Bulgaria
Discover It’s Heritage and Beauty
Medical Tourism
The unique combination of mountain and sea resorts with numerous mineral springs makes Bulgaria a preferred tourist destination for spa and rehabilitation. SKINOLOGICA gives you the opportunity to explore and fall in love with Bulgaria, a truly magnificent country with an ancient history and rich cultural traditions, now a member of European Union.
Capital of Bulgaria is Sophia with 1.2 millions inhabitants.
Time Zone
GMT (London) + 2 hours, East-European time (Germany) + 1 hour
Language
The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, the alphabet is Cyrillic, however you can find people (especially in Sophia) who can speak English.
Climate
Continental to Mediterranean in the South parts of the country. Average temperatures during January vary from 28.4F to 35.6F (-2C to 2C) in the values to 50F (10C) in the mountains. Average temperatures for June vary from 66.2F to 77F ( 19 to 25C ) in the valleys to 50F (10C) in the high mountains. Rainfalls are 450-600 mm in the valleys to 1300 mm in the mountains.
Visa / Entrance Requirements
Entrance in the country: Most of the foreign citizens entering Bulgaria do not need visa but they must carry their valid international passport. The list of the countries which citizens need visa, when entering Bulgaria, can be found at www.mfe.government.bg
Upon crossing the state border of the Republic of Bulgaria passengers may import and export duty free commodities that in type, quantities, and value are not of a commercial nature and personal belongings. Common custom declarations and restrictions are applied for import and export of currency, food, alcohol and goods. There is a special custom regime for antiquarian objects, historic and cultural treasures, medicines, narcotics, weapons, ammunitions.
Currency
The Bulgarian Lev is pegged to the Euro. 1 EUR = 1.955 BGN.
You may exchange money in banks and in any of the numerous exchange offices. Some of those offices are opened during holidays. Euro-checks may be cashed in a lot of banks.
Approximate Exchange Rates for 1 BGN:
1 USD 1.56 LEVA
1 EURO 1.96 LEVA
1 CHF 1.39 LEVA
1 GBP 2.28 LEVA
Credit Cards
Most of the hotels work with VISA, Master Card or American Express.
Transportation
Roads – 37.3 thousand km
Railways – 6.5 thousand km (65 % electrical)
Sea ports – Varan and Burgas
Danube ports – Russe, Lom , Vidin, Silistra etc.
International airports Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna
In towns and resorts there are taxi-cabs situated in the respective taxi ranks. People can take a taxi by calling a taxi company or in the street.
In towns there is urban transport: buses and mini-buses. In Sofia there are trams, trolley buses and underground. Tickets are usually bought before getting on the vehicle.
You can rent a car from international rent-a-car companies such as AVIS, Hertz, Budget, Eurocar, etc. Many of the hotels in Bulgaria offer this service through a licensed Bulgarian rent a car companies.
Airports in Bulgaria
Sofia airport (www.sofia-airport.bg)
Varna airport (www.varna-airport.bg)
Bourgas airport (www.bourgas-airport.com)
Plovdiv airport (www.plovdivairport.com)
Sea and River Ports
Sea port of Varna (www.port-varna.bg)
Sea port of Bourgas (www.port-bourgas.com)
River port of Rousse (www.port-rousse.bg)
River port of Lom (www.port.lom.bg)
River port of Vidin (www.port-vd.com)
Other Means of Transporation
Central railway station in Sofia www.bdz.creato.biz/bg/
Central bus station in Sofia www.centralnaavtogara.bg
Calling Home
Working time of post offices is from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Postage stamps and postcards may be bought from the desks in the post office or from pavilions selling newspapers. There are a lot of internet-cafes from which you may talk cheap or send e-mails (most of them work 24 hours).
Local and international telephone services are covered through automatic street telephones operating with tokens and calling cards. Tokens for local calls (0.20 leva) and calling cards are available for purchase from any post office or places where newspapers are sold.