02
981 67 04

Austrian Airlines (SO)
68, Maria Luisa Blvd.
931 10 90
33 40 03

British Airways
56, Alabin St.
981 69 99
981 17 17

CZCH Airlines
9, Saborna St.
981 54 08
981 13 86

KLM
82A, Vassil Levski Blvd.
988 86 15
981 61 44

LOT
Polish Airlines
27A, Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd.
87 45 62
980 32 93

Lufthansa (LH)
9A, Saborna St.
980 41 41
981 29 11

Malev
Hungarian Airlines
19, Patriarch Evtimi Blvd.
981 50 91
981 50 96

Olympic Airlines
46, Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd.
981 45 45
980 10 50

Swissair (SR)
66, Maria Luisa Blvd.
931 08 71
931 13 59

Syrian Airlines
36, Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd.
981 24 99
87 66 57

Turkish Airlines
11A, Saborna St.
883 596
87 42

If you are invited to someone's home or choose a good traditional restaurant you'll be able to sample what's best about Bulgarian cuisine; plenty of fresh vegetables, eaten raw, roasted or stewed with meat in terra-cotta pots. Lots of garlic, onions, oil and spices. Influences of its neighbours, Turkey and Greece are also present in dishes such as 'sarmi' (stuffed vine leaves), 'moussaka' and 'baklava'. Bulgarians like their salads: a salad and rakia (Bulgarian spirit/ schnapps usually made from grapes) are the obligatory start to the meal. Be warned, this stage of the meal can be a very drawn-out process lasting up to an hour.

These are some of the more popular Bulgarian salads, well worth a try: 'shopska salata'- chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers sprinkled with 'sirene' (Bulgarian white cheese); 'snezhanka'- thick creamy yoghurt with chopped cucumber or gherkins, walnuts and garlic; 'kyopulo'- roasted aubergines, peppers, loads of garlic, parsley. Soups are also a very important element in the Bulgarian menu; 'bob chorba'- traditional bean soup with plenty of herbs; 'shkembe chorba'- tripe soup with garlic, vinegar and chilli, quite tasty if you can bring yourself to try it; 'tarator'- cold yoghurt and cucumber soup. Bulgarians like their meat - mainly pork (svinsko), veal (teleshko) and chicken (pile)- grilled, fried or as a stew: 'kavarma'- meat and vegetable stew, usually served in individual pots; 'gyuvech'- stewed chunks of vegetables and lamb; 'kyufteta'- spicy meat balls/ hamburgers; 'kebapcheta'- spicy mince meat, sausage shaped, grilled. Vegetarians may find the choice on the menu a bit limiting which is a shame as there are plenty of delicious vegetarian dishes. Usually you can find the following but if all else fails try a selection of starters or a combination salad (a plate of various salads): 'kashkaval (or sirene) pane'- fried yellow (or white) cheese; 'chushki byurek'- fried peppers stuffed with egg and cheese; 'sirene po shopski'- white cheese, egg, tomatoes and peppers baked in a pot.

Bulgarian cuisine isn't strong on desserts, most restaurants offer only pancakes or creme caramel. Cafes usually have a good selection of pastries and cakes. The 'garash torta' is the Bulgarian equivalent of the Sacher Torte, made from eggs, walnuts and cocoa. Snacks (zakuska) are available all over town in tiny shops or from stands on the street. If you are feeling a little peckish why not try: 'banitsa'- fillo dough pastry filled with white cheese; 'gevrek'- like a very dry bagel, sold from big bags on street corners;'kifla'- croissant usually filled with jam; 'piroshka'- dough stick filled with white cheese and fried.

Finally, if you are feeling really adventurous, try some 'boza', - a thick malt drinkwith a distinct smell. It's said to be an acquired taste!

Worth nothing:

   - Bulgarians tend to serve food warm rather than piping hot.
   - Bulgarians think nothing of lighting up a cigarette in the middle of their salad, so if you are a non-smoker, brace yourself!
   - When ordering a main course in a restaurant, check if it comes with 'garnitura' (potatos or veg) - usually you have to order side dishes extra.

Free first aid and consultation in emergencies

220 V only!

Money: The only safe places to change money are the banks and the hotels. The rates might seem better in other exchange offices but they also require commission although they might claim otherwise. And of course never ever change money on the streets!
Yes or No?: OK, there is a big tourist trap that every tourist will fall for, even if you know it already. When Bulgarians shake their heads, they are saying yes, when they nod they are saying no. And yes you will fall for it, it will take you to comical situatiions...:)
Taxi: Foreign tourists are considered rather wealthy- taxi drivers may demand too much - the best way to eliminate this is first to ask for a receipt ( smetka )...