Bulgaria the jewel of the Black Sea

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is deemed to be one of Europe's most diverse and naturally beautiful destinations and still relatively undiscovered compared to other holiday resorts. It is a small country situated in the southeast of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. and recently has been declared one of the safest places to stay in Europe.It boasts towering mountains and deep valleys, giving visitors great opportunities for skiing, hiking, walking and mountain biking and Bird watching. There are six different ranges with much to offer, from snow capped mountains to lush green forests with thermal springs and mineral spas. In contrast the scenic Black Sea coast has fine sandy beaches and inviting blue waters making Bulgaria a popular destination for holidaymakers and travellers alike.

The colourful culture, hospitality and folklore traditions still exist and have stayed unchanged for centuries. Throughout the year , regular folk rituals and festivals are held all around the country, where Bulgarian culture, hospitality and friendliness shine through making any visitor feel very welcome. The Valley of the Roses is in the very heart of the country and each year is transformed with breath-taking blooms in May and June. The festival of the Roses is celebrated in towns across the region with rose picking rituals and folklore displays. Bulgaria is rapidly developing as a popular tourist and a growing destination, for people to buy property. whether you are seeking a relaxing beach break, skiing down the slopes or taking in the culture, buying a holiday home or indeed wanting Bulgaria to become your permanent home this magical country has it all.

Currency Lev (2.25 to £1 sterling at present) Time Zone GMT +2 (GMT +3 from April to September)

Language Bulgarian Telephone Services +359

Emergency Numbers Ambulance 150 Fire 160 Police 166 Emergency 112

Climate

Bulgarian summers are long and generally comfortable, with low humidity and temperatures averaging 24 degrees. The Black Sea resorts offer sunbathing from May until October,

Bulgarian winters can bring heavy falls of snow for the skiing resorts. which of course ina neccesity for the Ski industry and this year skiers seem to be favouring Bulgaria over the most popular places ie The Alps.

Spring and autumn can be very changeable and unpredictable with the possibilty of many days of rain and thunder and lightening which can be very spectacular.

Things to see and do

Bulgaria's capital Sofia is diverse and compact with a great mix of architectural styles which were mainly built after the WWII bombings. The city boasts many great art galleries, museums and opera houses and the churches in Sofia are well worth a visit, especially as some date back to the early 14th Century. From earlier times, Sofia's main attraction has been its thermal springs which are still in public use today. The city is bursting with character, its various bazaars, markets and open air cafes give it a cosmopolitan, laid back atmosphere with plenty to see and do.

Rila is south of Sofia and provides the perfect mountain locations for hikers. The great trip across the mountains to the Rila Monastery can be done in a few days. The monastery was originally founded in the 10th century and is admired by many for its unusual architectural features. Visitors can enjoy its valuable museum collection with jewellery, textiles and old manuscripts. Rila also gives visitors an excellent starting point for discovering the surrounding areas of Bulgaria.

For beach lovers, Bulgaria has simply dozens of attractive resorts on the Black Sea coastline. Golden Sands, which is in Varna is the largest resort on the Black Sea coastline and provides a varied range of eating spots and probably the best nightlife in the area. Albena is the newest resort and is surrounded by lush forests. Its magnificent 7 kilometre long sandy beach and calm waters make it a haven for relaxing, sunbathing and ‘taking it easy'. If you feel like treating yourself, many of the hotels in these resorts offer impressive health, beauty and spa treatment that promise to help you to relieve stress and really relax. If you are feeling more energetic, there are many sporting activities on offer, including waterskiing, paragliding and volleyball. The daily costs for food and drink also make Bulgaria an attractive destination with a bottle of beer costing £1 and a two course meal for one costing approx £10.00 although in coastal regions the price can be a lot higher than in many of the local villages.

Bulgaria is fast growing as a popular skiing destination with recent improvements in the three major ski rsimplyesorts in the country. Excellent skiing conditions can be found, especially for intermediate and novice skiers. Borovets is the largest and oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria, conveniently located just 45 miles south of Sofia. There are several well run hotels with a superb network of ski runs for every ability. Many of the hotels offer indoor swimming pools, saunas and gyms and also provide much of the nightlife. There are also wine bars, folk taverns, clubs and discos for those après ski drinking sessions.

Nature lovers might like to visit one of Bulgaria's national parks where in recent years facilities have really improved. birdwatching has become very popular in Bulgaria with the fantastic Srebana biospheric nature reserve in Northern bulgaria which is situated on the Danube river and hosts some of the most beautiful birds in Europe and hosts a Nature museum and an Ecological research station nearby.

 Outdoor and nature enthusiasts will find a variety of different types of accommodation offered, including lodges, private chalets, small hotels with camping also becoming more available to visitors.

Travel

Bulgaria now have a number of airlines offering flights to Sofia, Burgas, Varna in the summer and Plovdiv in the winter. The domestic service Bulgaria Air connects Sofia with the coast and other main towns. Journeys from Sofia to Bourgas and Varna can be made in one hour by air travel and it's fairly cheap - and almost certainly works out quicker and cheaper than driving and is only slightly more expensive than rail travel.

Bus and tramway services operate in Sofia, Tickets must be pre-purchased and flat fares are charged. Taxis are available in all towns and for inter city journeys. It is recommended that the taxi fare is agreed with the driver before the journey.

Bulgaria has a reliable and sophisticated coach service which allows visitors to travel inland between major towns and cities. A return trip from Sofia to the coast would only cost you about £15-£20 and would normally take between 5 or 6 hours depending on traffic and weather conditions. For further details on schedules and prices contact www.etapgroup.com - one of Bulgaria's biggest coach companies.

For information on rail travel in Bulgaria see the State Rail Office site.

If you are entering Bulgaria by car you must purchase a road vignette which is available at most OMV or Shell garages,

Accommodation

Hotels in Bulgaria are classified according to the European star-grading system, but some standards are comparatively low. However, some hotels have taken special measures to ensure they meet international standards with luxury hotels available in the larger cities. For further information, contact the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association. (www.bhra-bg.org) 

Health

Bulgaria has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. If a UK passport and NHS medical card are produced, hospital, dental and other medical care will normally be provided free of charge. However, prescribed medicines must be paid for and can be supplied by public pharmacies. No vaccinations are required for entry to Bulgaria. It is advisable to drink bottled water for the duration of your stay. Generally food is safe in restaurants and hotels; however the street vendors should be avoided. It is also recommended that adequate health insurance is taken out before visiting Bulgaria.