Getting there

Most people fly to Sofia and then catch a train or bus to the town they are staying at. Airlines have also started direct flights to Burgas and Varna, but they may be more expensive. When you arrive at Sofia airport, a taxi should cost not more than 15 levs to get from airport to train station, or 10 levs to get from airport to bus station.

Another possibility is flying into Istanbul and getting a bus or train from there. There are direct train connections to Sofia. For buses, Metro Turizm were good, and a journey from Istanbul to Varna cost about £20 and two hours (summer 2007).

For budget flights, try Skyscanner or for regular scheduled flights, Expedia.co.uk

For international trains try Deutsche Bahn, TGV Europe, or Rail Europe or a tourist agency.

Taxis

Agree a price with the taxi driver before you get in if he charges more then refuse to pay. Don’t pay more than 5 levs for a taxi to take you across town apart from in Sofia. All registered taxis in Bulgaria are painted yellow, though this is no guarantee of roadworthiness!

Buses

They are generally pretty good and really cheap - a single ticket from Sofia to Veliko Turnovo costs about $5. The firm ETAP are good. Buy bus tickets in the bus station, or from a travel agency.

Trains

Bulgarian trains aren’t fast, but they are relatively reliable. The overnight sleeper between Sofia and Varna is a very useful way of returning to Sofia for a morning flight while avoiding the hassle of finding a hotel room, and costs something like 20 lev each way (summer 2007). However, since you occasionally need to book in advance due to overcrowding, it’s best not to rely on this when arriving off a late flight from the UK!

The Bulgarian State Railways (Български държавни железници, BDZ or Бдж) are the main train operator in Bulgaria, their website is www.bdz.bg, try also Seat61.com

Registering with the police

As Bulgaria is now in the European Union, you no longer need to register on arrival in Bulgaria.

Visas

Bulgaria is now part of the European Union (since 2007); citizens from EU member states should not need a visa to visit Bulgaria. Citizens of the UK and Ireland can stay for 30 days without a visa; citizens of other EU member states can stay for up to 90 days. Visa rules are of course subject to change, so you should probably check this in a good guide book well in advance of your planned departure.

Getting money

You should be able to get Bulgarian currency (levs) from the Post Office or a travel agency in the UK.

Alternatively you will be able to exchange Euros, dollars, or pounds for levs when you arrive in Bulgaria - you can change US dollars or pounds as long as they are not marked or ripped. Be careful when changing money: check the current exchange rate before you go to an exchange office (and thus roughly what you would expect to get), that the transaction is actually being made at that exchange rate, and that you get the amount of money you’re owed.

ATM machines are common in the main cities, and take most UK cards. Check with your bank / card provider before you go, because many banks will charge you transaction fees (typically a flat charge for the transaction, plus a percentage of the amount). You might thus end up with an exhorbitant bill at the end of your trip if you’re not careful!

As of 2/3/08, £1 = 2.56 lev (xe.com/ucc). The lev is pegged to the euro, and the brilliantly named “stotinka” is worth one hundredth of a lev (1 lev = 100 stotinki)

Gestures

A sharp nod of the head means no and a shake (actually, more like a tilt from side to side) means yes. This can be very confusing!

Travel

Bulgaria is likely to become a significant tourist destination in the next few years, as it opens up to tourists from western Europe. The Black Sea coast, with its huge sandy beaches and rugged sandstone cliffs, is one attraction, and the mountains are equally beautiful. The monasteries hidden in the mountains, especially Rila, are a popular attraction for many tourists.

Bulgaria also borders Turkey and Greece in the south, as well as Romania in the north, giving plenty of scope for travel around Southeastern Europe.

Last updated: March 2nd, 2008