About Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located in the South-eastern corner of Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey.

Bulgarian Facts:

• Capital City = Sofia
• Currency = Lev 
• Total Area = 110,910 sq km
• Total Land = 110,550 sq km
• Total Water = 360 sq km
• Climate = Cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers
• Population = 7,450,349  
  

Travel to and from Bulgaria:

Travelling to Bulgaria has never been easier with flights daily from the uk, you can now fly from the following airports:

• All London Airports
• Aberdeen
• Belfast
• Birmingham
• Bournmouth
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Manchester

The flight is approximately 3 hours and flights land at all 4 Bulgarian International Airports:

• Burgas
• Plovdiv
• Sofia
• Varna

You can also travel by coach from London to Sofia, Varna and Burgas, this takes approx 45 hours each way, so would only be recommended if you really do not wish to fly.

You can also travel by train from London, this takes approx 22 hours each way from London and goes via Paris, Vienna and Budapest.

Money Matters 

The currency in Bulgaria is Lev and you can get approx 3 lev to the £1.  However now that Bulgaria are in th EU you can also use the euro in some of the larger towns and cities.  It is anticipated that the Euro will replace the Lev in 2011. 

Typical Costs of food and drink

• Cup or Pot or tea approx 10p
• Cup of coffee approx 30p
• Lunch for two approx £1.50
• Bottle of wine approx 90p
• Bottle of beer approx 20p
• Ice Cream approx 25p
• Soft Drink From 30p

Public holidays

• 1st January - New Year
  3rd March - National day of the Liberation from Ottoman Domination
  Easter - Sunday and Monday according to the Orthodox calendar
  6th May - St. George's Day
  24th May - the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and Slav Script
  6th September - National Day of Bulgaria's Reunion in the year of 1885
  22nd September - Independence Day
  1st November - Bulgarian Revival Leaders Day
  24th & 25th December - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
  31st December - New Year's Eve

Time difference

• Winter time: GMT + 2 hours - October till the end of March
  Summer time: GMT + 3 hours - April till the end of September