Bulgaria Travel

Getting Around Bulgaria

Planning on Bulgaria travel? There is an extensive network of air, road, and train services in Bulgaria.

But be warned – the lack of investment over the years has left the network in a deplorable state of disrepair, with derelict stations, underpaid staff, and poor maintenance of vehicles for Bulgaria travel. The good news is that Bulgaria’s accession into the European Union in 2007 and the new development of the European transport corridors (four of which are set to pass through Bulgaria) should lead to a gradual improvement in communication routes and infrastructure repair.

Bulgaria Travel on Trains

The Bulgarian train system is government owned and that unfortunately translates into deteriorating trains and customer service. The railway network does extend to most major cities, and standards are not as high as you may expect in Western Europe. On the bright side, train fares are incredibly cheap, reasonably quick, and fairly punctual, so try not to arrive late at the train station. As a matter of fact, arrive half an hour early for your Bulgaria travel because the train station numbers and destination signs are all in Cyrillic.

Since 1997, the government has taken steps to improve the efficiency of the State Railway under the umbrella of the Bank/EBRD sponsored Railway Rehabilitation Project. This project includes investments in infrastructure, new trains, stations, and Latin character signs.

Bulgaria Travel on Buses

Buses link all major towns and villages. Each town has a bus station or in some cases two which results in confusion, especially when buses operated by private companies use the same depot.

The local buses, run by the government, are frequent and inexpensive. Private bus companies run the longer distance routes. These buses are newer and more comfortable than the local government buses, but are still reasonably priced. A three-hour journey from the coast, inland to Veliko Turnovo, for instance, would cost just £4.

The drawback with the buses is that information on schedules is hard to obtain as few companies post timetables, so you may have to ask at several kiosks to get the full picture. In some cases the vehicles are minibuses, and they leave as soon as they're full.

Bulgaria Travel by Taxi

Providing you don't get ripped off, taxis are a reasonably priced and useful way of getting around in towns and cities or reaching places that aren't accessible by public transport.

All taxi cabs in the country are yellow, and each taxi driver has a licence and registration number within the taxi for identification. They operate at daytime and night time rates – from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (daytime) and from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (night time). An additional fee is paid when ordering by phone. The average rate is BGN 0.30 – BGN 0.45 per kilometer. Always check the table of fares. Beware! There are a minority of taxi drivers out to take advantage of foreigners, and they tend to hang around airports, major train stations, and city centre hotels; therefore, it's best to go looking for a taxi elsewhere if you have the option. You can ring for a taxi, but it is unlikely that anyone on the other end of the line will speak much English.

At Sofia International Airport, the good news is that unofficial taxi drivers, waiting just as you exit the arrival/departure, no longer rip foreigners off. Sofia Airport Authority has recently cracked down on unscrupulous taxi drivers. Only use the official taxi cabs in yellow vehicles on taxi ramps just outside the departure terminal.

Bulgaria Travel by Air

Sofia is the country’s main international airport operating all year-round.

Varna and Bourgas are used for domestic flights and handle international charter flights only during the summer months.

Plovdiv is predominantly a military airport and only operates international charter flights during the winter season.

Bulgaria Travel by Road

By car, you cross a number of countries. Up to Vienna, there are no customs and visa formalities. It is more difficult crossing the countries of former Yugoslavia,though, where it is recommended to use the route Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Sofia.

Driving in Bulgaria
The speed limits are:

• 50 km/h in populated areas
• 90 km/h outside populated areas
• 120 km/h on highways

To drive in Bulgaria, you can use your national license accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Road signs follow international standards. On-the-spot fines are in operation for speeding, drunk driving, and not having the correct documents. If you leave your passport with a hotel reception ask for a copy (or the original) if intending to drive a rental car.

The permissible blood alcohol content when driving is 0.5 per 1,000. Drivers found to have a blood alcohol level in excess of this can expect a fine and licence suspension. For tested levels in excess of 1.2 per 1,000 there is a maximum prison sentence of one year in addition to a licence suspension for up to four years. The simple rule is DON'T DRINK and DRIVE. It is also an offence to allow your vehicle to be used by people with a blood alcohol level in excess of the permissible level.

The Road Assistance Service

The Road Assistance Service provides 24-hour technical assistance on the road. In case of malfunction or accident during your Bulgaria travel, call 146 (or cellular 048 146). Their Central Dispatch Office is located at 3 Pozitano St. in Sofia, Tel. 980 33 08 and is open 24 hours a day. The Road Assistance Service vehicle that is closest to your location will be dispatched and should reach you within an hour of your call. You may also request the traffic police to make the call to the Road Assistance Service.

International Driving Permit

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for 12 months from the date of issue for Bulgarian travel. Recognized internationally, it normally allows you to drive a private motor vehicle without further formality when accompanied by a valid UK driving licence. People staying for more than one year in Bulgaria should have their driving licenses replaced with Bulgarian national driving licenses. For more information about the international driving licence visit the AA website.

Useful Tips

• Use common sense, and don't park in restricted zones even if it seems as if everyone else does. The Sofia City Council is hot on the heels of their Western counterparts with yellow wheel clamps, and if that's not enough, they'll tow your car away, usually to the parking lot behind the National Palace of Culture.

• It might also be useful to know that if someone flashes their lights at you, it means that they expect you to get out of the way and not that they are going to let you go first. It also is the Bulgaria travel warning: Police ahead!

• For Bulgaria travel, drive on the right, overtake on the left, cross only when the traffic light is green, and give right-of-way to vehicles approaching from the right at crossroads and to buses in urban areas. Wearing of seat belts is compulsory.

• Please bear in mind that horse-drawn carts, motorcycles, and scooters can sometimes be found on major roads driving at night without lights. Please be very alert when driving at night.

• Be very careful while driving in cities and drive as slowly as possible and watch out for the infamous Bulgarian potholes, especially in the winter season when the roads tend to freeze.

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