Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

The national airline is Bulgaria Air. Other airlines serving Bulgaria include Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Club Air, Czech Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, Olympic Airlines, Swiss and Turkish Airlines.

International Airports Sofia (SOF) (website: www.sofia-airport.bg) is 10km (6 miles) east of the city (travel time – 20 minutes).To/from the airport: Buses run approximately every 10 minutes to the city centre during the day and every 20 minutes between 2100-0030. The bus station is located close to the Arrivals terminal and services operate 0500-2300. A single ticket costs 0.50 leva and a single ticket must also be bought for large luggage. Coaches are available by arrangement through tour operators. Taxis are also available, although taxi drivers may not use their meters and travellers are advised to agree on the fare beforehand. The airport itself only advises its passengers to use the taxi company OK Supertrains (Tel: (2) 973 2121; website: www.oktaxi.net). Facilities: Banks and currency exchange (24 hours), post office, duty-free shop, nursery, restaurant, bar and car hire is located in the public area of the Arrivals Hall (Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt and Tany Rent).

Varna (VAR) (website: www.varna-airport.bg) is 9km (5.5 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: A bus service to Varna city centre departs every 20 minutes. A coach service is available by arrangement with various tour operators. A taxi service is also available. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and currency exchange (24 hours), a restaurant, bar and car hire by prior arrangement with travel agents.

Bourgas (BOJ) is 13km (8 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: A bus service departs every 20 minutes to the city centre. A coach service is available by prior arrangement with tour operators. A taxi service is also available. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and currency exchange (24 hours), a restaurant, bar and car hire (by prior arrangement).

SEA

The Main ports: Bourgas (website: www.port-bourgas.com) and Varna (website: www.port-varna.bg) on the Black sea.

RIVER

The official crossing points into Romania are by ferry from Vidin to Calafat and by road bridge from Ruse to Giurgiu.

RAIL

There are frequent services between Sofia and Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessaloniki and Istanbul. Sofia is also directly connected with Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin. Dining car facilities are available on all routes. For details contact RILA (website: www.bdz-rila.com).

ROAD

Main entry points include Koulata and Novo Selo (from Greece); Ruse, Kardom, Durankulak and Silistra (from Romania); Svilengrad and Kapitan Andrikeevo (from Turkey); Kalotina, Zlatarevo and Vrashkachuka (from Serbia & Montenegro) and Guyeshevo (from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Foreign citizens entering Bulgaria in a motor vehicle must have documentation to prove their ownership of the vehicle and evidence of that their motor insurance is valid for Bulgaria. They must also state their proposed border crossing and pay suitable road tax. Bus: There are daily bus connections from other cities, including Istanbul, Athens and Thessaloniki to Sofia. Eurolines (52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W OAU; tel: (08705) 143 219; website: www.eurolines.com) and National Express (Ensign Court, 4 Vicarage Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3ES; tel: (08705) 808 080; website: www.nationalexpress.com) run regular coach services to Bulgaria from the UK.

Travel - Internal

AIR

The national airline, Bulgaria Air (tel: (2) 8659 557 or 517 (flight information and reservations); website: www.air.bg), and the national airline Hemus Air (tel: (2) 981 8330 (reservations); website: www.hemusair.bg ) operate domestic services connecting Sofia with the coast and main towns. The journeys from Sofia to Bourgas and Varna can be made in about one hour. Air travel is comparatively cheap, and is only slightly more expensive than rail travel.

RIVER

Regular boat and hydrofoil services along the Bulgarian bank of the Danube link many centres, including Vidin, Lom, Kozloduj, Orjahovo, Nikopol, Svishtov, Tutrakan and Silistra.

RAIL

There are over 4200km (2625 miles) of railways in the country. Bulgarian State Railways connects Sofia with main towns. Reservations are essential and first-class travel is advised. For details, contact the State Railway Office (3 Ivan Vasov St, Sofia, 1080; tel: (2) 932 5560; website: www.bdz.bg).

ROAD

There are over 13,000km (8000 miles) of roads linking the major centres; their quality is variable and some main roads have major potholes, plus driving standards are generally poor. Traffic drives on the right. International road signs are used, although roadworks are often not signposted. Night driving can be dangerous owing to poor lighting. Tolls are charged on motorways and main roads out of town, they are charged at €5 for a 1 week vignette and €12 for 1 month. Vignettes can be purchased at ports, border points, Post Offices and DZI bank offices. Additionally, if the vehicle is stolen in Bulgaria, import duty and related taxes must be paid: insurance may be taken to cover this. Speed limits are strictly adhered to: 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (55mph) outside built-up areas and 120kph (75mph) on motorways. In addition, the driver may be banned from driving in Bulgaria for up to three years. The nationwide alcohol limit is 0.05 per cent; on-the-spot fines of between Lv50-150 are imposed for offences. Spare parts are easily available and 24-hour road assistance is available (tel: (2) 980 3308). There are large numerous petrol stations. It should also be observed that car-theft is on the increase in Bulgaria, and all cars should ideally be fitted with alarms and other visible security measures. Car-jacking is also becoming more frequent, usually occurring at night, and with some criminals even impersonating traffic policeman in the process. It is best to drive in daylight.

Bus: There is a good network of buses that are cheap and convenient but with erratic timetabling.

Taxi: Available in all towns and also for intercity journeys. Vehicles may not be in top condition. Vehicles are metered, unless they are privately owned. Taxi meters may be rigged so that foreign passengers can be overcharged; foreign visitors should therefore take great caution in determining the correct fare before travel. A 5 to 10 per cent tip is appreciated.

Car hire: Available through hotel reception desks. Available car hire companies include Avis and Hertz. There are no fly-drive arrangements through the airlines. Payment is usually in hard currency.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. A Green Card is compulsory.

URBAN

Bus, tramway and trolleybus services operate in Sofia; in addition, a metro has been built in the the city, it operates 0530-0000. Trains arrive every 6 minutes during peak periods and every 8 minutes at all other times. Flat fares are charged on all transport and tickets must be pre-purchased. Buses and taxis operate in all the main towns. There are also trolleybuses in Plovdiv and Varna.

Resorts & Excursions

Sofia & the West

SOFIA: Dating back to the fourth century BC, the ancient capital of Sofia has a wealth of different architectural styles including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian and Turkish. The city boasts many theatres and museums (including those of archaeology and ethnography), opera houses and art galleries (including the National Gallery of Painting and Sculpture housed in the former Royal Palace), as well as universities, open-air markets, parks (over 300 of them, including the Borisova Park) and sports stadia. Visitors should see the extraordinary Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church (which dominates the city with its gold-leaf dome), built to celebrate Bulgaria's liberation from the Turks in the Russo-Turkish war at the end of the last century. The crypt hosts an exhibition of beautiful icons and the choir is excellent and well worth hearing. Other churches in Sofia include St Sophia, which is Byzantine and dates from the sixth century; St George, which dates back to the fifth century and contains 14th-century frescoes; St Petka Samardshijska, which is 14th century and St Nedelya. There is an archaeological museum housed in the nine cupolas of the Bouyouk Mosque (the largest in Sofia). The Banya Bashi Mosque is also worth a visit. An example of modern architecture is the Alexander Batenberg Square, which contains the Government Buildings and some Roman remains nearby (discovered when an underpass was being constructed), together with a reconstruction of the city as it was in Roman times. Other attractions include the Turkish baths and the markets at Hali (covered market), Georgi Kirkov and Kristal Square (flea market and antique shops)

RILA: 121km (75 miles) from Sofia is Rila Monastery, perched high up on the side of a mountain in the middle of thick pine forests. Rila has a fascinating collection of murals, woodcarvings, old weapons and coins; and manuals and Bibles written on parchment. The monastery itself is notable for its delicate and unusual architectural features. Originally founded in the tenth century by the hermit and holy man, Ivan Rilsky, the monastery acted as a repository and sanctuary for Bulgarian culture during the 500-year Turkish occupation from 1396. Fire has destroyed most of the early architecture and the present buildings date from the 19th century, with the exception of the 14th-century Hrelio's Tower. There is good accommodation in the monastery and a nearby hotel. Rila is an excellent starting place for climbs and hikes in the surrounding countrysid

ELSEWHERE: The mountain of Vitosha on the outskirts of Sofia is a National Park with chairlifts and cable cars to help with the ascent as it is approximately 1800m (6000ft) high. Here, the medieval church of Boyana, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can be seen, with its beautiful and ancient frescoes painted around the year 1200 and thought to be some of the oldest in Bulgaria.

South of Sofia is Blagoevgrad, home of the Pirin State Ensemble (the world-renowned folkloric group), and Sandansky, an ancient spa town and birthplace of the Roman gladiator, Spartacus. Further south still, travellers can visit two of Bulgaria's museum towns: Melnik is known for its wine cellars, 18th-19th century architecture and its proximity to Rozhen Monastery with its beautifully carved altar, stained glass windows, murals and icons; and the museum town of Bansko at the foot of the Pirin Mountains contains the Holy Trinity Church with its carved ceilings and murals, and its monastery-like houses with high stone walls

Central Bulgaria

PLOVDIV: Founded in 342 BC and the country's second-largest city, the museum town of Plovdiv is divided by the Maritsa River and contains both an old quarter and a new commercial section. The old part contains many buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries (and earlier) in typical National Revival style. It is possible to wander along the narrow cobbled streets and see Roman ruins (including an amphitheatre), picturesque medieval houses and 17th-century buildings with their upper sections hanging out into the street and almost touching those opposite. The Archaeological Museum has collections of gold Thracian artefacts, including cooking utensils, and the Ethnographic Museum is also worth seeing, as are the churches of St Marina and St Nedelya

ELSEWHERE: Eight kilometres (5 miles) from Plovdiv is Batchkovo Monastery, founded in the 11th century, with some rare frescoes, icons, manuscripts and coins. Batchkovo lies within the area known in ancient times as Thrace (partly occupied by the Rhodope Mountains) and many items of archaeological interest have been discovered, including wonderful gold Thracian objects.

The town of Kazanluk has a Museum of Rose Production and is the centre of Bulgaria's major export: attar of roses. The valley of Kazanluk itself has countless archaeological and historic treasures - Greek, Roman, Thracian and Ottoman.

Veliko Turnovo, ancient capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1187-1393), is another museum town, situated on three hills circled by the River Yantra. It contains extraordinary collections of historic works of art, including church relics. Turnova has many fine examples of houses built in the National Revival style (18-19th century), many of which were designed by master builder Kolyo Phicheto and typically seem to grow out of the steep slopes flanking the river. The Preobrazhenski Monastery is quite close, as is the open-air folk museum at Etar. The picturesque village of Arbanassi, a museum town located 4km (2.5 miles) from Turnovo, was a wealthy merchants' town between the 16th and 18th centuries and is noted for its unique stone-built houses, its two monasteries, St Nikola and Holy Virgin, and, in particular, the beautiful murals of the St Elija Chapel. Eight kilometres (5 miles) northwest of Plovdiv, the museum town of Koprivshtitsa is one of Bulgaria's best preserved towns, with primary-coloured examples of National Revival architecture apparent everywhere. The town is perhaps best known for its Great Koprivshtitsa Folklore Festival, held every four years. Further museum towns to the east of Plovdiv include Tryavna, again with many examples of houses in the National Revival style; Kotel, which is located in a small valley in the Balkan mountain range, and is famous as a centre for carpet making; and Zheravna, in the Eastern Balkan range, containing beautiful 17th-century wooden house

The Black Sea Coast

The Bulgarian Black Sea Riviera resorts are ideal for the traditional seaside family holiday. Swimming is generally safe as even at 150m (500ft) away from the shore the water is only shoulder-high. Areas where currents are a problem are clearly marked. The Black Sea has half the salt content of the Mediterranean. Some of the sand is pulled by currents from as far away as the Mediterranean, flowing through the Bosphorus and Dardenelles. Special children's pools have been installed on many of the beaches; swings, slides, playdomes and donkey rides are also available and most resorts offer a wide range of watersports

Resorts: There are dozens of attractive resorts on the Black Sea Riviera. St Constantine Resort is Bulgaria's oldest Black Sea spa, centred on the Grand Hotel Varna, the largest and most luxurious hotel on the Riviera. Albena, named after a famous local beauty, is situated on the edge of a lovely forest, and is Bulgaria's newest resort (a showcase and vivid monument to contemporary Bulgarian design), with good food and lively nightlife. Golden Sands, Bulgaria's second-largest resort, has good facilities and probably the best nightlife on the Black Sea Riviera. Sunny Day offers a wide range of beauty and health treatments in two of its four hotels. In a forested setting overlooking the sea, it is only 15km (9 miles) from Varna, the Black Sea capital founded in the sixth century BC, which contains many Roman and Byzantine remains. Sunny Beach is a large purpose-built family resort with beautiful and safe beaches. Close to Sunny Beach is the seventh-century fishing village of Old Nessebur with its wooden fishermen's houses and its famed four dozen Byzantine churches. The Black Sea port town of Burgas has a Maritime Park and an extensive beac

Winter Resorts

Borovets is a World Cup venue. It is only 70km (45 miles) from Sofia, the capital, at 1350m (4300ft) in the Rila Mountains and is the oldest and largest mountain resort in Bulgaria. There the 2400m (8000ft) Yastrebets (Hawk's Nest) is a steep, twisting red trail for the advanced skier, in operation from November until April. Seven comfortable, friendly and well-run hotels provide most of the accommodation and there is a village of timber-framed houses (each sleeping six) nearby. In Bulgarian resorts, hotels usually provide most of the nightlife. There is a disco in the Mousalla. There are also a wine bar and folk taverns (mehana); sleigh rides through the snow are also available.

At Pamporovo, in the Rhodope Mountains near Plovdiv, there is one of the finest ski schools in Europe. Pamporovo is also the most southerly ski resort in Europe. The major ski runs start from the top of the Snejanka Peak.

Vitosha, 1800m (6000ft) high and home of the National Ski School based on the FIS methods, overlooks Sofia. Two of the six ski runs have been approved for international competitions. All the resorts have been purpose-built to blend in with the magnificent natural scenery of mountains and forest. Equipment on hire is modern and well maintained.

The most recent resort is Bansko, a small town in southwest Bulgaria at the foothills of the Pirin Mountain. There are slalom and giant slalom runs available, as well as a 5km (3.1 miles) cross-country track.

National Parks

Bulgaria has a number of national parks which abound in rare flora and fauna, bird species (including vultures, eagles and falcons) as well as endangered animal species such as bears, wolves and red deer. Facilities for nature and outdoor enthusiasts have improved in recent years, with different types of accommodation, including small hotels, lodges, private chalets and camping, becoming increasingly available. Guided tours or private visits are possible; for some areas, a permit is required. For details, contact the Ministry of Economy (Tourist Department) or Balkan Holidays (see Contact Addresses section).

The Pirin National Park is situated on the highest part of the Pirin mountain range. The landscape varies from the ancient Baikusheva pine forests to crystalline lakes and limestone rocks. Many rare plant species, such as the near extinct Edelweiss, are preserved within the park, which also contains nearly 180 glacier lakes. In the southwest, the Rila National Park covers nearly half of the Rila mountain range and is renowned for its seven lakes and its tenth-century monastery. Vitosha National Park, just outside Sofia, is home to many species of butterflies and offers shelter to wolves, bears and wild cats. The Vratchansky Balkan National Park, in the northwest, has spectacular rock formations, waterfalls and ancient caves. It incorporates the Vratchansky Karst Nature Reserve whose caves provide a habitat for many species of bats. The Central Balkan National Park, located to the northeast of Sofia and reached via the Troyan Pass, is noted for the Raiskoto Praskalo waterfall - the highest in Bulgaria, and its 50 protected plant species, many of them native to these mountains. The small Sinite Kamani National Park has spectacular rock formations. The Shoumen Plateau National Park near the town of Shoumen has a varied landscape of thick forests and steep rock formations and is home to the Shumenska Krepost archaeological reserve. Situated near the River Danube close to the town of Rousse, the Roussenski Lom National Park is known for its rich wildlife and fauna. The Strandzha National Park in the southeast is Bulgaria's largest. It borders the Black Sea and is famous for its oak and beech forests. The nearby Ropotamo Reserve on the banks of the River Ropotamo has a diverse landscape ranging from cliffs and forests to sandy beaches, dunes and swamps; the Arkutino swamp is a shelter for many rare bird specie

World Heritage Sites

Bulgaria has nine UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites. The Thracian Kazanluk Tomb, located in the Valley of Roses near the town of Kazanluk, has perfectly preserved murals dating from the fourth century BC. The Sveshtari Tomb is situated in an archaeological reserve near the town of Razgrad; it was built 2300 years ago for a Thracian king. The Madara Horseman, an image carved into a rock of a horseman piercing a lion with his spear, dates from the early Middle Ages (eighth century); it is located on the Madara Plateau in the Danube plain. The 13th-century Boyana Church is located at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the Sofia suburb of Boyana and is famous for its murals, which include replicas of icons from Constantinople. The Ivanovo Rock Monasteries near the city of Ruse stretch for more than 5km (3.1 miles) and consist of cells, churches and chapels dug into the rocks by hermit monks who settled there between the 11th and 14th centuries. Old Nessebur is one of Europe's oldest towns (for details, see The Black Sea Coast section). The 11th-century Rila Monastery is set on Rila Mountain, 121km (75 miles) from Sofia (for details, see Sofia & The West section). The Sreburna Lake nature reserve is located near the Danube river, 16km (10 miles) west of the town of Silistra. It stretches over an area of 600 hectares (1482 acres) and is listed for its unique fauna and wildlife, including the rare Dalmatian pelican, the cormorant and the ibis. Thanks to swift preventative measures, the park seems to have escaped unscathed from the recent Danube cyanide spill. The Pirin National Park (for details, see National Parks section) is a protected area of 27,400 hectares (67,678 acres)