Customs
Whether you're inspected by customs officers depends on how you enter the country but bona fide tourists are generally left alone. If you're travelling between Bulgaria and another EU country, then normal EU rules on what you can import or export apply. You are allowed to bring into Bulgaria gifts up to the value of 175, plus up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 1L of spirits, 2L of wine and 50ml of perfume. If you enter or leave the country with more than 8000 lv on you in any currency , you must...
Unusual Souvenirs
If you're looking for a souvenir of your time among the Bulgars and garish trinket boxes and amateur daubs of twee, timber-framed houses just won't do, there are plenty of more tasteful mementos for you to pick up. Hand-painted icons make a particularly evocative reminder of your stay though often expensive, they do involve a huge amount of skill and time. How about a patterned chergal These traditional, hand-woven rugs make a colourful addition to any room and, again, involve a great deal of...
Sights Activities Kwg
Silistra's prime position on the Danube has attracted a bewildering amount of invaders and occupants, from Thracians, Romans, Greeks, Bulgars, Russians, Romanians and Turks, all of whom built citadels and fortresses in or near the town. The ruins of the ancient Roman city of Durostorum, one of Silistra's previous incarnations, lie along the street between the mall and river. The Turkish Medzhitabiya Fortress built in 1848 is closed but the forested park surrounding it offers relaxed hiking. The...
TRAIN Yyh
Most visitors travel to from Romania by train and either start from or go through Ruse. The Bulgaria Express runs between Sofia and Moscow, via Bucharest and Kiev, daily. The journey from Sofia to Bucharest takes around 12 hours. Every day in summer, a train from Burgas and another from Varna connects with a train leaving Ruse for Bucharest 15 hours , which carries on towards Prague. Also, every day in summer the Sofia-Saratov service travels to Bucharest. It departs from Sofia at 3.20pm and...
Open Market
Kazanlak's pazar or open market see the boxed text, opposite is a very entertaining, dusty, all-purpose place that offers a truly characteristic Balkan shopping experience -if you happen to be around on a Tuesday or Friday, the market's busiest days, make sure to stop by. Hadzhi Eminova Kashta 62 595 bul Nikola Petkov 22 s d apt 20 25 40 Iv This established guesthouse offers big, traditionally furnished rooms featuring woollen quilts, and overlooking an authentic 19th-century walled compound....
Info Vqo
Major military defeats inflicted on the Turks by the Austrian army encourage widespread armed revolt in northern Bulgaria, but the Second Tarnovo Uprising - as it became known - is swiftly put down. A Short History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich is an absorbing overview of the medieval Byzantine Empire by one of the world's leading experts in the field. The Crusade of Varna 1443-45 by Colin Imber is a thorough academic investigation into this calamitous period, including eyewitness...
Montana Mohtaha
The main transport hub for Chiprovtsi or Lopushanski Monastery, this prosaic large town set between Vratsa and Vidin has nothing in common with its accidental American namesake. There are manageable rooms at the Montana Hotel 626 803 pi Slaveikov s d with TV 30 40 Iv if you choose to linger, though an overnight stay is not really warranted. That said, one pleasant enough local diversion along the road from Montana to Lopushanski Monastery is the Montana Reservoir, popular for swimming and...
Sleeping Opu
Bansko has over 100 choices of accommodation, ranging from simple private rooms to five-star luxury hotels. Discreet camping is possible in the nearby Pirin National Park pl24 . While most foreigners come on package tours, independent bookings are possible the Tourist Information Center pl27 , which finds rooms for all budgets, is happy to help. Book well in advance for the ski season, when rates are at least 25 higher than those listed here and even higher during the Christmas and New Year's...
AROUND RILA MONASTERY St Lukes Hermitage St Ivans Cave
About 3.7km northeast of Rila Monastery, on the road to Kiril Meadow, a left-hand trail leads to St Luke's Hermitage look for Sveti Ivan's picture by the steps. Built in 1798, the hermitage features a large courtyard and the Church of Sveti Luka. Take the trail for about 15 minutes to St Ivan's Cave, where Ivan Rilski lived and is buried. Legend states that anyone able to pass through the aperture in the cave's roof has not sinned the generous size of the hole would seem to indicate that...
Wine Routes
This tour takes you through Bulgaria's most famous wine-producing regions, and to wineries where you can sample some of the country's best vino. Start in Varna, at the sumptuous Chateau Euxinograde p66 . Here, at the former Bulgarian royal palace, you can marvel at its century-old wine cellar while sampling a delicate white from the Black Sea coastal plain. From here, head west along the Danube to atmospheric Ruse p267 , where you can try a glass or two of northern Bulgaria's signature red,...
Getting There Away Wjb
Buses leave from the well-organised and helpful main bus station 884 009 , known as the tsentralna aftogara, and from the adjacent Chastna Aftogara 831 132 , which has buses to Sofia, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Petrich, Dupnitsa and Plovdiv. Ascertain which station you need when buying the ticket. The main bus station also has a left-luggage office S 6am-7pm,per bag 0.50 lv . Buses travel hourly 6.30am to 6pm from Blagoevgrad to Sofia 7 lv, two hours via Dupnitsa, but more come through en route...
Eating Drinking Xhr
Starata Kashta ul Studenska 2 mains 4-7 Iv S 4.30pm-2am Also known as the Pamporovata Kashta, this place offers a short menu of grills and salads. The attractive National Revival-style house built in 1840 has a few rough-hewn, log cabin-style outdoor tables and benches. It's up the steps from bul Bulgaria. Rodopski Kat bul Bulgaria 3 mains 5-8 Iv S 7am-2am This new restaurant, wedged between the Hotel Smolyan and Hotel Kiparis, is excellent for traditional Rodopean fare. Riben Dar 63 220 ul...
The Enchanted Pipe Of Bai Mihail
Near the end of WWI, a young man from Chepelare named Mihail was dispatched to the front, along with six fellow Rodopean friends. Bulgaria had been at war almost continuously for six years, and the exhausted, dismayed young men resolved to desert. However, they were caught by the military police, and condemned to death for treason. When told to make his final request before being executed, Mihail said 'Just bring me my gayda so I can play one last song.' The goatskin bagpipe was duly brought,...
Pripoden Park
Also known as Kyoshkovete Park, this large, 3930-hectare park on Shumen's western edge has some modest, shaded hiking trails. You'll see and hear the humming of the city's most famous product being made at the nearby Shumensko Pivo Brewery. Days of Shumen Cultural Festival Mid-May Watermelon Festival Last Sunday in August Hotel Pazara 0887292756 ul Maritsa 15 d 30-40 Iv JJ The plain Pazara, just north of bul Simeon Veliki, is simply a set of clean but characterless rooms some with shared...
Wonders Of Nature Unexplored Treasures Of The Kotel Area
With its magnificent setting amidst gorgeous mountains and forests, Kotel is an ideal base for hiking, caving, bird-watching and other outdoor activities. Several villages around it, such as Zheravna, Katunishte and Medven, though smaller and less developed than Kotel, are increasingly becoming popular for their proximity to various unique and captivating natural attractions. First of all, if coming to Kotel from Sliven, make sure to drive or take a bus that follows the mountain road, and not...
HIKING Lxt
Hiking from Maliovitsa involves a network of hizhas that lead to and from what seem to be foreign visitors' favourite southwestern natural attraction, the Seven Rila Lakes Sedemte Rilski Ezera . These glittering turquoise lakes, small but exquisitely beautiful, are strung out like jewels across rolling meadows in the central Rila Mountains. While Maliovitsa's hiking trails heading there are well-marked, consider buying Kartografia's detailed Rila map. Reaching the lakes, and their hizha...
Festivals Events Nbq
International Plovdiv Fair mid-May amp late September Week-long festival held in the massive fairgrounds Map pi40 553 146 bul Tsar Boris III Obedinitel 37 , located north of the river. Cultural Month Festival late May-mid-July Performances and exhibits of opera, literature, painting and events celebrating the greatness of Bulgarian history. Verdi Festival earlyJune Two-weekfestivalof opera concerts in the Roman amphitheatre, featuring Bulgarian and international singers. International Festival...
BUS Pis
The Yug bus station 828 151 ul Pristanishtna , about 2.5km south of the city centre, has regular buses to Sofia 10 lv, five hours , Veliko Tarnovo 5 lv, two hours , Burgas 11 lv, AVi hours , Shumen 5.40 lv, two hours , Varna 11 lv, four hours and Plovdiv 12 lv, six hours . Also, one or two daily public buses go to Gabrovo and Pleven, and two to Dobrich. Buses and minibuses leave for Silistra 5 lv, about two hours every hour or so. To get to the station, take trolleybus 25 or bus 11 or 12 from...
Serbia 1
Samokovo OKIisura sapareva ' Borovets Ban a Govedartsi S3 Mal ovitsa ouo Hizha Vihren Hgj Hizha Bander t5a Pof na L ka Mt Vihren Hizha Yane Q 2915m 0Kovachevitsa j m Rozhen Got li Monastery Delchev ' Devino Kul uvlstsa0Chepelare iiorino -'hirol a LuI a0 pamporouo . - Throat MomchilovtsiO agoainaO , H zna 3 Smoljan Trigraao Ferelik
Info Lcv
Sofia airport 937 2211 www.sofia-airport.bg is located 12km southeast of the city centre. Minibus 30 shutdes between the airport and pi Nezavisimost for a flat fare of 1.50 lv you can pick it up outside the Sheraton Hotel. Less convenient are bus 84 from Terminal 1 and bus 284 from Terminal 2 which handles the bulk of international flights , both of which take a slow and meandering route before depositing you opposite Sofia University. When you emerge into the arrivals hall you will immediately...
Glossary
For food and drink terms see the Food amp Drink chapter p55 . For general terms see the Language chapter p309 . aleya - alley, lane apteka - chemist or pharmacy avtogara - bus station Balkantourist - the former government-run tourism organisation balneology - therapeutic bath of mineral waters, often enjoyed in a balneocentre banya - bath often signifies mineral baths in general BDZh - abbreviation forthe Bulgarian State Railways besplaten - free of charge bul - abbreviation of bulevard main...
Hiking In The Sredna Gora
The Sredna Gora Central Range mountains are spread over 6000 sq km from Iskar Gorge near Sofia to the Tundzha Valley south of Yambol . The highest peak is Mt Bogdan 1603m near Koprivshtitsa. The Mountains of Bulgaria by Julian Perry provides a detailed description of the popular two-or three-day hike from Hisar Hisarya to Koprivshtitsa or vice versa . No dedicated map of the Sredna Gora is available, but most of the mountains and hiking routes are included in the map of Stara Planina that is...
Varna Bapha
Bulgaria's third city and maritime capital, Varna is by far the most interesting and cosmopolitan town on the Black Sea coast, and a definite highlight of the region. A strange yet harmonious combination of port city, naval base and seaside resort, it's an appealing place to while away a few days, packed with history yet thoroughly modern, with an enormous park to amble round and a lengthy beach to lounge on. One of the most dynamic and fast-growing Bulgarian cities, it has experienced a...
Kavarna Kabapha
Kavarna, 17km east of Balchik, is a sleepy administrative town of little interest itself, although today it's famous in Bulgaria as the venue for the Kaliakra Rock Fest www.kaliakrarock fest.com , which attracts international acts every June, and its small beach is pleasant enough. It's also the most practical base for anyone wishing to explore the Kaliakra Cape opposite . The pedestrianised ul Dobrotitsa, running south from the bus station, is where you'll find the post office, banks and caf...
Other Sights 1
The Church of Uspenie Bogorodichno Church of the Dormition of the Virgin on ul Dimcho Debelyanov, built in 1817, is usually closed, but visitors can peer through the window and wander around the gardens. The church grounds contain Kableshkov'sgrave, and, in the upper section, Debelyanov's grave. A poignant statue features Debelyanov's mother anxiously awaiting his return, and reads 'I die and am yet born again in light.' Beside the park along ul Hadzhi Nencho Palaveev is the Sveta Kiril amp...
Pelelanovska Konak
The tourist offices in Chepelare or Smolyan can book private rooms in Chepelare from 20 lv per person with shared bathroom . Hotel prices increase significandy in winter. Hotel Phoenix 3408 ul Murgavets 4 s d 15 30 Iv About 200m up ul Vasil Dechev from the square, the Phoenix offers simple, spotless rooms with TV, along with a traditional restaurant. Hotel Savov 2036 ul Vasil Dechev 7 d tr apt from 30 40 50 Iv g Opposite the Hebros Bank, this comfortable place offers large, airy doubles, and...
Budget 1
Sasha Khristov's Private Rooms 0888759174 ul Venets 17 rfrom 25 Iv This lovely old family home in the old town faces the art gallery at the very end of the Sozopol peninsula. It comprises good-sized rooms and a large apartment. Book ahead in summer. Ani Dimitrova's Rooms 22 753 ul Anaksimandar 12a r 30-40 Iv Typical private-room setup in a large and comfortable home run by the friendly, but non-English-speaking Ani. The basic but clean rooms sleep up to four people and have private showers....
ToFrom Romania 1
The Ruse-based company Ovonesovi 821 964 runs two minibuses to Bucharest daily, leaving the Yug bus station at 6.30am and 2pm. Tickets are 20 lv one-way or 30 lv return. Buy them either at the station or at Ovonesovi's office on pi Borisova, in front of city hall on the corner of ul Panov. These buses return from Romania at 10.30am and 4.15pm from the Hotel Horoskop on Bucharest's Piazza Uniri. A Romanian company also runs two daily buses from Ruse to Bucharest, at 11.30am and 4.30pm for...
Art Galleries 1
Plovdiv's large and thriving artistic community continues creating and sustaining the city's many galleries - already bursting with the fruits of 200 years of Bulgarian painting. On 28 September each year, the magical Night of the Galleries sees every Plovdiv gallery open, for free, from 8pm to 3am. Encho Pironkov City Gallery of Fine Arts Map p142 ul Vasil Konchev 1 admission 1 lv S9am-12.30pm amp 1 -5.30pmMon-Fri, 10am-5.30pmSat displays Bulgarian modern art. It's down a small laneway...
Sights 1
The Madara National Historical amp Archaeological Reserve 2095 adult student4 1 Iv S 8.30am-7,30pm surrounds the so-called Madara Horseman Madarski Konnik . Carved into a cliff 23m above the ground, the bas-relief features a mounted figure spearing a lion and followed by a dog. It was an early-8th-century creation, made to commemorate the victorious Khan Tervel, and, more profoundly, the creation of the First Bulgarian Empire 681-1018 . As Bulgaria's only known medieval rock carving, it's...
Buying Property In Bulgaria
The Bulgarian property market is booming as never before prices rose by as much as 27 in the second quarter of 2007 - the second-highest recorded rise anywhere in the world - and they show no sign of dipping. Prices are being pushed up by foreign investors Brits especially have been flocking to the country in search of holiday homes, lured by low prices and the promise of long, hot summers by the sea, snowy winters in the expanding ski resorts and rustic country idylls. By Western standards,...
Celebrations
Festivals throughout Bulgaria invariably involve eating and drinking, and there are often particular meals prepared for each holiday. One age-old custom is the baking of special loaves of bread, for example for saints' days, each marked with a distinctive design and used in some elaborate ritual you'll see these displayed in ethnographic museums. On 28 February Horse Easter , for example, women in rural communities traditionally bake bread in the shape of horseshoes, which are then fed to...
Hostels
Hostel Turisticheska Spalnya Map p88 s 983 6181 www.ts-hostel.com ul TsarSimeon 63 dm dfrom 9 14 This bright, clean hostel is in a great central location and offers pleasant, high-ceilinged dorms of between three and five beds, as well as a double room and modern bathrooms. Sofia Backpackers' Inn Map p88 S 9831672 www .sofiabackpackersinn.dir.bg ul Struma 6 dm d ind breakfast from 9 25 S Small, friendly hostel, with English-speaking staff, on a quiet side street off bul Maria Luisa. There are a...
Sveti Vlas Cbeth Bjac
Just 5km north of Sunny Beach Slanchev Bryag , Sveti Vlas is one of the latest holiday resort developments on the Black Sea coast. Originally settled by the Thracians, who called it Larisa, it was renamed in honour of the patron saint of cattle farmers in the 14th century, but there are few obvious signs of its history today. Instead, everywhere you look, a new multistorey hotel or apartment complex is shooting up, and in 2007 Bulgaria's first private marina, with space for 300 yachts, was...