Bulgaria in Eastern Europe is bounded to the north by Romania, to the east by the Black Sea, to the south by Turkey and Greece, and to the west by Serbia and Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge of the Black Sea. The land is covered with forests and rivers. The Black Sea resorts have some of the largest beaches in Europe, and heavy falls of snow in winter are virtually guaranteed in the mountain ski resorts, considered to be some of the finest in Europe. Dating back to the fourth century BC, the capital Sofia has buildings in many architectural traditions including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian and Turkish. The city boasts notable theaters and museums, opera houses and art galleries. The Bulgarian Black Sea Riviera resorts, with their wide bays and golden beaches, are ideal for family holidays. National dishes include cold yogurt soup with cucumbers and peppers or aubergines stuffed with meat. Some restaurants offer folk dancing, and opera is performed at the State Opera House in Sofia. There are several nightclubs in Sofia, as well as in most major towns and all of the resorts.

Social Conventions
Normal courtesies should be observed and handshaking is the normal form of greeting. Dress should be conservative but casual. If invited to the home, a small souvenir from one’s homeland is an acceptable gift. Do not give money. Remember that a nod of the head means ‘No’ and a shake means ‘Yes’.

Tipping
Until recently not applicable, but 10 to 12 per cent is now customary.

International Travel:

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

Approximate flight times
From Sofia to London is three hours and to New York is 14 hours.

International airports
Sofia (SOF) is 10km (6 miles) east of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Buses run approximately every 10 minutes to the city center during the day and every 20 minutes between 2100-0030. Coaches are available by arrangement through tour operators. Taxis are also available, although taxi drivers may not use their meters and travelers are advised to agree on the fare beforehand. The airport itself only advises its passengers to use the taxi company OK Supertrains. Airport facilities include 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, Hertz, Sixt and Tany Rent).
Varna (VAR) is 9km (5.5 miles) from the city. A bus service to Varna city center departs every 20 minutes. A coach service is available by arrangement with various tour operators. A taxi service is also available. Airport facilities include 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. A bus service departs every 20 minutes to the city center. A coach service is available by prior arrangement with tour operators. A taxi service is also available. Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, banking and currency exchange (24 hours), a restaurant, bar and car hire (by prior arrangement).

Departure tax
None except for US nationals who will be charged US$20.

Sea
The main international ports are Bourgas and Varna 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.

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. 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, departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in Bulgaria. For further information, contact Eurolines (4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire L41 1PP; tel: (0990) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694.

The following goods may be taken into Bulgaria by all persons irrespective of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l of spirits and 2l of wine; 50g of perfume and 100g eau de toilette; reasonable amount of gifts.

Prohibited items
Any foodstuffs for personal consumption originating from cloven-footed animals, due to the outbreak of Foot & Mouth disease in the UK in 2001.

Internal Travel:

Air
Bulgaria Air operates 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 centers, 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 (website: www.bdz.bg).

Road
There are over 13,000km (8000 miles) of roads linking the major centers; 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. Foreign drivers are sometimes liable to extra road tolls. 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. 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 is under construction. Flat fares are charged and tickets must be pre-purchased. Buses and taxis operate in all the main towns. There are also trolleybuses in Plovdiv and Varna.

Travel times
The following chart gives approximate travel times from Sofia (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Bulgaria.

Geography
Bulgaria is situated in Eastern Europe and bordered to the north by the River Danube and Romania, to the east by the Black Sea, to the south by Turkey and Greece and to the west by Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge of the Black Sea and its golden beaches. The land is heavily cultivated, covered with forests and crossed by rivers. Although Bulgaria lies in the very southeast corner of Europe, the climate is never extreme in summer, even on the red-earthed plains of Southern Thrace. The Black Sea resorts have some of the largest beaches in Europe and offer sunbathing from May until October, while in winter heavy falls of snow are virtually guaranteed in the mountain skiing resorts.