Summer is a long-awaited vacation time. Someone wants to finish the renovation, for someone fate has prepared a place in the beds, but for the lucky ones there is a direct road to the sea.
In our unstable time, when resort Turkey, Tunisia and the situation is not at all stable, and often revolutionary, I want peace and confidence that waking up in the morning, you will not become a hostage. Although such difficulties and dangers are just for the Russian person.
In short, everyone decides for himself where to rest, but our choice fell on Bulgaria. Why?
Firstly, for the first time with the whole family we went abroad, and Bulgaria seemed to us a wonderful country from which to start trips abroad.
Secondly, the climate of the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria is similar to the climate of the Russian coast, and we hoped that our little daughter would not have to experience acclimatization.
In favor of Bulgaria was the fact that the Bulgarians are the same Slavs as we are, and the speech, similar to Russian, pushed the boundaries of communication.
The main contingent of vacationers in Bulgaria is: Romanians, Moldovans, Ukrainians, Germans and Russians. There are much fewer English-speaking tourists, Spaniards and Italians.
If you are going to Bulgaria for the first time, then this article is for you. We will tell you about what you need to take, and what you shouldn't take under any circumstances. We are confident that our recommendations will help you collect the most necessary luggage and be ready for any situation. Only helpful information firsthand, because we just returned from a trip a week ago.
The Atlas Hotel, to which a separate review article will be devoted, was waiting for us on the second line of the "Golden Sands", famous since Soviet times. But before talking about the rest itself, there is important information about what you need to take with you on your trip.
In addition to the voucher itself, be sure to issue medical insurance! No matter how confident you are in your health and the health of your loved ones, insurance is required, and we were convinced of this when our daughter fell ill.
Choose an insurance company carefully, the difference between regular and cheap insurance from an unknown company is minimal! But you should not save in this case. We were witnesses when a doctor refused to provide assistance due to the fact that their medical institution does not work with such an insurance company.
Full business class life insurance, including an expense of 30,000 euros, cost us only 10 euros. Agree, not such a high price for confidence.
Of course, VISA will become additional expenses when traveling to Bulgaria. Its price is significantly higher than the Turkish one and is 65 euros per person. Children under 5 years old also apply for a visa, but it is free for them.
"What currency should I take with me to Bulgaria?" - this is one of the most asked questions. In Bulgaria, the national currency is the "lev". Its rate is rigidly tied to the euro rate, and if you take the euro on the road, you will not lose.
You can also exchange leva at home in Russia, but, as a rule, this currency is not available in exchange offices, and it must be ordered. It will take several days to wait. So, if at the very last moment you were puzzled by the question of what currency to take with you to Bulgaria, then it is better to take the euro.
The best and safest option is to exchange currency with your guide. Yes, it is "a little illegal", but you will not be 100% deceived. In addition, their course is very, very profitable. It is advisable to change all the cash at once, so as not to run around the exchangers later.
About exchangers, you will often hear stories from your guides about how often they cheat. They are also called "deceivers". Yes, on the signs of all exchangers, very favorable exchange rates flaunt, however, in fact, you will receive less money than you expect. Or even get banknotes that have long gone out of circulation. All kinds of "stars", small print and other tricks of currency scammers will spoil your mood, so it is better to change your currency with your guide or at the hotel.
If you have rubles with you, they can be easily changed at the hotel reception.
For clarity, we will give an example of the exchange rate in Bulgaria, Varna, Golden Sands.
For VISA card holders, not everything is smooth either. We have experienced it ourselves. Taking part of the currency in euros, and leaving part on the card, we planned to exchange money by means of a plastic card at the right time. What was our bewilderment when our skating rink was not counted in our Atlas hotel. It was not possible to read the data from the card at the Admiral Hotel, where everyone is sent to exchange currency, even the guides.
You probably thought that our card simply did not work, but we easily made purchases with it. A call to Sberbank's support service shed light on what was happening. It turns out that those terminals that were in hotels did not support the chip installed in the card.
We managed to remove it through an ATM. By the way, using the Google map, we managed to find only 2 (two) ATMs in Golden Sands! If you are planning a trip to Golden Sands, then you need to know that the best ATM is located with back side the building of the Admiral Hotel next to the Raiffeisen Bank office. Coincidentally or not, the office itself is open from 8 am to 5 pm local time.
Hotel "Admiral".
By the way, about the local time: it differs from Moscow by exactly one hour. And when in Moscow (Samara) it is 12 o'clock in the afternoon, then in Bulgaria it is 11 o'clock in the morning.
How much money should I take with me? This is at your discretion and wallet, but if you are planning shopping and trips to cafes and restaurants, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the prices - they are one to one, as in Russia, at least in Samara.
Unknowingly, on the day of departure, we rushed to buy "beach ensembles" for the sea at the Kirov market, what was our surprise when, walking along the shopping streets of Golden Sands, we saw better and more fashionable resort things for the same money.
So if you plan on shopping before your trip, buy everything locally. Your luggage will be smaller, and you will also get better quality items made in Turkey and Bulgaria.
Set aside money from your budget for gifts and souvenirs right away. All kinds of magnets, plates and other souvenir paraphernalia in abundance. Their prices are as follows:
Small magnets from 1 lev.
Plates on a stand from 6 lev.
Large decorative plates from 18 levs.
When communicating with Bulgarians, you will be surprised how easily you will understand each other. The older generation speaks Russian very well and even without an accent, but the younger one often inserts English into the conversation.
If your hotel provides only breakfast, then lunch and dinner can be spent in the cafe on the waterfront. Big variety national cuisines will not leave indifferent gourmets. Here you can find Mexican, Italian, and Georgian with Russian cuisine and, of course, Bulgarian national cuisine.
If you are an avid fan, then you will not miss the match of your favorite team. The matches of the Russian teams are broadcast in cafes and on large monitors.
The prices in the cafes are very democratic, and all cafes have promotions like “buy 2 cocktails and 3 as a gift”, “buy 1 pizza and Cola as a gift”.
A clean embankment with good-natured sellers, departments with souvenirs, clothes and barkers in cafes, which are not as intrusive as in stories about Turkey, make a walk along it fascinating.
Eiffel Tower Cafe.
There are a lot of artists on the waterfront who practice such a style of drawing as realistic, which cannot be distinguished from photography.
You can leave your photo to the artist, and for 80 levs (about 1700 rubles) he will amaze you with his skill. Several independent photographs of loved ones can be collected into one family portrait. The price we quoted refers to one portrait drawn in pencil. If we are talking about a colored drawing, then the price is correspondingly higher.
Gambling people will love the casino, the scale of which is amazing.
There are a lot of shops for adults, a lot of tattoo parlors, where you can get both real and temporary tattoos for yourself and your child.
A small "tattoo" costs from 6 levs (about 130 rubles).
In general, translating prices into a course that is understandable to us, the Russians, simply multiply the price by 20. Well, whoever is strong orally, then by 22 rubles.
Fans of "fast food" will love the presence of McDonald's on the beach. Speaking of the beach, one cannot fail to mention that the beach in Golden Sands, as in the whole of Europe, is the property of the city, and there are no fenced-in hotel areas.
A rope is stretched along the entire length of the beach; it separates the paid part of the beach from the free one. The distance of 3-5 meters from the sea to the rope is free, and it is always filled with vacationers. The rest of the territory is paid. Payment will be charged for sun lounger, mattress and umbrella. Daily rent of a complete set for one person will cost 19 levs. For our money, this is about 420 rubles for a comfortable time.
As a rule, the paid territory is always empty, only a few allow themselves such comfort.
An exception to the rule is the beach area, which belongs to the hotel "Astera Golden sands". Sun beds and umbrellas are provided to vacationers in this hotel for free, not only by the pool, but also on the seashore.
The beach is empty from 6 pm. Either all vacationers, of whom 99.9% on the beach go to the hotel for dinner, or the setting sun and evening winds make vacationers shiver.
There are no pesky churchkhela and other food vendors on the beach. During seven days of rest, we only saw a souvenir seller and a photographer a couple of times, by the way, without a boa constrictor and a monkey!
The photo is taken right on the beach and the price for a 15x20 photo is 10 levs (220 rubles).
When going to Bulgaria, be sure to take warm things: a blouse, pants, etc. In the evenings and, especially at night, it is chilly, and the sea winds subside only by 8-9 o'clock in the morning.
In order not to repeat our mistakes, we will list those things that we took with us, but never put them on or used them.
- Iron - although it was bought specifically for the trip (a light outdoor iron), we never had to use it. It is humid outside at night and hot during the day. Just leave your things on the balcony overnight and hang them on hangers in the morning.
- Hair dryer. The hotel had an excellent hairdryer with good power. But this is not in all hotels and not in all rooms, as luck would have it.
- Evening shoes with high heels. The best shoes for leisure are flip-flops; you can grab ballet flats or moccasins for evening walks.
- A skirt, shorts, a sundress and a pareo for the beach - one pareo is enough to replace your skirt, shorts and even a sundress. Moreover, it does not wrinkle, is easily washed and dries quickly, and it also takes up a minimum of space in your luggage!
Make it easy for yourself, keep everything to a minimum! Buy everything you need on the spot.
Perhaps the only thing we haven’t said yet is roaming in Bulgaria. With which SIM card to go and what prices for calls and SMS, we, of course, monitored before the trip.
If you do not activate special services and tariffs, then the price of a minute of conversation with Bulgaria will be around 69 rubles. You can familiarize yourself with the tariffs on the websites of mobile operators. Our choice was between the following tariffs:
Advantageous "Multipass" service for roaming in Bulgaria.
The choice was obvious - Beeline and his action "Multipass" with 5 rubles per minute of conversation. Most of the money spent in roaming was spent on a call to the Sberbank support service. For seven days of rest, we spent about 600 rubles for cellular communication in roaming.
If you manage to find more favorable rates, then write to us, it will be useful for the next trip, and we definitely want to go to Bulgaria again!
Where to go, what to see, we will tell you in our subsequent articles, and if your
The main advantage of Bulgaria is the high ratio of price and quality of rest. It has everything you need for a vacation by the sea:
- warm sea
- wide sandy beaches
- high quality service in hotels
- great opportunities for living in the private sector
- stable weather
- affordable prices
There are also downsides. We will also tell about them.
Frequently asked Questions
Tour prices
Bulgaria is included in the Top 5 budget destinations.
The most budgetary option for a stay in a 2-3 * hotel with flight and transfer, but without meals, will cost 39-45,000 rubles.
All-inclusive options start at 56,000 rubles.
Independent travel: is it worth it?
Bulgaria offers ample opportunities for those who like to travel independently. But the self-organization of the trip pays off only in the case of a long stay (12 nights or more).
The average cost of renting a private apartment for major resorts on average 35-40 euros / day. There are discounts for long term rentals, which can be found on the Airbnb website.
If you are planning a trip together, then there is no point in losing quality. The trip "savage" will pay off only to families who want to relax in an apartment with a separate bedroom and are ready to come for more long term... Otherwise, it is more profitable to fly with a tour operator.
How to get to resorts without travel agencies
After the aggravation of relations with Ukraine, the sweat of car tourists dropped significantly. Most people prefer to travel by plane. 2.5-3 hours flight and you have already landed at the airport of Varna or Burgas, from where it is a stone's throw to any resort.
Those wishing to get by car to bypass Ukraine will have to get through Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia or Romania. The trip is not easy due to the poor roads in Serbia and Romania, and it also requires a Schengen visa.
What kind of visa do Russian citizens need to visit Bulgaria?
Currently Bulgaria issues national visas. Holders of these visas also have the right to enter and stay in the territories of Romania, Croatia and Cyprus. Bulgarian visas do not give their holder the right to enter and stay in the Schengen area.
The cost of a visa is 35 euros + 2600 rubles consular fee.
If you already have a multiple entry visa to the Schengen area, then this is enough to enter Bulgaria.
You can apply for a visa directly from home using the service. or arrange all the documents.
When does the season start and end?
Elenite is also considered specialized family resorts. But for the most part, except for Balchik, where instead of a beach there are concrete platforms, you can relax with children at any of the resorts.
Nessebar and Dunes are premium resorts. One is famous for its old town, so prices are always overpriced there, and Dunes is a resort completely built up with 5 * hotels and private apartments.
Features of choosing a hotel and type of food
Bulgaria is one of the few countries where many hotels are built right on the beach. This is very convenient for those who come with children or do not like to strain.
Car rental
Renting a car is not very popular in Bulgaria due to the small number of attractions you need to visit. But if you plan to bypass the entire excursion program, have come for a long time and want to visit remote regions, then finding rental cars in resorts or at the airport is not a problem.
But it is better to take the car from local distributors. This is usually noticeably cheaper and more convenient, since global rentals raise prices and do not make concessions. You can find a car and make a pre-order on the website, which has already done all the work for you and has selected the best distributors. You just need to make a couple of clicks and the car will be waiting for you at the right time.
Shopping in malls and resorts
Shopping in the resorts is limited to market stalls and small shops with overpriced prices.
Before you go on a trip to the sunny beaches of Bulgaria, you should get acquainted with the unusual traditions, prohibitions that exist in this resort country... You need to be very careful in studying the laws, traditions, mentality of the inhabitants of the country you want to go to, otherwise there is a possibility of numerous misunderstandings, fines or curious situations that can ruin your vacation. For foreigners it all looks ridiculous, but for the residents of Bulgaria - the usual rules. 
1. Bulgarians are a very tolerant and very restrained people. They are very friendly towards foreigners. But a tourist should know that Bulgarians really do not like criticism, they even hate it. To avoid any misunderstandings, it is better to praise them both in the case and just like that, otherwise you can easily become a party to the conflict. 
2. Bulgarians will never correct you when you say something in Bulgarian, such is the educated people. But if you say a few phrases correctly, this event is very surprising for them, because foreigners who have been living in Bulgaria for more than 10 years have not learned to speak Bulgarian correctly.
3. In bazaars, a tourist will not find stalls with products of his own production (smoked, milk, cheese or meat) anywhere. This is prohibited by law. You can only trade vegetables and fruits. In rare cases, Bulgarians do it, but somewhere in the province. So, you should forget about homemade food for a vacation in Bulgaria.
4. A categorical refusal among the inhabitants of Bulgaria is very discouraged, so it is better not to ask a Bulgarian how to get somewhere, even if he does not know the route, he will have to lie to you. So, you are not very surprised at the deception, because it is indecent to refuse here.
5. Do not trust similar words from our dictionary, always specify what is being said, for example, using English. After all, the word "T-shirt" among the Bulgarians means "mother", and, for example, "straight" means that you need to turn "left", but the word "bun" means "bride". Such incidents can appear against the background of the same sounding words that have different meanings.
6. Gestures in Bulgaria are the most incredible difference between them and foreigners. Be careful with a simple nod of your head, because in Bulgaria this means that you strongly disagree with something. And moving your head left and right means that you agree with everything. This confusion of gestures has long been rooted in the mentality and history of the Bulgarians and has provoked more than one hundred misunderstandings. Remember this too. It is not enough to know about it, you still need to get used to it.
7. It is also forbidden in Bulgaria to smoke in public places, so those who like to smoke a cigarette will have to look for specially designated places for this action. The fine for violation is from 150-300 euros. 
8. Surprisingly, because of the heat, restaurants in Bulgaria have a break from 15:00 to 18:00. You will not be able to dine at the restaurant at this time, they are closed during this period. We'll have to eat at the diner. 
9. In Bulgaria it is forbidden to take pictures and photographs of churches, mosques, military installations, and border zones, airports.
10. It is also prohibited to import or export the national currency. Be prepared to exchange currency at a special state office (the commission for this service is set at about 10% of the amount).
11. About cars, too, should be said. If you decide to travel on own car, remember that tinted windows of the front doors and windshield are prohibited in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, you can rent a car, however, if you have reached the age of 21, if you have an international license and only if your driving experience exceeds 2 years of driving. It is also prohibited to drive on the roads of Bulgaria in cars with studded tires.
12. Bulgaria has incredibly hospitable people who welcome guests and generously set the table for their arrival. But it is important to know that in this country it is not customary to visit without gifts. Gathered for a visit - take a gift by all means, this is considered good form. The main thing is not the price value of the gift. It can be inexpensive, but bought from the heart. 
13. Punctuality is not for the residents of Bulgaria. Be sure if you make an appointment with someone local in 10 minutes, this means that you will meet much later - in 2 or 3 hours. Here, no one adheres to temporary "accuracy", therefore, you will not be scolded for being late.
These are the features in beautiful country Bulgaria. With this knowledge, you can safely go on a journey, now no curiosities threaten you!
Bulgaria is an amazingly multifaceted country: sunny beaches of seaside resorts, snow-covered ski slopes, picturesque natural parks, ancient monuments, delicious cuisine and excellent opportunities for the improvement of adults and children. The locals are friendly and hospitable, and the prices, which is important, are quite affordable - not at all European.
The country is spread over South-Eastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. From the east, it is washed by the Black Sea: the length of the sea coast here is 400 kilometers. Bulgaria's southern neighbors are Greece and Turkey, in the west the country borders on Serbia and North Macedonia, and in the north on Romania.
Bulgaria has always been a crossroads from Europe to the Middle East and Asia, and therefore in all historical periods was of interest to neighboring peoples who left traces of their stay on the Bulgarian land. There are tombs of Thracian kings, theaters of ancient Greeks, ancient Roman stadiums, medieval castles of the kings of the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms, Ottoman mosques, etc. On the territory of present-day Bulgaria there are nine objects included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The natural landscape in Bulgaria is very diverse. So, the Balkan Mountains stretch across the entire territory of the country: from the most distant northwestern regions to the Black Sea coast. Mountains and river valleys occupy almost all of the western and southern regions country. The highest peak In Bulgaria and throughout Eastern Europe is Mount Musala (2,925 meters above sea level), towering on the Rila ridge. In the south of the country there are lowlands and low mountains Strandzha and Sakar, in the north the territory is low-lying, and in the east is the Black Sea coast.
Current time in Sofia:
(UTC +3)
From a tourist point of view, modern Bulgaria is a diverse country that will appeal to fans of several holiday destinations. In our travel guide to Bulgaria, we highlight the best beach and ski resorts, about the main attractions, about the most delicious dishes local cuisine... The time spent in Bulgaria will surely be remembered by its guests, because, according to the assurance local residents, their country is paradise, an old Bulgarian legend tells about this: “When God gave the peoples of the world their land, he forgot about the Bulgarians. There is no free land left for them. And then he gave the Bulgarians a piece of paradise ”.
How to get there
You can get to Bulgaria by a variety of modes of transport - by air, by land and by water.
Aircraft
The plane is the most convenient way get to Bulgaria. There are four airports in the country: in Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna. Most of the regular flights go to the Sofia air harbor, while charters fly to Varna and Burgas, located on the coast, in summer.
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History
People have settled on the territory of Bulgaria since ancient times, as evidenced by the numerous burial mounds, burial grounds and settlements found by scientists.
Pre-Slavic period
Cities and regions
There are several options for dividing Bulgaria into regions.
For example, the country is administratively divided into 28 regions, which, in turn, are divided into 264 communities. The names of the communities and regions correspond to the names of the cities that are their administrative centers: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse, Gabrovo, etc.
In accordance with the Regulation of the European Union No. 1059/2003, the territory of Bulgaria is divided into two regions of the first order and six regions of the second order. They are not administrative-territorial units and are created for EU statistical purposes only. These two regions are North and South-East Bulgaria and South-West and South-Central Bulgaria.
Tourists will be interested in another division of the country into regions related to geography, climate and recreational opportunities.
Black Sea coast
Most tourists go to Bulgaria for the sea and the sun, so the country's 350 km long Black Sea coast is the most popular region. It is here that the famous Bulgarian resorts are located, which are considered one of the best in Europe. In the summer they offer excellent conditions for recreation for every taste and budget. The history of most cities and villages located on the coast goes back to the times Ancient Greece or the Roman Empire - this is evidenced by the archaeological sites that are literally at every step.
The coast of Bulgaria is divided into southern and northern parts mountain range Stara Planina and Cape Emine. The unofficial capital of the northern part is Varna, and the southern one is Burgas.
One of the most historically interesting resorts in Bulgaria - Nessebar , founded in the XII - XI centuries BC. e. Its old town, picturesquely located on a small rocky promontory, surrounded on all sides by the sea, is so full of attractions that it is fully included in the list World heritage UNESCO.
Not far from Nessebar there is another bulgarian resort — Pomorie founded in the 4th century BC. e. Today it is a famous balneological center with its own healing mud, which is famous for its beaches covered with volcanic sand. It is worth seeing the Antique Dome Tomb, the Pomorie Historical Museum and the Salt Museum, Salt Lake and the reserve "Old houses of Pomorie".
Central part of Bulgaria
The central region of Bulgaria in the north along the Danube River borders with Romania, in the south - with Greece and Turkey. The Balkan Mountains, also known as Stara Planina, divide this region in half, being the longest and largest mountain range in the country. It was the Balkan Mountains that gave the name to the entire Balkan Peninsula.
This area is part of the larger historical-geographical region of Thrace and is replete with historical monuments from that period. For example, the Panagyurskiy treasure is one of the most famous artifacts of the Thracian culture, or the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak of the 4th century BC. e. - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What to see
So, tourists should definitely see Old town of Nessebar ... Nessebar (Nessebar) is one of the oldest European cities and probably the most beautiful city Bulgaria. Founded over 2,000 years ago, it sits on an 850-meter long peninsula connected to the land by a 400-meter isthmus. It is here that the old city center is located, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983, and since 1956 has been a city-museum. On the territory of the old center, there are almost 50 temples and other historical monuments, among them - Fortress walls, Byzantine baths, churches of St. John the Baptist, St. Sophia, Christ the Almighty, etc.
Also, tourists in Nessebar can see a part of the city that sank under the water several centuries ago - it is clearly visible from the shore in clear weather.
sights
Museums and galleries
Entertainment
Parks and recreation areas
Leisure
Transport
Private guides in Bulgaria
Russian private guides will help you to get acquainted with Bulgaria in more detail.
Registered on the project Experts.Tourister.Ru.
Things to do
Most often, tourists go to Bulgaria for beach vacation, recreation and skiing, but in the country, in addition, there are a lot of different types of pastime: diving, ecotourism, horseback riding, and cycling.
Beach vacation
Bulgaria is famous for its beach holidays; local seaside resorts are considered one of the best in Europe. They are especially suitable for families with children: the beaches are well equipped, covered with fine golden sand, the entry into the sea is gentle, the water is warm, there are no serious storms and there are almost no strong currents. Many Bulgarian beaches are marked with the European environmental friendliness label - Blue Flags.
At the same time, some beaches are dotted with darker sand - this means that it contains a lot of iron, and this composition has health-promoting properties. For example, the beach areas of Pomorie are distinguished by dark sand, next to which there are a number of balneological resorts. And the widest beaches in Bulgaria are in the Albena resort: up to 150 meters wide.
At the same time, there are also a few pebble beaches on the Bulgarian coast. They are located in the region of Nessebar and Sozopol, and, as a rule, they are "wild", not equipped. On some rocky shores, special concrete platforms are created for tourists.
Ski vacation
Ski resorts in Bulgaria are known throughout Europe for their high level of service and affordable prices.
The skiing season here usually lasts from November to March, and sometimes to early April. During this period, tourists have every chance to catch good snowy weather. At the same time, almost all ski resorts in the country are equipped with snow cannons - in case there is a sudden thaw in the middle of winter.
General infrastructure ski Bulgaria it is highly developed and deserves all praise, as is the picturesque nature, in the bosom of which there are winter centers.
The ski resorts are located in the highest Bulgarian mountains - on the Rhodope, Pirin and Rila ranges, at an altitude of 900 - 2 600 meters. Almost all of them are suitable for skiers of all skill levels, with slopes of all difficulty categories. Ski schools operate on the territory of the complexes.
Ecotourism
Bulgaria is famous for its national parks, there are eleven of them in the country. These places are extremely suitable for ecotourism.
For example, the Rila National Park is very popular with tourists, on the territory of which the famous Rila Monastery, "Bulgarian Jerusalem", and the unique natural landmark of the Seven Rila Lakes are located. The park was equipped with an area for intensive tourism, where trails for cycling, hiking and horseback riding, recreation centers, etc. were created.
Another famous national park - Pirin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in 1952 to preserve its unique ecosystem. There are picturesque glacial lakes, karst caves, fir and beech forests, the age of individual trees in which reaches five hundred years.
Among the most unusual national parks in Bulgaria is the Belogradchik Rocks Park, located not far from the borders with Serbia and Romania, near the town of Belogradchik. There is a unique fortress of the same name, the largest in Bulgaria and probably the most unusual: its bizarre shape is explained by the fact that the man-made structures were inscribed in the already existing rock formations.
The oldest national park in Bulgaria is located on Vitosha Mountain near Sofia. It was founded in 1934 to preserve the local unique pine forest... Today the park is one of the favorite recreation places for residents and guests of Sofia - it is called the "lungs of the capital", and also the "roof of Sofia". There are a lot of tourist centers and rest houses, there are cable cars and hiking trails.
You can read about other protected areas in Bulgaria in the Reserves section.
Other active recreation
In addition to hiking in the national parks of Bulgaria, this country has a lot to offer tourists. For example, they are very popular with guests. horse tours... This journey will be less tiring than hiking trip, and communication with horses will bring a lot of positive emotions. Horse riding routes are offered in almost all mountainous regions of the country - in the Balkan Mountains, in the north of Stara Planina, etc., and on the coast. For example, the famous riding club works in Albena.
Another popular type of active pastime is bike tours... Bulgaria's mild climate and comfortable weather make this way of traveling around the country very pleasant. Tourists go along cycling routes not only in national parks, but throughout the country to see as much as possible at once interesting places... You can rent a bike in almost any hotel in the resorts of Bulgaria.
IN recent times on black Sea coast Bulgaria is actively developing diving... So, the largest diving center in the country is located in Nessebar, near the old pier. Despite the fact that the underwater world off the Bulgarian coast is not as picturesque as, for example, in Egypt or the Maldives, there are a number of interesting places for diving - wrecks (shipwrecks) and ancient cities that have gone under water long ago.
Health tourism
Bulgaria is a well-known European destination for health tourism... There are at least five hundred springs with healing mineral water, on which hospitals and sanatoriums are built. All of them are equipped with the latest medical technology and are staffed by experienced professional specialists.
At the same time, medical tourism is also developed in Bulgaria. There are medical centers specializing in the treatment of various diseases and rehabilitation programs in almost all seaside resorts... A big plus of local clinics is the absence of a language barrier for Russians and affordable prices by European standards.
Event tourism
During the year in Bulgaria takes place. Firstly, tourists can catch religious holidays, such as Orthodox Christmas or Easter. Secondly, in late May - early June, a traditional Festival of rosesdedicated to the main folk craft - growing oil-bearing roses.
If you plan to visit Balchik in August, you can get to Marine Festival... Its dates change from year to year, they should be specified on the event website.
Communication
mobile connection
Currently, mobile communication in Bulgaria is represented by three operators:
- A1 (formerly M-Tel)
- Vivacom
- Telenor
SIM cards are sold at the offices of these operators in every Bulgarian city and at all airports. The purchase procedure is simple, but foreigners will need a passport for registration.
Each operator has tariffs with and without a subscription fee. With a monthly fee, call minutes are cheaper, but the contract will have to be concluded for at least a year. For tourists for short-term trips, prepaid tariffs ("prepaid packages") are more suitable, and of the operators Telenor and Vivacom, since they are much cheaper than A1, the oldest mobile company in Bulgaria. Remember that the validity period of the SIM card is automatically extended by one year from the date of the last refill.
The cost of outgoing calls to Russia per minute of conversation is on average from 0.37 levs to 0.72 levs. The cards are replenished with vouchers of 5, 6, 10 and 20 leva.
The coverage of Bulgarian mobile operators is more or less the same. Communication in all large cities and on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria is good and stable.
the Internet
As for the mobile Internet, Bulgaria is fully covered by a minimum of 3G communications, and there is a stable 4G signal in all cities and resorts.
Mobile communications, although relatively expensive, are popular with tourists. Basically, these are prepaid tariffs for a certain number of megabytes for a certain period. For example, Vivacom has an Easy Traffic package for 30 days, which includes 20,000 MB of Internet, it costs 20 leva (about 10 euros).
Wi-Fi networks are available in public areas major cities: at train stations, in city squares. Hotels of 4-5 * categories provide guests with free Wi-Fi, in hotels of lesser stars they may ask for a fee for connecting to the Internet. In addition, you can "catch" Wi-Fi in cafes and restaurants in Bulgaria.
Where to live in Bulgaria
There is a wide variety of accommodation options in Bulgaria. You can stay in a hotel, apartment or rent a private house.
Since in recent years, holidays in Bulgaria have become more and more popular destination among tourists, in the country, old hotels are being reconstructed and new ones are being built - as a rule, of 4-5 * categories, the level of service in which meets world standards. These hotels have beautifully decorated and equipped rooms, a vast territory, a wide range of sports and entertainment activities for children and adults.
Moreover, in Bulgaria there are many inexpensive three-star hotels, which are suitable for guests planning to have an active holiday: to explore local attractions, sunbathe, swim, and often go hiking.
Cozy family hotels with several rooms are also very popular. Their prices are low, and the comfort and quality of service are decent. It is in such places that you can get acquainted with the life of local residents and enjoy their unhurried pace of life.
In addition, independent tourists can always find suitable apartments in Bulgaria. These can be private apartments in cities and resorts, or houses with several rooms, which are convenient for those traveling with several children or a large company. Such accommodation is suitable for independent tourists seeking more freedom on vacation: you are going to cook for yourself, you do not want to depend on the hotel's opening hours, you want to see more interesting places in the country, etc.
You can choose and book accommodation in Bulgaria using the Booking.com service. Do not forget that by booking a hotel using the links with Turistern.Ru, you will receive a cashback of 4% of the booking amount.
