General info about Bulgaria

Motto		Unity makes strength
Anthem		Dear Motherland
Government		Parliamentary republic
Area		110 910km² (104th) (42 823 sq m)
Population		2008 estimate 7 642 882 (93rd) 1989 census 9 009 018
Density		69.3/km² (185 sq m)

Bulgarian flag and coat of arms


Location of Bulgaria (orange)
- on the European continent (camel & white)
- in the European Union (camel)




Travel throughout BG

The easiest method of transport in Bulgaria is by air, with low cost carriers Wizzair now also connecting Sofia with the coast.

Intercity coaches are preferred by many Bulgarians as they are comparatively cheap, 21.00 leva single to Smolyan from Sofia for example. Central Bus Station (Tsentralna Autogara) is new, situated on Maria Luiza Blvd and has an ATM, a chemist and selection of other shops, clean toilets and café. Buying coach tickets is not easy, you need to go to either the correct counter or bus bay. The ticket is for a specific couch and not transferable.

Train travel is generally not recommended, the stock is generally old and the service slow. Albeit on a new train, the 12.60 leva single from Staboliyski to Sofia, a journey that takes approximately one hour in a car, takes 3.5 hours on the train through making an unbelievable number of stops. Central Station (Tsentralna gara) is approximately 200m from Central Bus Station


The mountains

Bulgaria has fantastic, beautiful countryside. The Rhodopi mountains are spectacular, with warm sunshine in the summer and a hue of colours in the forests in the autumn and snow in the winter. Bulgaria has three winter resorts, Pamporovo is about 4.5 hours transfer from Sofia, Bansko approximately 3 hours and Borovets some 90 minutes. Illegal eccentricities abound such as dual pricing, one price for locals in Borovets and twice the price for foreigners. As this in intended to be only a brief introduction to life outside Sofia, a life preferred by the majority, please learn more with Bulgaria.Go


Black Sea Coast

The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast (Bulgarian: Черноморие, Chernomorie) covers the whole eastern bound of Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast beaches occupy approximately 130 km of the 378 km coast. The region is an important centre for tourism during the summer, drawing foreign and Bulgarian tourists alike and constituting one of the country's most popular tourist destination, internationally known before 1989 as the Red Riviera. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, its nickname has been changed to the Bulgarian Riviera.

The area's average air temperature in the summer is about 28°C, with the average water temperature at 25°C. There are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September and more than 300 hours in July and August.

There are some fantastic beaches throughout the length of the coast but visitors out of season seem to appreciate the smaller coves.

The Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge of the Black Sea at Cape Emine, dividing the coastline into a southern and northern part. Parts of Bulgaria's northern Black Sea Coast feature rocky headlands where the sea abuts cliffs up to 70 metres in height. The southern coast is known for its wide sandy beaches.

The largest city on Bulgarian Black Sea Coast is Varna (also the third largest city in Bulgaria), located on the northern part of the coast. Another large city is Burgas, located on the southern coast. The two cities' international airports, Varna Airport and Burgas Airport, are the main hubs servicing the region. In addition, the A1 and A2 motorways, currently under construction, would make the trip from the capital Sofia to the coast substantially easier and faster, while the A3 is planned to connect Varna and Burgas.