General

Terrain
Over half of Bulgaria is made up of mountains. The Balkan Mountains separate Bulgaria in two parts. They reach the Black sea to the east and the Bulgarian-Yugoslav border to the north. The plains and the lowlands cover large areas of the both sides of the Balkan Mountains. The Danube plain is the biggest, bordering river Danube to the north and the Balkan Mountains to the south. The southern part of the country has broad and irregular Rhodope Mountains, which form the boundary with Greece. At their western end are the Rila Mountains with Musala, the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula (2925 m) and the Bulgaria second highest mountain Pirin. The Black sea is the eastern boundary of Bulgaria and its coastline is 378 km. long.

Climate
The climate in Bulgaria is determined by four clear seasons. The climate in the northern part of the country is moderate continental, while the climate in Southern Bulgaria is intermediate continental tending to Mediterranean. The climate in the regions with an altitude of 1900-2000 m above sea level is mountainous. The climate of the seaside regions is milder in the winter and cooler in the summer than the climate of the interior of the country. The average annual temperature is 10°C. The average air temperature in the summer is 30°C. The average water temperature is 25°C.

Culture

The Bulgarian lands have been inhabited by various tribes that have developed a rich and varied culture.

The earliest monuments are the drawings found in the Magura cave (Second Millennium BC), the remains from Palaeolitic cultures in several caves in Stara planina (Balkan Mountains) and the Rhodope Mountains. Traces of some seaside Neolithic and Palaeolithic cultures have been found in the areas of cape Kaliakra and the southern seaside town Ahtopol.

There have been found a lot of remains from Thracian, Old Greek and Roman culture in the Bulgarian lands. The Kazanluk tomb and the Sveshtare tomb are remarkable monuments of the Thracian art. The Kazanluk tomb is from the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC. The murals on the walls of the tomb reflect battle scenes and the symbolic farewell with the Thracian ruler accompanied by three racing chariots. The Sveshtare tomb is built in the first half of the 3rd century BC. The chamber was decorated as a facade of a temple with depicted horseman who takes a golden garland from the hands of a goddess with a religious procession following her.

Whole ancient cities have been restored. Some of them are Augusta Trajana, Apolonia, Trimoncium, Nicopolis ad Istrum etc. Under the capital city Sofia have been found thousands square meters of ruins from the ancient city Serdica.
In the Middle Ages massive fortifications, monumental castles, temples and basilicas are built in the Old Bulgarian capitals Pliska and Veliki Preslav.

After the 14th century the more remarkable manifestations of architecture and the arts are of religious character. The most impressive architectural creation is the Rila Monastery.

Visas and Registration

The citizens of the EU countries can enter Bulgaria without a visa for 90 days while the nationals of UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, Switzerland may stay in the country visa-free for 30 days. In accordance to acting international agreements the citizens of the most former socialist countries also do not need a visa to enter Bulgaria. The holders of passports of other countries must have a visa issued by Bulgarian embassies and consulates abroad prior to arrival. Visas are not issued and cannot be obtained at the Bulgarian border check-points upon arrival. The permitted 30 or 90-day period for staying can be prolonged only in case of force majeure circumstances /accident, illness, death/. Otherwise you have to leave the country. If you intend to stay beyond that period you must obtain a “type D” visa from the Bulgarian embassy in your originating country prior to arrival. Regardless of your nationality we recommend to check with the local Bulgarian embassy because the rules are often changed.

Residence Permits

With your type D visa safely in hand you can now apply for residency. You may then be given permission to remain in Bulgaria for up to one year if you have both a work permit and a guaranteed full time contract or you have a company in Bulgaria that employs at least ten local people. Alternatively this permission can be granted if you are going study in the country or you are married to Bulgarian citizen. Of course, if you simply have about half a million EUR to invest in Bulgaria then your application will probably be viewed very favourably! Getting permanent residency in Bulgaria is another story altogether – a long one, and you must even pass a test in Bulgarian language proficiency!

Registration

All travellers to Bulgaria are required to register as a foreigner at the local police station within 5 days of arrival. For those staying in a hotel or their accommodation is arranged through an agency the registration should be done by the proprietor otherwise you have to do it yourself. However you should have a dated registration slip because you could be asked for at the passport control when leaving the country. Failing this may cause you serious troubles as well as large fines to be paid. Fortunately it rarely happens to short-staying foreigners from Western countries. But better secure it to avoid unpleasant incidents. It is expected from 01.01.2006 this annoying and cumbersome procedure to be replaced with registering at the airport upon arrival but still in doubt.

Identification

The Bulgarian authorities do not consider presentation of a copy of the passport sufficient for identification purposes as well as driving license, ID card or others. Visitors should carry their original passports with them at all times.

How to Get to Bulgaria

By plane
In Bulgaria there are three international airports: Sofia, Varna and Bourgas. The Bulgarian air companies have flights to the most European countries as well as all major European air lines have regular flights to Bulgaria. While flights to Sofia are normally priced, there are a lot of charter cheap flights to Bulgaria offered to Varna and Bourgas leaving from Western Europe especially in the summer tourist season.

By train
The main European railway routes pass through Bulgaria. Sofia has direct links with many European capital cities. Probably it is the cheapest way to reach Bulgaria.

By bus
Buses to and from Sofia travel to most major cities in Europe. Most of them pass through Serbia, so be sure to check if you need a transit visa. Don't be surprised if an extra "border fee" is asked by the bus driver - it makes your border passing quicker.

By car
If you want to reach Bulgaria from Western Europe by car, you either can take a ferry from Italy to Greece, or you will have to pass through either Serbia where you have to pay a special car insurance just passing through, or Romania where the road conditions are far from perfect. Foreign driving licenses are valid in Bulgaria. Insurance is compulsory - it can either be taken out beforehand or on the Bulgarian border. The speed limit in the country is 60 km/h in populated areas, 80 km/h outside and 120 km/h on highways. You must place a special sticker on your car to drive on the highways. These stickers can be purchased at the gas stations. You can be enter Bulgaria through the following border checkpoints:

Bulgarian-Yugoslav border

• Kalotina (motorway E-6)
• Vrushka Chouka (Belgrad- Kulata-Sofia motorway)
  Bulgarian - Macedonian border
• Gyueshevo (Sofia, Kyustendil-Skopje motorway)
  Bulgarian-Greek border
• Kulata (motorway E-20)
• Novo Selo (E80)
  Bulgarian-Turkish border
• Kapitan Andreevo (motorway E-5)
• Malko Turnovo (motorway E-95)
  Bulgarian-Romanian border
• Rousse (motorway E-97)
• Vidin-Calafat
• Vranshka Chuka-Kula (motorway 14)
• Silistra (motorway)

Events & Festivals

Public Holidays
January 1 - New Year
March 3 - National day of the Liberation from Ottoman Domination
Easter - Two days (Sunday and Monday) according to the Orthodox calendar
May 6 - St. George’s Day
May 24 - Day of the Bulgarian culture and the Slavonic script
September 6 - National Day of Bulgaria’s Reunion in the year of 1885
September 22 - Independence Day
November 1 - Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders
December 24-26 - Christmas Eve and Christmas
December 31 - New Year’s Eve

Carnivals and Festivals
Bulgarians have a number of different traditional ceremonies, festivals and holidays.
There are events dated centuries back, combining pagan with orthodox and folk elements.

The Kukeri Festival is celebrated on 11 January in the region of the towns of Pernik and Dupnitsa. The participants, named Kukeri, wear traditional masks and costumes and perform ancient dances to drive away the evil spirits. Similar festivals take place at other parts of the country like the Rodopi and Strandja mountains.

St. Trifon Zarezan on 14 February is an ancient festival of the wine growers.

Granny Marta’s Day is on 1 March. At this day people give each other martenitzi, little red and white tassels that are worn for health and happiness.

Festival of Roses is celebrated in early June in the town of Kazanlak.

Koprivshtitsa Folk Festival is dedicated to the authentic Bulgarian music.

Other folk festivals are celebrated also in Shiroka Luka, Rojen, the Pirin and Strandja Mountains. National Festival of Romany Songs and Music (July) is celebrated in the town of Stara Zagora.

The International Jazz Festival (8-13 August) takes place in the town of Bansko, one of the most popular winter resorts in Bulgaria.

Apolonia is a popular arts festival held in the middle of September in the town of Sozopol on the Black sea cost.