Bulgaria Travel & General Information
Quick Facts
- Population: 7.9 million
- Capital: Sofia
- Language: Bulgarian (written text is in Cyrillic script)
- Currency: Leva (roughly 3 leva to £1 GBP)
- Driving: On the right
- Body Language: Shaking the head means "yes", nodding means "no"! In tourist areas, locals may try to help by using the gestures you expect! Always listen for 'da' (pronounced "dar" meaning "yes") or 'ne' (pronounced "nay" meaning "no") for confirmation.
Pictures of Bulgaria
Click any picture to view a larger image. Click to the right or left of the larger image to see the next or previous image.
Location
Bulgaria is in the South Eastern corner of Europe, with it's Eastern coast bordering the Black Sea. It has a continental climate with long, hot, dry summers and bitterly cold winters.
The inland topography is characterized by a series of dramatic mountain chains, which offer some of the most exciting skiing and hiking opportunities in Europe.
The 2 main ski resorts of Borovets and Bansko are in the South West of the country, both roughly South of the capital Sofia in the West. The airport in Sofia is the most convenient for travelling to these ski resorts.
Borovets is about 60km and 1 hours drive from Sofia, with the most direct route also being the most scenic, and taking in the impressive Lake Iskar. Bansko is about 120km and 2 hours drive from Sofia.
Travel
Flights From The UK
The following airlines fly direct to Sofia from the UK. Click on a logo to go to the website and search for flights.
Gatwick and Manchester to Sofia (check the easyJet website for the schedule)
Heathrow to Sofia 7 days a week
Gatwick to Sofia 7 days a week. Manchester to Sofia and Dublin to Sofia on Thursday and Sunday.
Luton to Sofia Sunday, Tuesday, Friday (returning Monday, Wednesday, Saturday)
Heathrow to Sofia Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Airport Transfers & Car Hire
The journey from Sofia to Borovets take about 1 hour by road, and Sofia to Bansko is around 2 to 2.5 hours. There are a number of reputable private airport transfer services, however if you also want the freedom to explore the area, car hire is available in the arrivals hall at Sofia airport from Hertz and Avis. Generally we have found Hertz to be cheaper and quicker, but the choice is yours.
You can often turn up and rent a car on the day you arrive, but we recommend booking in advance. When booking, make sure you understand the terms and conditions related to the price quoted - often there is an additional charge for every additional kilometre travelled.
When driving, beware of pot-holes. Minor roads especially are not as well surfaced as those in the UK, and rental agencies are quick to stress that replacement tyres are not included in the insurance!
