It will fascinate you with its fantastic creativity, squeezing so much beauty onto such a tiny land - curious rock formations and mysterious caves; sunny seashores with golden sands, quiet coves and romantic capes; majestic mountains with fiery peaks, mirror lakes and shady woods full of scent.
Getting here by plane
Bulgaria and Varna are part of the international flight network, and there are direct flights to Varna from most capitals of Europe.Flight services to Bulgaria are growing and we'll keep an eye open for new options when they start. The “Open Skies” requirement for EU entry will soon open the doors to the cheap carriers, such as those servicing Spain.
British Airways
New BA Low Cost Service to Varna! BA will be operating a new direct flight service to Varna from Oct 29th 2006, from Heathrow For Flights are Thursdays and Sundays. Plus combined flights with Malev Airways through Budapest.
For more information, please visit www.BA.com
Malev
The Hungarian national carriers do good value (around £235 return) flights out of London Heathrow and out of Stanstead to Varna. To book online, go to Malev Airlines at www.malev.com
Bulgaria air
Bulgaria Air do good value scheduled flights out of Gatwick. Below is their timetable for this summer. Bulgaria Air Contact info - e-mail: mail@balkanair.co.uk, tel: 020 7637 7637, for online booking go to: www.air.bg
Charter flights & tour operators
Balkan Holidays www.balkanholidays.co.uk
First Choice www.firstchoice.co.uk
Thomson www.thomson.co.uk
Low cost
www.easyjet.com
www.wizzair.com
General flight search companies
Marie Travel Specialists in Bulgaria www.maritravel.co.uk tel: +44 (0)207 100 3184
Travelocity www.travelocity.com
Expedia www.expedia.com
Tips for Driving TO - and - IN Bulgaria
Crossing countries
It is more different crossing the countries of former Yugoslavia; it is recommended to use the route Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Sofia-Varna. The roads are first class, most of them highways.
Insurance has to be made in advance or paid at the border.
Cars (self-drive and chauffeur driven) may be rented at the border checkpoints and in all tourist offices throughout the country.
Foreigners may drive in Bulgaria using their national driving license
(though, should you stay longer than six months, it must be translated and legalized), but most of the neighbouring countries require an international license.
It is required to have third-party insurance
plus a "Green" or "Blue" card - the latter can be bought at the frontier.
Entering Bulgaria, your vehicle will be registered
with a special "visa tag" or carnet de passage which must be presented on leaving.
Upon arrival in Bulgaria, an entrance fee is payable on all motor vehicles
(car/van US$10; minibus seating 8 or more US$60), plus a disinfection fee (car US$2; van/minibus US$4) - though EU citizens are exempt from the former charge.
Bulgarian Speed Limits
50 km/h in populated areas, 90 km/h outside populated areas, 120 km/h on highways
Road signs follow international standards
But If you want to explore Bulgaria better take dual language map because most of the small town signs are only in Cyrillic.
Be very alert when driving at night
Bear in mind that horse-drawn carts, motorcycles and scooters can sometimes be encountered on major roads driving at night without lights.
DO NOT drink and drive
For tested levels in excess of 1.2 per 1,000, there is a maximum prison sentence of one year in addition to a license suspension for up to four years.
Road Assistance Service
Provides 24-hour technical assistance on the road. In case of malfunction or accident, call 146 (or cellular(+359) (0)48 146). The Central Dispatch Office is located at 3 Pozitano St. in Sofia, Tel. (+359) 2 980 33 08 and is open 24 hours a day.
Visa requirements for UK nationals
UK passport holders, endorsed British Citizen, do not need a visa to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days in a six-month period. Passports should be valid for the period of intended stay. Other UK passport holders require a visa and a passport that is valid for at least six months.
Visa requirements for Irish nationals
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland do not need a visa to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days within a six-month period. A passport valid for the period of intended stay is required.
Visa/Passport Note
Visitors must have proof of sufficient funds or onward or return tickets in addition to other documents needed for the next destination. Valid health insurance is required. All visitors to Bulgaria must register as foreigners at a local police station within two days of arrival, as a dated registration slip has to be submitted when leaving the country. From 1 January 2006 all children entering Bulgaria are required to have their own passport.
Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice
Travelers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate. The Bulgarian Embassy in London can be contacted at +44 (0)207 584 9400 and the British Embassy in Sofia +359 2 933 9290.
Getting here by plane
Bulgaria and Varna are part of the international flight network, and there are direct flights to Varna from most capitals of Europe.Flight services to Bulgaria are growing and we'll keep an eye open for new options when they start. The “Open Skies” requirement for EU entry will soon open the doors to the cheap carriers, such as those servicing Spain.
British Airways
New BA Low Cost Service to Varna! BA will be operating a new direct flight service to Varna from Oct 29th 2006, from Heathrow For Flights are Thursdays and Sundays. Plus combined flights with Malev Airways through Budapest.
For more information, please visit www.BA.com
Malev
The Hungarian national carriers do good value (around £235 return) flights out of London Heathrow and out of Stanstead to Varna. To book online, go to Malev Airlines at www.malev.com
Bulgaria air
Bulgaria Air do good value scheduled flights out of Gatwick. Below is their timetable for this summer. Bulgaria Air Contact info - e-mail: mail@balkanair.co.uk, tel: 020 7637 7637, for online booking go to: www.air.bg
Charter flights & tour operators
Balkan Holidays www.balkanholidays.co.uk
First Choice www.firstchoice.co.uk
Thomson www.thomson.co.uk
Low cost
www.easyjet.com
www.wizzair.com
General flight search companies
Marie Travel Specialists in Bulgaria www.maritravel.co.uk tel: +44 (0)207 100 3184
Travelocity www.travelocity.com
Expedia www.expedia.com
Tips for Driving TO - and - IN Bulgaria
Crossing countries
It is more different crossing the countries of former Yugoslavia; it is recommended to use the route Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Sofia-Varna. The roads are first class, most of them highways.
Insurance has to be made in advance or paid at the border.
Cars (self-drive and chauffeur driven) may be rented at the border checkpoints and in all tourist offices throughout the country.
Foreigners may drive in Bulgaria using their national driving license
(though, should you stay longer than six months, it must be translated and legalized), but most of the neighbouring countries require an international license.
It is required to have third-party insurance
plus a "Green" or "Blue" card - the latter can be bought at the frontier.
Entering Bulgaria, your vehicle will be registered
with a special "visa tag" or carnet de passage which must be presented on leaving.
Upon arrival in Bulgaria, an entrance fee is payable on all motor vehicles
(car/van US$10; minibus seating 8 or more US$60), plus a disinfection fee (car US$2; van/minibus US$4) - though EU citizens are exempt from the former charge.
Bulgarian Speed Limits
50 km/h in populated areas, 90 km/h outside populated areas, 120 km/h on highways
Road signs follow international standards
But If you want to explore Bulgaria better take dual language map because most of the small town signs are only in Cyrillic.
Be very alert when driving at night
Bear in mind that horse-drawn carts, motorcycles and scooters can sometimes be encountered on major roads driving at night without lights.
DO NOT drink and drive
For tested levels in excess of 1.2 per 1,000, there is a maximum prison sentence of one year in addition to a license suspension for up to four years.
Road Assistance Service
Provides 24-hour technical assistance on the road. In case of malfunction or accident, call 146 (or cellular(+359) (0)48 146). The Central Dispatch Office is located at 3 Pozitano St. in Sofia, Tel. (+359) 2 980 33 08 and is open 24 hours a day.
Visa requirements for UK nationals
UK passport holders, endorsed British Citizen, do not need a visa to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days in a six-month period. Passports should be valid for the period of intended stay. Other UK passport holders require a visa and a passport that is valid for at least six months.
Visa requirements for Irish nationals
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland do not need a visa to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days within a six-month period. A passport valid for the period of intended stay is required.
Visa/Passport Note
Visitors must have proof of sufficient funds or onward or return tickets in addition to other documents needed for the next destination. Valid health insurance is required. All visitors to Bulgaria must register as foreigners at a local police station within two days of arrival, as a dated registration slip has to be submitted when leaving the country. From 1 January 2006 all children entering Bulgaria are required to have their own passport.
Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice
Travelers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate. The Bulgarian Embassy in London can be contacted at +44 (0)207 584 9400 and the British Embassy in Sofia +359 2 933 9290.
