General Info How to Reach Bulgaria ~> Useful Info History Nature National Parks Mountains Lakes Sea Spa Music & Folklore Arts & Crafts Cuisine & Wines Festivals & Customs
Time Difference
Winter time: GMT +2 hours (October through March).
Summer time: GMT +3 hours (April through September)
Voltage
220 V only
Monetary Units
Lev. Banknote denominations include 1,00, 2,00, 5,00, 10,00, 20,00, 50,00 and 100,00 leva, as well as coins of 1,00 lev and smaller denominations.
Working Hours
offices - 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
banks - 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
shops - 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 pm. (Monday to Friday, Saturday until noon)
Important Telephone Numbers
Police - 166
Ambulance - 150
Road assistance - 146
Transport
Public transport
- in big cities: trams, trolley-buses, buses
- elsewhere: buses
- inter-city transport: plane, train, coach
Taxi
rent-a-car: AVIS, Hertz, Intertel, Europcar, Budget and International Car Rental in Sofia, the country's big cities and resorts
Medical Service
Free first aid and consultation in emergencies
Currency Exchange
In banks and currency exchange bureaus. The exchange rate is announced daily.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diners Club, American Express, Access, Airplus.
They can be used for the payment of all standard services in hotels, restaurants, night clubs, shops, car rentals, plane tickets, etc.
Passports and Visas
You will need a valid passport with an entry or transit visa which is issued by the embassies and consulates of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.
No entry visas are required for citizens of the countries with which Bulgaria has a visa-free regime, or of organized tourists who have bought a package tour.
No entry visas are required for citizens of the EU and EFTA member states.
No visas are required for CIS citizens for a stay of one month, provided they are in the possession of a valid passport, a voucher for pre-paid tourist services or if they pay the sum of 40 USD for each day of their stay in the country.
Accommodation
Bulgaria boasts an extensive accommodation network ranging from luxury five-star to unpretentious two-star hotels, small cozy hotels and private rooms, meeting all modern requirements. Check the Bulgaria Hotels page or a particular destination page for accommodation search, overview and reservation.
Meals
Throughout Bulgaria one will find catering establishments of different categories serving various foods - renowned luxury restaurants, taverns that serve national cuisine, restaurants serving foreign cuisine, fast food outlets, pizzerias, countless cafes and pastry shops, etc.
Menus are usually printed in both Bulgarian and English. Restaurants stay open from 11a.m. to midnight, but also may work round the clock. |
