All the necessary information for a vacation in Bulgaria: preparation for the trip (visa and insurance), money matters, food, shopping, excursions and other useful information.
Tourists, after visiting Bulgaria, are extremely surprised by the level of modern service. Today the country is not yet saturated with guests. Most Bulgarian resorts boast extremely democratic prices and a pleasant attitude to travelers.
The Bulgarians are quite friendly to tourists. For example, in the evening, a local may approach you on the street just to chat. You may end up making a new acquaintance or even getting an extra guide to the resort.
For whom a vacation in Bulgaria is suitable
Beaches. Vacation in Bulgaria will appreciate those who prefer a little crowded beaches. Even in high season there is always plenty of space on the coast.
Prices. You won't find exotic palm trees or ancient ruins at every turn. But thanks to modest prices, you can vacation for a long time, unlike Montenegro and resorts in western Europe.
Local climate. Almost does not differ from the CIS countries, which significantly reduces the time for acclimatization. This fact will especially please families with small children, who are hard to perceive all sorts of innovations.
Shopping. Those who love shopping travel to this country every year. In addition to buying Bulgarian products, organized tours to Istanbul are of particular interest.
Travel preparations
Insurance
It is essential to take out medical insurance before traveling. No vaccination certificate is required. No specific immunizations are needed here.
Food
Food can be safely bought at the market, everything here is quite quality and clean. Only unique products, such as baby food, are worth taking with you.
For drinking, we recommend buying drinking water in plastic bottles.
For those who like to buy edible gifts for themselves and their loved ones, local authorities recommend familiarizing yourself with customs regulations. For example, no more than two liters of wine may be taken out of Bulgaria.
Money Matters
Currency
The national currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGN). EUR is also in circulation (1 BGN = 0.51 EUR). Credit cards are accepted mainly in banks and large hotels and supermarkets. Payments are most often made in cash.
Exchange offices
You can change currency in exchange offices, which are located everywhere. You should pay attention to whether this point takes a commission. Since a favorable exchange rate can be reduced by paying a commission, which reaches 15-20%.
The inscription NO COMISSION, says that there is no commission. It is not recommended to change currency from private individuals.
The import of local currency in Bulgaria is strictly prohibited by law. It is necessary to arrive in the country with EUR and change it into Bulgarian levs. No more than 5000 BGN can be taken out of the country.
Budget for vacation
In austerity mode, you can take about 150 EUR per person for a week's vacation. That's enough for budget snacks. Average amount, which is enough for a comfortable vacation, is 200 - 250 EUR.
If you do not limit yourself (rent a car to move around the country, order individual excursions) in Bulgaria for a week you can leave more than 400 EUR.
Food: where to buy and what to eat
Shops in Bulgaria are open from 09:00 to 19:00 (in the resorts until 22:00) Monday through Friday. Saturday is a short day and many stores work without a day off. Grocery stores are often open 24 hours a day.
Supermarkets
Supermarkets in Bulgaria offer quality products even among those in the low price category. This is the only thing here that is comparable to the Soviet past of the neighboring republics. The largest supermarket chain in the country is Mladost (Molodost).
The cost of groceries and other goods is at the level of such CIS capitals as Kiev and Minsk. Moscow is noticeably more expensive than most Bulgarian cities.
National dishes
The following national dishes are the most popular from Georgian cuisine:
Cheese - both hard and soft varieties;
airan and kaimak are fermented dairy products;
tarator is a vegetarian okroshka;
tsarevitsa - boiled corn, which is sold on every corner here.
In Bulgaria, the markets in the summer have extremely many fruits. Here they are inexpensive, but always fresh and surprisingly tasty.
Bulgaria in general is a paradise for vegetarians. Even the local shawarma (duner) contains very little or no meat, which is unusual for people from the CIS.
Beach vacation
The Black Sea here is quite comfortable. Therefore the optimal time to travel to Bulgaria is summer and early September. By the beginning of the velvet season there are not so many tourists, and the temperature of water and air still allows swimming.
Beaches are mostly sandy. Nearly every town has at least a small stretch of wild beach.
On most beaches, you can:
rentan umbrella for 8 BGN per day or buy one for 12 BGN. Either way, it's more practical not to bring an umbrella.
If you decide to rent a sun lounger, you will be given a special voucher confirming the right to rent a sun lounger for the day.
Shopping rules
To return from Bulgaria with the "right" souvenirs, you should use the following lifehacks:
It's cheaper and easier to go to Stambul to purchase large quantities of goods. This Turkish city is easily accessible from anywhere in the country;
Burgas has a good selection of goods in Bulgaria, but prices are significantly higher than in Turkey;
There's a good range of budget souvenir options in Pomorie;
Classical Bulgarian souvenirs include local cosmetics, knitted goods, and honey ("manov").
Hotel service
Virtually all resorts, even the most expensive ones, have a luxurious "front" side and an extremely poor "backside". Away from the tourist areas, every Bulgarian town takes on the traits of outright poverty.
At the same time, the country has many excellent4 and 5 star hotels at affordable prices. The level of local service is not inferior to the best resorts in Montenegro. The advantage of Bulgarian hotels is the widespread all-inclusive food system, unlike in the Balkan countries.
Modest apartments for lovers of budget but comfortable vacation in Bulgaria are also enough.
Tourist destinations in Bulgaria
Bulgaria combines an interesting centuries-old history with classic seaside relaxation. Most of the resort towns are home to few curiosities.
Excursion or individual walks
The majority of group excursions in Bulgaria are organized at a very average level. In order to get interesting impressions from the trip, it is better to explore the sights of the country individually.
To see the hidden heart of the country, hidden inside the territory, it is much cheaper to travel by public transport or by rented car. Compared to traveling independently, a bus or rental car will cost 30% more.
Popular Attractions
In non-coastal cities, the following attractions are the most notable:
Rila Monastery is the country's main shrine, located in the capital Sofia. It is also home to the famous Alexander Nevsky Palace and St. Sophia Cathedral;
The Tsarevets Fortress in the village-reserve of Veliko Tarnovo is Bulgaria's most famous architectural monument;
The Bachkovo (Petritson)monastery in Bachkovo, for which different denominations fought for centuries;
Roman Amphitheater in the city of contrasts Plovdiv;
Wine Museum for lovers of tasting tours in Pleven;
Valley of Roses at the foot of Stara Planina mountain.
Bulgarian vacation towns
In order to correctly choose the best city for a vacation, first of all it is worth to decide on the main purpose of the trip.
Nesebar
The resort is suitable for romantic strolls through the medieval streets. The town is especially beautiful at dusk.
Pomorie
This is a town for a classic seaside vacation at modest prices. The main attraction of the settlement is the Primorskoe Lake with many rare birds. Fans of cultural program will like the monastery of St. George.
Burgas and Varna
These cities are designed for local sightseeing as well as shopping.
Tourists visiting Burgas must visit the Seaside Park and the Sand Figures Exhibition. In Varna, the dolphinarium and the zoo are must-visits. There is also the Aladzha Monastery.
Balchik
This is a town designed for aesthetic enjoyment of picturesque landscapes, including a lush botanical garden.
Sunny Beach
A well-known resort for noisy youth vacations with numerous discos and parties.
Ravda, Obzor, Ahela
Cities for budget-friendly, relaxed family vacations. They are not the most popular, but pleasantly uncrowded resorts.
Other useful things for traveling to Bulgaria
Photography and videography
Photographing is forbidden in most museums and churches. To take a photo in a mosque, you must obtain a special permit.
It is forbidden to take photos of military installations, airports and border posts. It is also considered indecent to take a close-up photo of a stranger.
Phone communication
You can make a phone call to another country or city from any telephone. This is done using Mobika's blue-colored cards and devices, and BulFon's orange-colored cards and devices.
They are sold in communication offices, newsstands, small stores and hotels. The amount of units consumed on the card is shown on the phone's display during the call. Calls using the cards are cheaper than calls from a hotel.
Tipping
Tips to waiters are typically 5-10% of the bill, depending on the category of establishment.
In taxis, it is customary to pay 5% of the amount on the meter or rounding up to a whole number.
Bulgaria is a great option for a comfortable long vacation for both the whole family and a noisy company. Every year the country is improving its level of service and getting closer and closer to the best resorts in Europe.
