TRAVELLING GUIDE

.:TOPIC INDEX:.
[ Airports ] [ Border Crossings ] [ Car hire ] [ Driving ] [ Transportation ] [ Visas/Passport ]

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»AIRPORTS
There are 4 international airports in Bulgaria. The biggest Bulgarian airport is Sofia Airport. Plovdiv International airport is mainly used for charter flights for the ski resort of Pamporovo. The international airports of Varna and Bourgas are used for local flights from Sofia, as well as for charter flights during the summer, serving the beach resorts around these 2 cities on the Black Sea coast.

• Sofia – www.sofia-airport.bg/En/
  798 035 - Sofia Airport - International Flights
  722 414 - Sofia Airport - Domestic Flights
• Bourgas – www.sofia-airport.bg
• Plovdiv – www.plovdivairport.com
• Varna - www.varna-airport.bg

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»BORDER CROSSINGS
Border crossing points you can use for entering Bulgaria by car:
Bulgarian-Serbian Border
Kalotina - Motorway E-6
Vrushka Chuka - Belgrad-Zajcar-Koulata-Sofia Motorway Strejimirovci - Tran-Silistra E-6 Otomansi
Bulgarian-Macedonian Border
Gyueshevo - Sofia-Kyustendil-Skopje Motorway
Stanke Lisichkovo - Stip-Delchevo-Blagoevgrad-Sofia Motorway
Zlatarevo - Strumica-Petrich-Sofia Motorway
Bulgarian-Greek Border
Koulata - Motorway E-20
Novo Selo - Motorway E-80
Bulgarian-Turkish Border
Kapitan Andreevo - Motorway E-5
Malko Turnovo - Motorway E-95
Bulgarian-Romanian
Border Rousse - Motorway E-97
Kardam - Constanta-Dobrich-Kula Motorway 14
Durankulak - Motorway E-95 Silistra – Motorway 7

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»CAR HIRE
There are several international and local car hire companies throughout Bulgaria offering all types of vehicles for all time periods. A deposit is usually made on collection of the vehicle and the balance payment is made on delivery.

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»DRIVING
Driving in Bulgaria is on the right and international road signs are used. Speed limits for cars and vehicles with up to eight seats are:

• 120 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways
• 90 km/h on the open road
• 50 km/h in towns

Safety belts are obligatory. The limit of admissible blood alcohol content for drivers in the country is 0,5 promile (0,5 per 1,000). There is a large network of filling stations selling fuels of octane values 91, 95 H, 98, as well as Diesel and LPG.

There are over 13,000 km of roads in Bulgaria that link the major city centers, the quality of these roads are generally good. Once you are off these major roads, you run into some smaller routes between cities. It takes about 6 hours to drive across Bulgaria. Although foreign driving licences are generally accepted for short visits, it is recommended that international driving licences be obtained. Bulgaria became a member of the Green Card Bureau in May 1972 and car insurance Green Cards are accepted.

Emergency roadside assistance can be obtained from Putna Pomosht (approximate equivalent of AA/RAC) which can be contacted by telephoning 146 in any district centre. In the case of a serious accident call Police on 166.

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»TRANSPORTATION
Taxis
Taxis, which are usually bright yellow and have an oval sticker on the windscreen, are sufficient in number in the big cities, but there may be a shortage in some frequently visited tourist towns. Rates are paid per kilometer and they differ widely. For this reason passengers should look at the price list on the sticker placed on the screen. It is recommended to avoid hiring taxis at railway stations and airports because their prices are much higher. Always insist on the meter being switched on and do not accept a bargain price set in advance. A tip of 10-15% is common practice and receipts are usually given. Not many drivers speak any foreign language.

Trains
Trains for small railway stations are not very frequent, typically once a day. Tickets are available from the ticket desks at the railway stations. If you get on the train at a small station without a ticket desk, you can buy your ticket from the ticket collector. www.bdz.bg

Buses
Local bus services cover most directions, with express buses linking the country’s major towns. Long-distance and local bus lines reach nearly 90 per cent of Bulgaria’s settlements. Exceptions are made for high-mountain villages and quarters accessible only along truck roads. International bus lines are maintained with most European capitals and major cities. Via Turkey there are connections by road to the Middle East and Egypt. Bus tickets are purchased from specialised bureaus, at bus stations and from transport and tourists agencies in the larger towns. A number of foreign travel agencies also offer these services.

Waterways
Water transport for tourist passengers and cargo is available along the entire length of the River Danube and the Black Sea coast. Tourist services are effected by river and sea vessels; both the tickets for them and their timetable depend on the season, the type of vessel and its class.
Also available are numerous private boats, yachts and motorboats, which offer tours to local sites of interest and cruises on clients’ wishes. As a rule, water transport costs about twice than bus ride.

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»VISAS/PASSPORTS
Foreign citizens need a valid international passport and a visa to enter the country. Visas are issued by the Bulgarian Consular Services with the Bulgarian Embassies abroad. Bulgaria has signed visa-free agreements with a number of countries, mainly from Central and Western Europe.

Parliament approved new regulations according to which the citizens of countries in America and British citizens would be able to enter Bulgaria without visas.

Starting September 1 2006, the new regulations would apply for citizens of the UK, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, US, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.

The only requirement would be for the travellers to present a valid passport. A visa-free stay in Bulgaria would be valid for a 90 day period applicable for six months after the first entry to the country.

New regulations were accepted as part of Bulgaria's engagement to synchronise visa regime regulations with the EU standards.

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