Tips for Travelers to Bulgaria

Bulgaria is an old nation that has been around close to 1300 years, and it is also one of the best travel locations in Europe due to its exotic nature, high end beaches, winter sporting, lovely churches and monasteries, and myriad archeological marvels. It is a beautiful country that offers lots of travel opportunities for any person looking to enjoy their holiday.

Nonetheless, in order to truly enjoy travelling in this country straddling two continents and three seas, it is important to know tourist travel tips in Bulgaria that will make your stay more enjoyable.

Entry Requirements - Visas

British residents are allowed to travel to Bulgaria without a visa, but those from Irish and were born before 1949 need a visa from the country's embassy. Other nationals who are not British however need to get a visa to stay in the country. Stays longer than three months also require one to register with the police, and you can also excise an EU treaty to stay in the country as a student, or self sufficient person. It is also wise to always apply for a new passport before the old expires since you may be holed up for unforeseen reasons.

It is also advisable that whilst travelling in Bulgaria, you carry the Bulgarian document as well documents from your nationality.

Currency Regulations

If you are entering or leaving the European Union, amounts larger than 10,000 Euros will need to be declared.

The unit of currency in the country is the Lev. However, shops and most businesses will accept the Euro. Cash is the main form with which trade takes place, but credit cards are also accepted in the larger cities.

In case, you need to change you money to the Lev, there are many exchanges in the country, but always make sure that you go for the legitimate ones, and ask what their exchange rate is.

See and Talk

Bulgaria is rich in places to see and travelling all over the country is the best way to do this. There is a reward scheme in the country that allows people to collect stamps as they travel all over.

The main language in the country is Southern Slavic, and is closely related to Russian, Slovene, and Serbo-Croatian.

Turkish is also spoken in the country, and most young people in the country are normally able to speak at least two languages, English and another foreign one, but older folks do not usually speak any English.

Weather and Terrain

The terrain in Bulgaria is mostly mountainous, but lowlands lie to the north, and southeast of the country.

The summers in the country are hot and humid, whilst the winters are cold and damp especially in the mountainous areas of the country.

The coastal areas of the country have mild autumns, springs and cool winters. The summers are breezy, and this is why tourists often frequent the coasts in the country.

Transport

Getting around Bulgaria can be done by train, bus, personal car or taxi. Trains are great for travelling, but they are often slower than bus, and great for moving between major cities. If you decide to use taxis, make sure that you go for genuine taxis by calling on up. There are many unscrupulous taxis in the country, and even mimic stickers from genuine taxis. After boarding such a car, they will normally overcharge you.

Therefore, these are some tips to help you out during your stay in Bulgaria. But if you are in doubt about anything, you can simply visit the Bulgarian consulate, and they will help make your stay more enjoyable.

Quick Facts

Population: 98th (7.4 mln)


Area: 105th (110,994 sq km)


Years in existence: 1332 years


Official Language: Bulgarian


Currency: Bulgarian Lev (BGN)


Capital: Sofia