total: 110,910 sq km
water: 360 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km

total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Coastline: 354 km

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Population: about 8 million

Capital: Sofia, population over one million

28 provinces (oblasti, singular – oblast) Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Two-way daily flights link Sofia to Varna and Bourgas. During the summer season there are more daily flights in both directions.

The rail network is extensive and connects most cities and villages. Traveling by train in Bulgaria is quite cheap.

Highway “Hemus” links Sofia with Varna and highway “Trakia” - Sofia with Plovdiv and Bourgas. Private bus services cover most directions, with the exception of some high mountain villages.

Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz
Electric Plug Details
European plug with two circular metal pins

Language: the official language is Bulgarian and uses only the Cyrillic alphabet. To facilitate tourists, road and direction signs in populated areas, resorts, railway stations, airports and along the main motorways are also spelled in Roman letters. English, German, French, Russian are other languages spoken in the country. See below for useful phrases.

Time difference: Winter time: GMT + 2 hours( October to March). Summer time: GMT + 3 hours (April to September).

January 1 - New Year
March 3 - National day of the Liberation from Ottoman Domination
Easter - Two days (Sunday and Monday) according to the Orthodox calendar
May 6 - St. George's Day
May 24 - the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and Slav Script
September 6 - National Day of Bulgaria's Reunion in the year of 1885
September 22 - Independence Day
November 1 - Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders
December 24-26 - Christmas Eve and Christmas
December 31 - New Year's Eve

The national currency is 'leva' (plural). One lev is made up of 100 'stotinki'. See below. The Bulgarian Lev is pegged to the Euro. 1 EUR = 1.955 BGN.
The following coins are available (see below): 1 lev and 1,2,5,10,20,50 stotinki. The following notes are available (see below): 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. NEVER change money with anyone who stops you on the street and offers a better rate.

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.
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.

Important phone Numbers:

Police - 166
Ambulance - 150
Fire - 160
Emergency Road Service - 146
Operator for international calls (if no direct phone call is possible) - 0123
Institute for Treatment of Foreign Citizens -75 361
Sofia Airport - International Flights - 798 035
Sofia Airport - Domestic Flights - 722 414
Operator for long-distance calls within the country - 121
Sending of telegrams - 140 -140 -
Telephone information service for office phone numbers - 144
Telephone information service for home numbers - 145
Emergency Medical Aid - 150
Weather forecast - 175
Time ("speaking" clock) - 180 175

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.
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.

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.

On the whole Bulgaria is a peaceful, law abiding and trouble free country and even the capital, Sofia, is subject to less random crime than other European capitals. Bulgarians are friendly, warm and welcoming people. Even the general crimes against ‘the person’ are statistically lower compared to western European countries.

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. Sexually or racially motivated crime is rare.

If you are the victim of a crime while in Bulgaria report immediately to the local police (166) and contact your embassy or consulate for assistance.

Taxi drivers often overcharge foreign travellers. Use only reputable taxi companies and if not possible - try to pre-negotiate a fare in order to avoid excessive payment.
Keep in mind that while in Bulgaria the foreign visitor is subject to the country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in your own country and the penalties can be more severe.

Britons, Americans, as well as nationals from another eleven nations holding valid passports are able to enter Bulgaria without visas. Foreigners are now allowed to stay in Bulgaria for 90 days within a period of six months, reckoned from the date of the first entry. As the government is aligning Bulgaria's visa regime with EU standards, visas are dropped for the citizens of North Ireland, Canada, Australia, and Mexico.

The same rules apply for the residents of Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Salvador, New Zealand, and Guatemala, who will be allowed to enter and stay in Bulgaria solely upon a valid passport.

Turkish citizens can now stay for 90 days with a single or multiple transit visa. Valid passports are required and an entry or transit visa which may be obtained at a fee from any Bulgarian Embassy or for a higher fee on entry at the airports, border posts or seaports.

Tourists on a package tour or in an organised group booked through a recognised travel agent or tour operator do not require visas. Entry visas are not required for the European Union countries.

Nationals of Australia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Norway, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, Taiwan, UAE, Canada and Japan can visit Bulgaria without a visa if they have pre-arranged a tour of at least three day's duration with an authorised Bulgarian travel agent. Visas are free (but do need to be applied for) to nationals of China, Cyprus, North Korea and Zimbabwe. There are various types of visas, all varying in price.

In Bulgaria you are likely to encounter road conditions which differ significantly from those in Western Europe. The Bulgarian road system is underdeveloped. There are few sections of limited access divided highway. Some roads are in poor repair and full of potholes. Rockslides and landslides may be encountered on roads in mountainous areas. Livestock and animal-drawn carts present road hazards throughout the country, especially during the agricultural season. Travel conditions deteriorate during the winter as roads become icy and potholes proliferate. Night driving is generally not advised because road conditions are more dangerous in the dark. Some roads lack pavement markings and lights, and motorists often drive with dim or missing headlights.

The number of serious accidents and the death toll from them over the last few years has remained high. In 1999, there were 7,586 serious accidents which resulted in 1,047 deaths. In 2000, there were 6,886 accidents, in which 1,012 people were killed. In 2001, there were 6,709 serious road accidents with 1,011 fatalities.

Heavy lorry/truck traffic along the two-lane routes from the Greek border at Kulata to Sofia and from the Turkish border at Kapitan Andreevo to Plovdiv creates numerous hazards. Motorists should expect long delays at border crossings. Persons operating vehicles with foreign license plates frequently complain of being stopped by police and being fined on the spot for offences that they have not committed.

To drive in Bulgaria you can use your national license preferably accompanied by an international one. Road signs follow international standards. On-the-spot fines are in operation for speeding, drink driving, not having the correct documents, etc. If you leave your passport with a hotel reception ask for a copy (or the original) if intending to drive a rental car.

Use common sense and don't park in restricted zones even if it seems as if everyone else does. The Sofia City Council is hot on the heels of their Western counterparts with yellow wheel clamps, and if that's not enough, they'll tow your car away, usually to the parking lot behind the National Palace of Culture.

The use of seat belts is mandatory in Bulgaria. Child car seats are required by law, but only on the back seats. Speed limits are 50 KM/H in the cities/towns, 90 KM/H out of town and 120 KM/H on the highways. The same speed limits apply for motorcycles; motorcyclists must drive with helmets and with lights on at all times. At crossings that are not regulated, the driver who is on the right has the right-of-way, but this rule is frequently ignored.

Drivers may be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood level as low as 0.05%. Right turns on red lights are not permitted unless specifically authorized. The penalties for drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury or death range from a $25 (US) fine up to imprisonment for life.

Use common sense and don't park in restricted zones even if it seems as if everyone else does. The Sofia City Council is hot on the heels of their Western counterparts with yellow wheel clamps, and if that's not enough, they'll tow your car away, usually to the parking lot behind the National Palace of Culture.

It might also be useful to know that if someone flashes their lights at you it means that they expect you to get out of the way and not that they are going to let you go first. It also is also the all-Bulgarian warning: Police ahead! Drive on the right, overtake on the left, cross only when the traffic light is green, give right of way to vehicles approaching from the right at crossroads and to buses in urban areas.

Please bear in mind that horse-drawn carts, motorcycles and scooters can sometimes be found on major roads driving at night without lights. Please be very alert when driving at night.

Jaywalking is frequent. Please be very careful while driving in cities and drive as slowly as possible.

In case of emergency, drivers should contact the police at telephone number 166 and/or the Roadside Assistance at telephone number 146. For an ambulance call 150.

Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Fair