Bulgaria - useful information

Bulgaria

Republic of Bulgaria is a country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. With a territory of 110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi), Bulgaria is Europe's 16th-largest country.
The population of Bulgaria is about 7 400 000 people; 1 500 000 live in the capital – Sofia.

Time:

Greenwich Mean Time + 2 hours, Central European Time + 1 hour

Electricity:

220-240 V., 50 Hz.
The electricity plug is an European standard.

Phone Calls & Telecommunications:

The international dialing code for Bulgaria is (+359).
There are 3 GSM operators in Bulgaria that you can roam with: Mtel, Telenor and Vivacom. Please contact your provider for further details.

Currency Information:

The official currency in Bulgaria is LEV. The exchange rate is 1 Euro = 1.95583 Lev. Bulgarian LEV is pegged to the euro at a rate of 1.95583 levŠ° for 1 euro. It is advisable to exchange foreign currencies in money exchange offices or in bank offices.

Credit Cards:

The main international credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shopping centers, car rental offices and restaurants. The stickers on the shop-windows or at the hotel entrances will provide you with information which credit cards are accepted.

Water:

Tap water is safe to drink.

Weather:

The month of September is characterized by rapidly falling daily high temperatures, with daily highs decreasing from 26°C to 21°C over the course of the month, exceeding 31°C or dropping below 15°C only one day in ten. Daily low temperatures range from 9°C to 13°C, falling below 5°C or exceeding 16°C only one day in ten.

Official Language:

The official language is Bulgarian.

English, German, French and Russian are fairly spoken as well. 

Religion:

The main religion in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox; other - Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, etc.

Shops:

Shops are normally open every day from 10:00h till 20:00h including Saturday and Sunday from 11:00h till 14:00h, in shopping centers from 10:00h till 22:00h. There are also food stores open 24h.

Emergency Telephone Number:

 112 - for Ambulance, Fire Department and Police.

Tipping:

In restaurants and hotels, taxis or other services, tipping is customary if you are pleased with the service. Approximately 10% of the bill is a good guideline.

Nature

The natural landscape of Bulgaria is diverse, consisting of lowlands, plains, foothills and plateaus, river valleys, basins, and mountains of varying elevations. About 70% of the country’s territory is hilly land and 30% is mountainous. The average elevation of the country’s territory is 467 m, generally decreasing from south to north and from west to east. The average elevation of Sofia is 500 m.

History

The territory of Bulgaria has been inhabited since antiquity, as the country’s many ancient settlements and burial mounds attest. Present-day Bulgaria was a cradle of some of the earliest civilizations in Europe – the oldest gold ornament ever discovered, unearthed in the Chalcholite necropolis near Varna, is evidence of that. From the age of Ancient Thrace we have inherited valuable cultural monuments, including tombs (such as the Kazanlak tomb, the Aleksandrovska tomb, and the Sveshtarska tomb); treasures (the Panagyursko, Rogozensko, and Valchitransko teasures, among others); and sanctuaries and temples (at Perperikon, Starosel, Kozi Gramadi, Begliktash, and elsewhere). Part of the ancient cultural monuments and treasure could be seen in National Historical Museum in Sofia.

Traditional Cuisine

Bulgarian cuisine is exceptionally diverse and delicious, consisting of various salads, breadstuffs, stews, and other local dishes. Many of the dishes are prepared according to traditional recipes handed down from generation to generation over the centuries.
The products which Bulgaria is internationally known for are yogurt and white brine (feta) cheese. These are almost always present on Bulgarian tables in one form or another.