Geography: Bulgaria is situated in south-eastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. Total area is 111 000 sq. km.
Population: appr. 9 million people, including in the capital Sofia – 1 million.
Climate: moderate-continental, mild and appropriate for travels in every season. In summer months the air temperature is 23-30 C, water temperature 17-25 C.
Official language: Bulgarian, based on Cyrillic alphabet. On big resorts, in tourist centers and hotels the serving personal speaks English, French, German and Russian.
History: seven civilizations inhabited these areas: Fracians, Slovenes, Byzantines, Protobulgarians, Romans, Turks and Bulgarians and every civilization has left its track. Bulgaria is situated on the crossroad of the European and Asian ambitions, its main roads were overcrowded during the centuries by the influxes of different peoples. Bulgaria couldn’t disappoint any of those people, tired of the casual routine, which tried to get the calmness and relaxation, being isolated from the entire world.
In religion dominates Orthodox Church. Bulgarian church is separate one, leaded by the patriarch.
Banks: it's recommended to change foreign currency in official exchange offices. Monday – Friday are working time from 9 a.m. till 16 p.m., one hour – snack break.
Transport: in towns – autobuses, trolley-buses, trams. One ticket costs 2-2,5 levs. 4 levs is the price for a ticket in Sofia metro. Taxi is paid according to the speed-counter data. Extra-tariff is paid on holidays and at night.
Car rent costs appr. 50 USD. One liter of benzene costs 1 USD. Required documents: passport, international driving license.
Shops: work from Monday till Saturday, on Sunday – till the afternoon. Small shops on the resort area work without any break till 22 p.m. Here you can buy inexpensive and qualitative sheep skin coats, golden and silver items. Museums are opened from 10 a.m. till 17 p.m., Monday is day-off. The entry ticket costs appr. 1 USD.
Tips: it's preferable to give tips 5-8 per cent from the order cost.
Cuisine and wines: the Bulgarian cuisine is a temptation for the gourmets. It has much in common with the Turkish one, and with the cuisines of the other Balkan countries – sharp condiments, the abundance of vegetables, delicious taste. The most popular dishes are – the Sheppard’s salad, tarator, cebab-cheta and dolma.
Certainly, in a country, where more than 1300 sorts of grapes are cultivated, you’ll always find an excellent wine on the table. Restaurant prices are not high – a glass of Bulgarian beer costs 80 cents, a glass of local wine – about 1 USD, one portion of the Sheppard’s salad – 1,5 USD, the most expensive wine costs 5,5 USD.
Urgent phone numbers:
- Police - 166
- Ambulance - 150
- Technical assistance - 146
Curative procedures: the tariffs are following: medical examination – 12 USD, analyzes – till 5 USD, curative bath – 5-9 USD, the underwater massage – 11 USD, pool with mineral water – 2 USD.
SUMMER RESORTS
"Gold Sands" is a resort, which is ideally appropriate for any age. Except the natural beauty, it possesses the peculiar atmosphere, created by numerous cafes, shops, sport centers and entertainments. The combination of all these things, the sports, excursions, walks; a vivid night life gives the possibility to have an excellent rest.
"St. Constantine and Elena" is the oldest complex on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Mineral sources attract their amateurs. It's one of the rare places on the Black sea coast, where you can see beautiful landscapes, comfortable sand bays, the stone rocks, scattered by nature in a careless way and splendid gulfs in the semi-circle form.
"Albena" is the youngest and the most northern complex which is famous by the outstanding architecture of 40 hotels. Albena is one of the most attractive Bulgarian resorts, calm and warm sea, its depth in 100-200 m. away from the shore doesn't exceed 1,6 m. The natural reservation "Balata" is situated very closely to the complex; it is a rare combination of the sea and liana forest.
"The Sunny Coast" is situated in a picturesque gulf, has the semi-circle form. The beach strip is 8 km. long, shallow golden-yellow sand, natural dunes, a calm sea – without influxes and ebbs, nice park zone, fresh air, sea breeze – in such a way stands the Sunny Coast in front of you.
Club complex "Mermaid" is an excellent alternative for the vivid coastal resorts, ideal place for the family rest and for the active sporting. This modern resort complex is constructed by the French company Club Med; you'll be pleasantly surprised by the service level.
"Nesebr" is the pearl of the Southern Black Sea coast, one of the most ancient towns of Europe. The excellent architecture of the Medieval and Renaissance epochs, the ancient tracks of different civilizations - the unforgettable possibility for the rest and entertainment. The rest complex is concentrated in the family hotels and private apartments, equipped completely.
"Sozopol' the oldest town of the Bulgarian coast. Sozopol houses, declared as architectural monuments under the aegis of UNESCO, authentic churches and chapels, paved streets, archeology, and port, tender sea and beaches turn the town into the attractive place for the tourists from the whole world.
WINTER RESORTS
Resort complex "Pamporovo" is a romantic resort, situated in the heart of Rodopi Mountains, surrounded by the Alpine pine forests and sunny fields. The winter is long and mild here (the influence of the Eghei Sea), and the snow lies from December till May. Pamporovo is famous for its unique nature and extraordinary picturesque landscapes.
This resort gained the tourists' hearts by the skiing trail from the simplest till "the black" ones, where the skiing masters can demonstrate their skills.
These diverse mountains were glorified by Orpheus, the ancient singer, which was born here. The resort is situated 1650 m. above sea level.
Resort complex "Borovets" – the biggest mountain resort of Bulgaria. It is situated on the Northern slopes Rhilana Mountains on the height of 1300 m. at the foot of the highest peak of Balkans – Musala (2925 m). This resort has in its disposition the largest number of skiing trails. The Alpine Skiing World Cup Championship took place twice here - this fact confirms the quality of these trails.
The climate is ideal – January temperature doesn't sink lower than –5 C.
Borovets is attractive not only by its favor skiing conditions and by its rich night life. Even the longest holiday won't be enough for you if you aim to visit all numerous restaurants and bars.
Resort complex "Bansko" is the youngest Bulgarian skiing resort, settled at the foot of Phirin mountain range. It differs from many other resorts. It's not just a simple concentration of hotels, entertainment places, bars and restaurants of any kind; it's a real little town with its history and traditions. Here is very calm and comfortable. A long calm winter is ideal for the skiing.
The resort is situated 935 m. above sea level. The longest trail is 2600 m long.
MINERAL SOURCES AND BALNEOLOGY
Bulgaria occupies one of the first places among the European countries and Mediterranean area on the quantity of underwater mineral springs; many of them are unique by their chemical composition and curative effects. Here you can meet any kind of mineral water, existing in nature. The curative mud, extracted from the bottom of coastal bays and estuaries offers the variety of service on curative therapy. It’s a treasure of curative factors, owned by Bulgaria, which permits to cure effectively different diseases, using medical mud and mineral waters. Here are treated inflammations and complications of motor system, psychological and neurological maladies and shocks, professional, cardio-vascular, pulmonary, chronic, orthopedic diseases, injuries etc.
EXCURSIONS
In Bulgaria there are more than 30 000 historical monuments of different epochs, 36 cultural- historical reserves, 160 monasteries, 300 museums and galleries. Nowadays the most visited monasteries are: Rhilsky, Bachkovsky, Pozhensky, Trojansky, Zemensky, Preobrazhensky and cave Ahadja monastery. We advise you to visit National park – museum Shipka, dedicated to the Russian – Turkish War of 1877-1878, the Cross mountain – the saint place in Rhodopi mountains, ancient towns Nesebr, Sozopol, Kazanlik rose valley.
print version
