Republic of Bulgaria: attractions, their photos. Tours to Bulgaria: prices, reviews. Bulgaria, map of Bulgaria Business card of Bulgaria

A Bulgarian fairy tale says that when God is in a good mood, he paints the world with three colors - yellow, blue and green. Undoubtedly, the country of Bulgaria is one of the masterpieces of the Almighty, here there is an abundance of all three colors. Blue sea and cloudless sky, endless yellow sandy beaches. And how much greenery there is in Bulgaria!

Another Bulgarian fairy tale tells that when God gave people natural treasures, the Bulgarians came last. They were very busy, because they worked a lot, and they no longer got anything. (We can also add that the Bulgarians are very leisurely by nature.) God praised the Bulgarians for their diligence and gave them a little of everything from heaven.

Beautiful fairy tales that are very similar to the truth. Bulgaria is real paradise on our planet!

Bulgaria is located on the Balkan Peninsula and borders on the north with Romania, on the west with Serbia and Macedonia, on the south on Greece and Turkey. But historians say that Bulgaria is the only country in the world that borders itself on all sides. The country lost many of its lands as a result of the aggressive wars of its neighbors. This fact only confirms the idea that Bulgaria is real paradise on Earth, which many dreamed of taking possession of, and also the fact that the Bulgarians are peace-loving and good-natured people.

Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe where such a variety of natural landscapes can be found. About 30% of the country's territory is occupied by plains, 30% is also in mountain ranges, and the rest is foothills. The Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), Rhodope, Rila and Pirin give Bulgaria the reputation of a real mountain power.

Even if there is a completely flat landscape outside the car window, then there is definitely a Mountain peaks. The most high point Bulgaria - peak Musala, mountain height 2925 meters above sea level.

There are many rivers in Bulgaria, but they are all small and shallow (we do not take into account the spring period, when they can turn into giant streams and sweep away everything in their path.) Many rivers have reservoirs. The only navigable river flowing along the northern border of Bulgaria is the Danube. Mountain rivers are surrounded by canyons, some of which are equipped with ecological trails with bridges and stairs for tourists. There are hundreds of waterfalls in Bulgaria, the highest of which falls from a height of 124.5 meters.

260 lakes in Bulgaria are one more beautiful than the other.

Bulgaria is famous for its wide variety of summer and winter resorts; holidays in this hospitable country attract tourists from all over Europe.

Bulgaria has magnificent sandy beaches; for their cleanliness, they are awarded the famous “blue flag” every year. Favorable temperature conditions for health, low salinity of water in the Black Sea, and the absence of dangerous representatives of flora and fauna make the Bulgarian coast one of the most attractive places for recreation and permanent residence.

Winter lovers ski types sports are invited by the comfortable slopes of well-equipped resorts.

In modern Bulgaria, many cities have appeared that can compete with the leading resorts in Europe in terms of comfort and service. One of these places is the town and largest yacht port on the Black Sea, Marina Dinevi.

In the mountainous regions of Bulgaria there are many medicinal and mineral springs. Currently there are 110 officially operating in the country various resorts. A network of 3 national parks, 10 natural parks and 97 nature reserves has been created. There are 260 lakes and a huge number of small rivers in Bulgaria. The air of Bulgaria is impossible to describe; you have to breathe it to understand how clean and fresh it can be!

Who in the world has not heard about the famous Bulgarian roses? There are few of these. But few people know that thousands of white swans winter on the Bulgarian coast in winter! Swans from northern European countries and ... pensioners fly to Bulgaria for the winter.

For lovers of cultural treasures, Bulgaria offers a huge number of monuments to see. Of the 911 cultural monuments and natural phenomena protected by UNESCO, nine are located on the territory of Bulgaria.

Most Big city Bulgaria - the capital Sofia with a population of about 1,400,000. The second largest is Plovdiv, the number of inhabitants is about 350,000. Third place went to the seaside capital of Varna, the number of residents of Varna is approaching 350,000. The fourth was Burgas with a population of 305,000 people.

The numbers make Muscovites smile. Not many people live in Bulgaria at all. Deer and bears often inhabit large areas of huge reserves. In Bulgaria, they try not to build residential buildings higher than 5 floors - they save on elevators, and there is enough territory for development in this country. This is probably why Bulgaria is good - the full power of civilization has not yet reached here. Small quiet cities, and a calm, quiet life in them.

But the most important wealth of the country is the Bulgarians themselves, amazingly cheerful and hospitable people. The country of Bulgaria is considered one of the poorest in the European Union, but this is fully compensated by the generosity of the Bulgarian soul and low prices for absolutely everything.

Bulgaria surprisingly carefully preserves its rich national traditions. On holidays, the streets and squares are filled with music and everyone, young and old, dances! In Bulgaria, there are ancient monuments at every step, they harmoniously coexist with modern resorts and hotels. Folk music plays in restaurants, tourists who come on vacation enthusiastically learn to dance horo and go to the village to watch dancing on the coals.

Once upon a time, small Bulgaria was called “Balkan Prussia,” and it was an apt description. However, those times have already been completely forgotten, and now Bulgaria is a hospitable Balkan country, where more than 3.5 million tourists come annually to relax on Black Sea coast or go skiing in the Rhodope and Rila mountains.

Geography

Bulgaria is located on the Balkan Peninsula, in the north it borders with Romania (the border runs along the Danube River), in the west with Serbia and ancient Macedonia, in the south with Greece and Turkey, and in the east it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. The total length of this country is more than 110 square meters. km.

Almost half of Bulgaria's territory is occupied by mountains. The most beautiful of the mountain ranges is Pirin, and the most high mountain Bulgaria - Musala (its height is 2,925 meters).

Capital

The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia, whose population now amounts to more than 1.4 million people. The history of Sofia begins around the 8th century BC. e. – then there was a large Thracian city on this territory.

Official language

The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, which, according to linguists, belongs to the southern subgroup of Slavic languages. The Bulgarian language began to take shape during the time of the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius (9th century).

Religion

About 76% of the population of Bulgaria is Orthodox (Greek Catholic Church). Another 10% of the population professes Islam, its Sunni branch. Approximately 2% of Bulgarians are Catholics and Protestants.

State structure

Bulgaria is a parliamentary democratic republic, its Constitution was adopted on July 12, 1991. On this moment Bulgaria includes 28 provinces, including metropolitan region Sofia.

The head of state is the President, who is elected by direct universal suffrage. He has the right to veto legislative initiatives of the National Assembly.

The Parliament of Bulgaria is a unicameral National Assembly, in which 240 deputies sit.

Climate and weather

The climate in Bulgaria is temperate continental, with cold, wet, snowy winters alternating with dry, hot summers. In general, Bulgaria is very sunny country. The average temperature in April-September is + 23 C, and the average annual temperature is +10.5 C. On the Black Sea coast the climate is maritime, the average temperature in July is from +19C to +30C.

The best month for skiing in Bulgaria is January.

Sea in Bulgaria

Bulgaria in the east is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. Length coastline is 354 km. On the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, the first settlements appeared in the 5th century BC.

From the end of May to the end of September, the average temperature of the Black Sea near the Bulgarian coast is +25C.

Rivers and lakes

There are quite a few rivers in Bulgaria, the largest of which are the Danube, Maritsa, Tundzha, Iskar and Yantra. However, only the Danube is the only navigable river in Bulgaria (but navigation is still carried out on other Bulgarian rivers).

History of Bulgaria

The territory of modern Bulgaria was inhabited in ancient times. The state of Bulgaria itself has a 1,300-year history. In terms of the number of archaeological monuments, Bulgaria ranks third in the world (after Greece and Italy).

The earliest inhabitants of the Bulgarian lands are the Thracians, who were first mentioned by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. By the way, the legendary Spartacus, who started a slave uprising in Ancient Rome, was a Thracian by birth.

The first Bulgarian kingdom was created in the middle of the 7th century by the legendary Khan Asparukh, who united the Bulgars who came to the Balkans from Central Asia, and local Slavic tribes. It should be noted that Bulgaria was the first Slavic country to convert to Christianity (this happened in 864 AD). At the end of the 9th century, the Cyrillic alphabet became the official alphabet in Bulgaria.

In 1014, under the attacks of the troops of the Byzantine Empire, the First Bulgarian Kingdom collapsed. Only in 1185 was Bulgarian statehood restored, after the formation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. During the long reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241), Bulgaria reached the zenith of its glory, experiencing economic, religious and cultural prosperity.

However, at the end of the 14th century, the Ottoman Empire began to conquer the Bulgarian lands, and Bulgaria again lost its independence. The rule of the Turks in Bulgaria lasted for about five centuries.

Since the middle of the 19th century, Bulgaria waged numerous wars with Ottoman Empire for independence. Russian soldiers actively participated on the side of the Bulgarians in these wars. Finally, on September 22, 1908, independent Bulgaria was proclaimed.

After defeat in the First World War in Bulgaria in 1918, the authoritarian dictatorship of Tsar Boris III was created, which lasted until 1943.

During World War II, Bulgaria fought on the side of Germany, but after the death of Tsar Boris III, it abandoned the alliance with the Germans. After the end of World War II, the war was proclaimed People's Republic Bulgaria (this happened in September 1946).

In June 1990, Bulgaria held its first elections on a multi-party basis, and in November 1990 the country became the Republic of Bulgaria.

In 2004, Bulgaria joined NATO, and in 2007 it was admitted to the European Union.

Culture

The culture of Bulgaria was significantly influenced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. To this day, hundreds of historical monuments, built before our era.

Bulgarian folk holidays and customs go back to those distant times when people tried to appease the mysterious forces of nature with offerings. Bulgarian folklore is considered one of the richest in the Balkans. "Fire Dance" is an ancient religious ritual in Bulgaria. Barefoot people dance on smoldering coals, which, as Bulgarians believe, helps get rid of diseases.

To understand the Bulgarian culture, we advise tourists to visit the Rose Festival near the city of Kazanlak. This unique festival has been held for many years in a row. There is a legend that during the Roman Empire, 12 types of roses were grown on the territory of modern Bulgaria.

The most popular Bulgarian folklore festivals are “Pirin Sings” and “Rozhen Sings”. Every year these folk festivals are attended by a huge number of people (according to official data - more than 150 thousand people).

Among the most famous Bulgarian writers and poets, one must definitely name Ivan Vazov (1850-1921), Dimcho Debelyanov (1887-1916) and Dimitar Dimov (1909-1966).

Bulgarian cuisine

Bulgarian cuisine is close to traditional European cuisine, although, of course, it has its own characteristics. In many ways, Bulgarian cuisine is similar to the cuisine of Greece and Turkey. Traditional foods for Bulgarians are yogurt, milk, cheese, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, onions, eggplants, and fruits.

The most famous Bulgarian traditional dishes are vegetable “shopska salad”, gyuvech, “Pumpkin” pie, “katma” flatbread, cold “tarator” soup, hot “chorba” soup, kebab, moussaka, “sarmi” cabbage rolls, yakhnia, tomato salad “lyutenitsa”, as well as pastarma.

Among the Bulgarian desserts, we note gris halva, Rhodopean banitsa and apple pie.

In Bulgaria, yogurt, which is often served with various fruit and berry additives, and ayran are very popular.

Bulgaria is famous for its white and red wines, as well as rakia (vodka made from fruit). In addition, in Bulgaria they make mastic with a strength of 47 degrees, and mint liqueur menta.

Sights of Bulgaria

Tourists come to Bulgaria primarily to relax at beach resorts or ski in the puddles at ski resorts. However, in this ancient country with beautiful nature, tourists should definitely see its attractions. The top five most interesting sights in Bulgaria, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts

It is difficult to say which city in Bulgaria is the most ancient. Some of them were formed by the Greeks and Romans (for example, Balchik, Sofia, Varna and Sozopol).

At the moment, the largest Bulgarian cities are Sofia (more than 1.4 million people), Plovdiv (390 thousand people), Varna (350 thousand people), Burgos (about 220 thousand people), Rousse (more than 170 thousand people ) and Stara Zagora (170 thousand people).

Bulgaria is famous for its beaches and ski resorts.

Most Popular beach resorts– Albena, Dunes, Golden Sands, Burgas, Kranevo, Obzor, Rusalka and Sozopol. It should be noted that more than 97% of the Bulgarian coast meets EU environmental requirements.

There are no fewer ski resorts in Bulgaria than beach resorts. Among them are Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo, Semkovo, Kulinoto and Uzana. This means that the best Bulgarian ski resorts are in the Rodopi, Pirin and Rila mountains.

Souvenirs/shopping

• Kuker masks (these are folk masks that appeared in Bulgaria several centuries ago). In the early Middle Ages, cookers drove away evil spirits and invoked fertility. Masks are made from wood, leather, fur and feathers;
• paintings by local artists depicting traditional Bulgarian houses;
• handicrafts, especially wood, clay and ceramics;
• dolls in traditional Bulgarian clothes;
• embroidered products, including towels, tablecloths and napkins;
• copper coinage and copper turk;
• sweets (for example, Bulgarian Turkish delight and halva);
• products with rose water or rose oil;
• wines and strong alcoholic drinks.

Office hours

Stores operating in Bulgaria:

Mon-Fri: from 9.30 to 18.00

Sat: from 8:30 to 11:30.

Bank opening hours:
Mon-Fri: - from 9:00 to 15:00.

Volute exchange offices are open until 18:00 (but some are open 24 hours a day). You can exchange currency at the airport upon arrival or departure, or at the hotel.

Visa

I think that I, like most middle-aged people born during Soviet era, the name of this country invariably gives rise to nostalgic associations, including the heady smell familiar from childhood in a bottle of rose oil kept in my mother’s closet, wooden boxes of fruits and vegetables kindly grown on the plantations of the union state and languishing in fruit and vegetable warehouses, and, of course, the enchanting in the hearing of the Soviet average, the word “abroad”, by the standards of that time, was so highly valued in the circles of ordinary Crimean and Sochi holidaymakers.

By the way, my first memories of this Balkan country began with a large encyclopedia book “My Bulgaria”, found by a curious child on a shelf at the age of nine.

Then the history textbook told me that with the end of the landmark Soviet period in the history of Bulgaria, the times of active economic growth had passed, perestroika and democracy had safely passed the Bulgarian community. Pal iron curtain, opening up to people the vast expanses of the globe, parallels and meridians accessible to every suffering traveler, and alluring exotic resorts. Does this mean that sunny Bulgaria has sunk into oblivion and was completely forgotten by the Russians? No. On the contrary, our compatriots seemed to be captured by a wave of nostalgia for “those” times when simple resort joys made a person happy.

Five years ago, when I went to Bulgaria for the first time, I did not see the former deserted shores, only here and there I came across old socialist-looking boarding houses, like the skeletons of an extinct mammoth, unexpectedly peeking out from under the permafrost. Modern Bulgaria is a hospitable country on the Balkan Peninsula, attracting tourists from all over Europe with the optimal combination of service, price level and a large number of attractions.

Summer resorts in Bulgaria are considered large and small towns southeast coast overlooking the Black Sea: Pomorie, Albena, Varna. But don’t think that life in Bulgaria stops in winter, this small country It is also proud of its winter ski resorts, such as Pamporovo. Fans of active recreation can easily visit Bulgarian mountain regions and in the winter vacation, combining leisure with tranquility and enjoyment of the beautiful scenery. Bulgaria also occupies the prestigious third place in the world in terms of the number of mineral springs after Japan and Iceland.

It seems to me that the main charm of Bulgarian resorts, both winter and summer, is that they are able to satisfy the needs of any vacationer: a young student-adventurer, a respectable family man, an experienced wild traveler and even a prudent pensioner. You can vacation in this country at any time and on any budget, you just need to correctly calculate your financial strategy.

Visa and border crossing

Russians planning to visit Bulgaria are primarily concerned with the question: do they need a visa to enter its territory? visiting tourists, is there an agreement on state level O visa-free entry for Russians. The situation is fueled by discussions that pop up on the Internet every now and then, containing statements from top officials of the Bulgarian government that visas for Russians are about to be cancelled. But, as they say, things are still there.

Officially, since 2007, Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union, therefore, if you are not a citizen of an EU country, you can only enter Bulgaria with a visa issued in advance (not at the border). Therefore, the answer to the sacramental question is still disappointing: Russians will have to obtain tourist visas to Bulgaria in the same way as before. The only relief is that you can now enter the country via Schengen, which, however, should also be taken care of in advance.

Apply for a visa yourself or through an agency

So, the future Bulgarian tourist has two options: apply for a visa on his own or entrust this matter to an intermediary - a travel agency or travel agency. I want to make a reservation right away: I am entirely a supporter of the second option.

Before my first visit to Bulgaria, out of ignorance, I was faced with independently obtaining permission to visit the country, this automatically added bureaucratic difficulties to me as a tourist: it turned out that documents are accepted only through the consulate and only for a few hours a day, all the necessary papers must be collected in a certain sequence, it is possible that you will have to stand in a queue for many hours and end up submitting an application the third time. Please note: if you do not book the entire trip, but plan to travel “savage”, that is, rent accommodation on the spot, in order to obtain a visa you will be asked to provide a certificate from the bank stating that you have at least 500 € in cash (for a short visit to the country ) or a minimum of 50 € per day for one person (for a trip over 30 days).

Documents for a visa to Bulgaria

When applying for a visa, Russians submit a completed application and two photographs measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm. Since 2016, it is mandatory to take out medical insurance when traveling abroad.

Now about the price of the issue. If you apply for a visa yourself, you will need to pay a consular fee of 35 € (about 1,540 rubles) and a service fee of 836 rubles. Thus, the entire visa will cost 54 € (about 2370 rubles).

The situation is much more optimistic with obtaining a visa through an intermediary company. you give Required documents, pay the required amount and... that's it! If you find an inexpensive company, it will cost 50 € (approximately 3,200 rubles).
Compare both options, weigh your financial capabilities and nervous system reserves and - go ahead! Don’t forget to take your children with you, because if they are under 6 years old, the visa is issued free of charge! Personally, I always take the path of least resistance, entrusting the paperwork to competent persons.

Rules for import and export in Bulgaria

The rules for the import/export of goods and currency from abroad are quite democratic: only amounts over €2,500 need to be declared at the border. As far as I can remember, tourists have never been checked, the declared amount has not been checked with what you are actually carrying. Among those prohibited for import into the country is a short list of drugs, chemical weapons, ammunition and products that destroy the ozone layer. If you don’t have any of this, the green corridor is open to you!

How to get there

Bulgaria's convenient location in southeastern Europe makes it extremely attractive for Russian tourists. Today, Muscovites and residents of St. Petersburg are offered a choice of several ways to get to their Bulgarian brothers: plane, train or car (plus ferry). Residents of other cities will no longer be able to get to Bulgaria directly, so their flight and train options necessarily include a transfer.

By plane

The easiest way to travel to Bulgaria is by plane. For the last three years, this is exactly how I get to my summer dacha. This country has four international airport:

• in the country's capital Sofia,
• in the central city of Plovdiv,
• in Varna,
• in Burgas.

Therefore, regardless of the time of year and the resort, you can get to your destination from the airport. If desired, you can choose a regular flight operated by Aeroflot and Bulgaria Air, or a charter flight by Yamal and iPhone. Moreover, in addition to direct flight there is a route with a transfer in one of European cities(in this case the ticket price may be 30–50 € lower). There are direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Sofia, Burgas and Varna. Tourists from other cities will have to take a flight with a transfer in one of the capitals or in Moscow/St. Petersburg to get to Bulgaria.

How to save money on a flight

After joining the European Union, Bulgaria became a center international holiday European youth, and therefore such European low-cost airlines as WizzAir, Aer Lingus, Smart Wings, Condor and EasyJet fly there. Airfare varies greatly:

• Depending on the time of year: during the season, ticket prices increase greatly (from 40–50 € in May or October to 350–400 € in July–August).
• From the date of booking the ticket (again, you can save about 200–300 € by booking tickets at least six months in advance).

If you are planning a summer holiday in Bulgaria and want to stay here for the Velvet season, check with the travel company in advance which city you will have to fly from, because starting from October, flights from Burgas to Moscow and due to the closure of the season are stopped. In any case, the flight to Bulgaria does not last long (about 2-3 hours), and therefore it is very comfortable, almost like going to the countryside, only by plane.

You can view prices and flight schedules to Bulgaria.

By train

Until 2014, you could get to Bulgaria by train by purchasing a ticket for the Moscow-Sofia route (No. 59/60) that ran all year round. From May to October, a carriage was attached to the train, traveling to Burgas.

For the first two years, I came to Bulgaria in exactly this eccentric way. I felt like a nobleman who had gone “to the waters”: you were shaking in the compartment, looking out the window, boredom, in a word. For example, this old-fashioned way to get to a summer resort sunny Beach it was possible for about 150 €, spending three days in the compartment. After the events that took place in Ukraine, this train was canceled, so today lovers of leisurely travel by rail can only get from Russia to Bulgaria with a transfer in Budapest. I can’t say that this fact upsets me much: I’m not a fan of trains, and you must admit that three days in a compartment is too specific a pleasure.

By train to Bulgaria from neighboring countries

In addition to Russia, Bulgaria has railway connections with nearby countries: Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Yugoslavia. Personally, I have not yet used such a means of transportation, but I have seen the offices of the Rila agency at railway ticket offices and at all major stations selling international tickets from Bulgaria. In addition, Bulgaria is a member of major European railway alliances: City Star, InterRail, Balkan Flexipass, Rail Plus, within which you can buy a ticket and travel throughout Europe at uniform discounted rates. You can find out about the programs on the Bulgarian website railways.

By bus

Until 2014, a comfortable bus “Moscow - Burgas” ran weekly from Moscow (from the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station) throughout the year; the ticket price was 124 € one way and 198 € and 218 € round trip (up to 30 days and over 30 days of stay, respectively). However, I clarified that today, due to the situation in Ukraine, the route has been canceled for an indefinite period. I admit, I would not have decided to go to Bulgaria this way: long road, he’ll still get seasick, so good. And there are virtually no savings in terms of money.

It is more difficult to get from St. Petersburg by bus: due to the distance (about 56 hours of travel), there is no regular route; this service is offered only by tour operators who make organized trips to Bulgaria.

Bus service in Bulgaria itself is developed at a fairly high level. In addition to Romania, the bus will take you to any of the nearby countries: Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, as well as to more distant European countries - Hungary, Albania, Austria, Germany and France. Each city has a bus station where you can buy a ticket, the price of which varies from 20 to 150 € depending on the direction and distance.

By car

Car tourism is popular among families traveling, so Bulgaria can be reached by car; the distance from Sofia to Moscow is 2360 km. Sofia and Istanbul are separated by 563 km, with Bucharest – 379 km, with Belgrade – 387 km, and with Greek Thessaloniki this distance will be 318 km. When getting to Bulgaria via Romania, do not forget to issue transit visa through this country. If you want to avoid this, you should take the ferry from Ilyichevsk to Varna, which I will write about below.

In addition, if, while in Bulgaria, you want to travel, this can be done, since the country has the following automobile border crossings with neighboring countries: Turkey, Romania, Macedonia, Yugoslavia.

In recent years, due to the political situation in some neighboring countries, details of its car travel You should plan ahead when traveling around the territory of Ukraine. For example, this option of travel through Belarus, Poland and Romania is possible:

• the approximate travel time will be 36 hours (2800 kilometers);
• the journey begins from the A107 highway (on and);
• Due to the lack of personal experience, I recommend reading further details (gasoline costs, border crossing, communication with customs officers) in the reports of amateur motorists, which can be found on the Internet.

By ferry

For Russians who want to get to Bulgaria by water, the ferry line Varna - Ilyichevsk operates, transporting those interested every week; the cost of a one-way ticket includes accommodation in a cabin with three meals a day and is about $70. More full information You can find out about the schedule and prices of ferries on the website of the company engaged in regular transportation.

Large ferry crossings There is a connection with Romania across the Danube. The most popular among tourists is the bridge connecting Bulgarian city Vidin and Romanian Calafat.

The ticket cost is 3€, and if a car is transported, the cost is already 23€. In addition, a port tax of 2€ is paid separately. This method of arrival is suitable, in my opinion, for motorists traveling the distance to Bulgaria by personal transport.

Tourist regions

Bulgaria is a country with rich history. Almost every city has attractions and highlights of various kinds (see the chapter “Top Attractions”), while visiting which you can combine active, useful, and passive, relaxing types of recreation.

Conventionally, I would divide the country’s space into three regions:

You can find out the prices for tours to the winter and summer regions of Bulgaria at.

As an amateur independent travel, I book hotels on , and check if there are better offers somewhere. You can find your way around private rental offers for apartments and apartments.

Top cities

Top attractions

Bulgaria has an ancient history, so there is something to see here. It all depends on your preferences. I’ll try to divide the top attractions in Bulgaria into large blocks, which are called “by interests”.

Ruin

Despite the ironic word, these are my favorite attractions! Wandering through places where thousands of years ago there were cities and settlements is such a pleasure! But not for everyone.

So, there were many ancient cities on the territory of Bulgaria; I suggest you feel the spirit of antiquity in the following places:

Natural attractions

What nature creates often amazes the imagination. Picturesque valleys, dense forests, stone sculptures, winding caves, centuries old sand dunes- all these natural monuments have preserved their unique look, which is definitely worth seeing:

Cities of Russian military glory

Military history Bulgaria is closely connected with Russia. It makes me happy to think that the Russians more than once helped their Slavic brothers cope with the invaders. The pages of Bulgarian textbooks tell about the valiant warriors who set foot on this land.

Religion

Bulgaria, like Russia, professes Orthodoxy; on its territory you can see many churches and monasteries, worthy of attention. I was surprised that the attitude towards religion among the locals is still rather formal: they are allowed into the temple without a headscarf, they are allowed not to bother with appearance. The subtext seems to be: “Religion is in decline, so someone come in.” It is sad to see that in half-empty churches and monasteries the only visitors are Russian tourists who came here especially. Nevertheless, religious architectural monuments look very decent.

To summarize

In addition to iconic, famous attractions, Bulgaria has tens of hundreds of other, no less interesting places. Museums, churches, lakes, seaside parks, caves - no matter what region you travel to, you will certainly find something interesting for yourself.

Weather

The climate in Bulgaria varies from temperate continental (close to middle lane Russia) to the Mediterranean. Because of this, Russians, as a rule, do not have serious acclimatization in Bulgaria.

In general, the relationship of seasons in the country is familiar to us.
Summer tourist season opens in April and lasts until September. But the most comfortable months for sunbathing and swimming are June, July, August and September. The air temperature at this time averages +27–30 °C, and the water temperature remains at +24–26 °C.

It should be remembered that the weather in June and September is still changeable: sunny, hot and rainy, cloudy days alternate. But there are still a lot of tourists at this time.

Lovers winter holiday People are expected to travel to Bulgaria from December to April.
In addition, a number of hotels in the country provide year-round recreation and an indoor heated swimming pool with sea ​​water. There are two truly off-season months in Bulgaria: October and November. It’s already cool at this time for a summer holiday, but, on the contrary, it’s too early for a winter holiday. Average temperature By month in Bulgaria you can look up on the Internet.

Moving around the country

Bulgaria is a small country, but with developed infrastructure. Roads, railway lines, sea routes - the once strong connection with the countries of the socialist camp made it possible to build everything necessary for comfortable travel.

The main modes of transportation are bus, car and train.

Bus

In my opinion, one of the most comfortable ways to travel around the country is by bus. Central Bus Station(in Bulgarian, autogara) is found in every city. One of the major carriers in this direction is the M-bus company, which operates flights to all parts of the country, as well as beyond its borders; the company’s schedule and directions can be found.

Due to the small size of the country, traveling by bus is convenient and allows you to see passing cities from the window. By the way, this is the most popular look transport in the country: it accounts for about a third of all traffic.

Automobile

Independent tourists they can rent cars (from 25 € per day and above) and travel around the country in just a couple of days. Again, the compact size of Bulgaria allows you to travel to a neighboring country in one day and return home in the evening.

There are a lot of companies offering car rentals; just use a search engine on the Internet, compare prices and choose best option. For example, you can look at the cost of car rental.

Train

For lovers of rails and sleepers, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with detailed information about the railways in Bulgaria, choose the appropriate route, check the schedule on the website of the Bulgarian railways and enjoy the journey! The only disadvantage of such movement can be considered the possible lack of comfort of trains left over from socialist times.

Otherwise, everything is extremely convenient!

Metro

Tourists vacationing in Sofia should appreciate the capital's metro.

Of course, it cannot be compared with Moscow, but taking a ride on the only line connecting the city center with its western part, it’s quite possible.

Liner

Fans of leisurely cruises should appreciate sea transportation. You can travel within the country only on small ships, and go by big liner V neighboring country The company Ukrferry, already mentioned in the chapter “How to get there,” will help, offering ferry flights from Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

Connection

In large cities and famous resorts there are no problems with communication: in all public places, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, city squares and even taxi salons have free Wi-Fi. Just find out the password (if you have one) and connect to the network. The quality of the Internet is average, there are no high speeds, but it is quite possible to view mail and Viber. The Internet is usually better on hotel premises; there is a more powerful router there, so most likely you will even be able to make a Skype call with your home.

If you want to communicate with Russia, be sure to purchase a local SIM card. Perhaps one of the largest cellular operators is Vivacom. According to the latest information I received from a representative of this company in the office, the most profitable package is worth 5 € or 10 levs (let me remind you that this is approximately 400 rubles), which includes a SIM card with a Bulgarian number, 25 minutes of conversation with Russia and 1 GB Internet. With further replenishment of the account, a minute of conversation with your homeland will cost 0.4 €, or 30 stotinki (about 14 rubles). SMS is not included in this tariff.

Language and communication

Bulgaria is a South Slavic country, therefore official language countries - Bulgarian, which is somewhat close to Russian. The same Cyrillic letters, the same pronunciation with minor nuances (for example, the Bulgarian letter Ш is read as [ШТ]). At the very least, there should not be a sharp language barrier, in which, in principle, you can understand what the interlocutor is talking about upon arrival in the country.

In addition, at large resorts, receiving guests from all over Europe, Bulgarians have learned to speak all languages, including English, so if you can’t find a common language in Russian, feel free to switch to English, then everything will be clear.

However, a few phrases in Bulgarian are probably worth remembering, because everyone is pleased when you respect native language the place where we arrived. So, an improvised Bulgarian mini-phrase book for all holiday occasions:

• It’s very easy to say hello or goodbye to locals: just say “hello!” and “ciao!”
• Ask about the price of the desired Kolko Struva product?
• You can admit the absence of something using the very sweet word “yama”, in particular, if you have no money, lower your eyes sadly, throw up your hands and say “yama pari”. If you sigh a lot at the same time, perhaps they will feed you a bun - Bulgarians are sympathetic and kind people.
• By the way, agreement and disagreement with the interlocutor is expressed by the familiar words “yes” and “no”.
• After having dinner at a restaurant, ask for the bill by saying “Smetkata, pray.”
• Do you want to appear polite? Give thanks for everything, even for the most insignificant service, with the words “thanks” or “mercy”.
• If it comes to getting to know the locals, you can find out about the name of the interlocutor like this: “Kak se kazwate?” For an even closer acquaintance, use the phrases “Zhenen si ste?” (Are you married?) and “Are you married?” (Are you married?).
• When looking for the place you need (post office, bus stop, museum), you can clarify “where is...?” For example, when searching for a stop, ask the question “Where is the spirka?”
• If you need to ask about the availability of something, ask: “Do you have...?”
• When approving of what they show/tell you, say “Hareswa mi” (I like it), but if you are not happy with something, tell your interlocutor “Ne mi khareswa” (I don’t like it).
• At the end of my mini-phrasebook, I would like to remind you that Bulgarians are very optimistic, they do not like to be discouraged, so with the most common phrase in the Bulgarian language “vsichko dobre” (everything is fine) you will cheer up yourself and your interlocutor.

As for communication, there are no differences from Russian-language conversation with the exception of one, but very significant one: affirmation and negation are directly opposite to what we are used to. It is customary for Bulgarians to nod if they want to say “no” and shake their heads from side to side if they want to say “yes”. When I went to Bulgaria for the first time, I thought it was a joke. But after talking with local residents, I was convinced that this was the case. Believe me, the cheerful nod of the interlocutor in response to the question “Is there a toilet here?” will confuse you, because it means that it is not there!

The situation has become even more complicated in recent years, when due to the many tourists, real Bulgarian morals and mentality have shifted slightly to the side European standards. Therefore, in response to the nodding and shaking of the head of the Bulgarian interlocutor, it is better to ask again: “Is there a toilet?”, “Is there a bank here?” Let him speak in words.
And the last piece of advice: it’s better to ask questions to Bulgarians over 40–50 years old: the generation of people who were born in socialist Bulgaria were required to study Russian at school. Therefore, it is usually easier to come to an agreement with them.

Features of mentality

Originally, Bulgarians are simple-hearted and kind people. Predominantly rural life made them conscientious and sympathetic workers, and living in warm latitudes added leisurely and slow nature. True, the low level of development of the economic situation in the country and the annual abundance of tourists have made Bulgarians more prudent and selfish. It’s sad to see how in a place filled with tourists, at every turn they offer the services of taxis, electricians, plumbers, and workers. Seeing that you are a tourist and need something, they will immediately name the price for which they will agree to help, although they could do something for free without leaving a loss.

Egregious in this sense for me was the case of visiting the Burgas Mall Gallery shopping and entertainment center, located about 40 km away. from the popular summer resort Sunny Beach. Having missed the free bus that goes there and back once a day, we were left without a ticket and asked the driver of such a bus to take us with him so that at least we could get back safely. And the driver free bus, who had several (!) empty seats in the cabin, looked at our frankly naive tourist faces and said: “Okay, but it will cost 5 levs,” and then looked around again and added: “That’s for one person. From two there will be 10 levs.” Well what can I say? Just imagine that in Moscow you pay the driver of a free bus to allow you to get on and go to Auchan! At that moment I remembered the hero of Gaidaev’s film, saying catchphrase: "Three hundred thirty. To each!"

I repeat once again, at heart Bulgarians are very responsive, they are simply spoiled by the thirst for easy money and a large number of tourists who are ready to pay for everything. And one more feature that I don’t like about Bulgarians is their lack of commitment. Of course, not everyone. But delays in everything are the norm for them. A bus that was half an hour late, a taxi that didn’t pick you up on time, the forgetfulness of a plumber who promised to fix the faucet—such little things sometimes add up to a not very attractive portrait. But, again, this is not everywhere. I personally communicated with local residents who were distinguished by their conscientiousness and punctuality. So it depends on your luck.

Food and drink

In my opinion, traditional Bulgarian cuisine is a kind of hybrid of Russian and Mediterranean.

Food

The common Slavic love for potatoes, side dishes, and first courses is also present in Bulgarian cuisine. Thus, soup lovers will enjoy both hot Bulgarian stews with meat broth and a cold version of Russian okroshka - tarator (soup made from kefir and cucumbers with herbs).

Hot dishes are traditional Russian potatoes, rice, beans, served with meat or fish. Bulgarian cuisine is quite spicy and contains mainly grilled dishes, so if you are on a diet, choose stewed dishes on the menu. For example, when you see the inscription “strangled greens” on the menu, do not rush to get scared, these are just stewed vegetables, which means that not a single carrot was seriously damaged in the making of this dish. By the way, local residents They really like bell peppers fried on the grill and seasoned with cheese – it’s worth a try!

The Mediterranean flavor of Bulgarian cuisine is due to the presence of a large amount of fish and fish dishes, olive oil, and vegetable salads. The classic Bulgarian version of the appetizer is Shopski salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, onions, butter). A special feature of Bulgarian cuisine is feta cheese (sirene).

It is made from all types of milk (cow, sheep, goat and even buffalo) and absolutely all dishes are seasoned with it. Brynza differs from the traditional yellow cheese in our understanding - kashkaval. If the menu says the word “sirene”, be prepared, the dish will contain cheese. You can approach this in different ways. I know both ardent lovers and people who are indifferent and even hate cheese. But remember, feta cheese is the pride of Bulgarian cuisine, so be prepared to eat every last crumb of it on your plate. Once I asked not to add feta cheese to a Greek salad (since Bulgarians put feta cheese there instead of feta cheese), so the waiter was seriously offended by me.

Everyone who comes to Bulgaria tastes not only wonderful feta cheese, but also incredibly tasty tomatoes. In Bulgaria, so-called “pink” tomatoes grow well.

They are not so attractive in appearance, they may seem green and unripe, but their taste is divine! Juicy, sweet, aromatic - they are definitely worth trying!

Almost all types of fruits and berries we love are grown in Bulgaria. In July you will find the season of sweet raspberries, pears and apricots (caisia), in August you will taste ripe grapes, melons, and peaches. Figs and kiwis also grow safely in these latitudes. But what you shouldn’t try in Bulgaria are typically northern berries: blueberries, blueberries, blackberries. I was surprised to discover that most Bulgarians do not know what cranberries are. Therefore, if you see them on the counter, they will be imported berries, sold at exorbitant prices. Quite exotic fruits such as pitahayas, pomelo, grapefruits, pineapples, bananas, coconuts do not grow in Bulgaria, the climate is not the same, but in large supermarkets you will certainly find foreign fruits brought from abroad.

Beverages

As for drinks, Bulgaria is famous for its winemaking, it is a country of huge vineyards, local residents distinguish between wines different regions in terms of richness of taste and aroma. True, most of them are dry and dry, so they seem sour to some. Fans of sweet dessert drinks should not despair; you can find the type of liqueur wine by looking at the coveted inscription semi-sweet on the bottle, which means semi-sweet. The sweetest thing I tried in Bulgaria was Cahors. Also a good option for those who are disgusted by the sour taste of grapes.

Those who like something stronger should definitely try Bulgarian vodka - rakia.

In Bulgaria they insist on plums, apples, apricots and grapes. In addition to being strong, it has a pleasant fruity taste. Bulgarian varieties of cognac have also been known since Soviet times - Pliska and Sunny Beach brandy.

These drinks have been produced for almost half a century and are distinguished by their consistent quality of taste. I recommend trying them too.

Especially for non-drinkers, I can recommend my own option: add brandy to strong black tea. Believe me, it's very relaxing.

To summarize

In general, food and drinks in Bulgaria are... large quantities and for every taste. You just have to understand that when you become popular country and having European-class resorts, Bulgaria, in addition to the traditional, diversifies its table with pan-European dishes: on any menu you will find sandwiches, pizza, French fries, spaghetti. Of course, this is just a tribute to the pan-European brotherhood that Bulgaria was lucky enough to join almost ten years ago. And for tourists, this is also a backup option: didn’t like the cheese or lamb? You can eat it with Quattro Formaggi pizza and wash it down with cola!

5 dishes worth trying

The hit parade of Bulgarian deliciousness from me looks like this:

What you need to know about shopping in this country

As in any large country, goods in Bulgaria are divided into three main categories:

• Expensive, branded items (most often, clothing and interior items imported from Italy). It’s hard to say that the prices are clearly favorable, but if you want, you can find products at the price of Italian outlets (for example, in one of the Burgas stores I saw cute leather belts from the Italian brand Cocinelli for 40–50 euros)
• National goods are usually produced in Bulgaria or Turkey. They have an average price segment, optimal quality.
• Cheap Chinese goods: toys, beach accessories. As a rule, they are inexpensive and do not last long, one season at best.

My advice is this: it’s better to go to a shopping center for clothes and cosmetics. But look for food and alcohol in large supermarkets. Of course, Bulgarian shopping cannot be compared with Italian (connoisseurs and lovers of Italy will understand me), but, you see, buying things of European quality with a decent discount of 50 or even 70% is always pleasant.

Best cities for shopping

In my opinion, the main thing you should know about cities for shopping in
Bulgaria, is the principle of choosing “Cities” with capital letters. In the sense that small towns and resort villages Very rarely suitable for shopping. Everything that is worth bringing from Bulgaria, in my opinion, is produced in large plants and factories, which means it is supplied primarily to large stores and supermarkets, and only then brought to small shops and stores. Therefore, buying the same thing, overpaying double or even triple the price, is simply ridiculous. The best cities Where you can get some interesting and inexpensive souvenirs are, I think, Sofia and:

What to bring from this country

Despite the relatively small territory of the country, the proximity to the Slavic mentality and the rather modest level of economic development, you can bring a lot of pleasant, aromatic, tasty and even intoxicating things from hospitable Bulgaria:

Nuances

When choosing gifts, remember: as much as possible permissible weight baggage and hand luggage at the airport are 23 and 10 kilograms, respectively. From personal experience I can say that you can easily take 3-4 bottles of alcohol.

And, of course, in any large store they will issue you tax-free return. This is usually indicated by signs at the entrance. It's a small thing, but nice. You can get a tax-free refund at Burgas airport, at the tourist information point (not far from entrance No. 2).

Vacation with children

The temperate mild climate of Bulgaria is very comfortable for both adults and children to stay in this country. When choosing a resort, you can take into account the health characteristics of your child in order to choose the most optimal option for your vacation.

Suitable resorts

Resorts in the northeast and southeast of the country, known since Soviet times, are ideal for a family holiday:

To this day there are many children's playgrounds in these cities. health camps, boarding houses, campsites. In addition, almost every major hotel (4 stars and more) has an animator hired to organize an entertainment program for visiting young tourists.

Advantages

There are many advantages of holidaying with children in Bulgaria:

• Comfortable two-hour flight. Even if you are flying with small children, this travel time is reasonable.
• Moderate climate, ensuring that the warm season and high season in Bulgaria coincides with summer months when most children have holidays. Most likely, there will be no difficult acclimatization in this country. It is better to vacation in Bulgaria with children in July - August. The air temperature at this time of year reaches +29–34 °C, the water temperature +24–26 °C. Starting from August 20, the weather begins to change: more cloudy days appear, and rains begin.
• Most of these cities have sandy, comfortable beaches, equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds, and free areas for vacationers. In addition, there are booths for lifeguards on duty every 50–100 meters. Wild beaches There are few in these places, so your holiday will be as safe as possible.
• Warm gentle sea. There are no sharp cliffs, rocky bottoms or dangerous whirlpools on Bulgarian beaches. Entering the water is extremely convenient for those who are just learning to swim. The sea is clean, jellyfish and algae swim only during high tides (about a couple of days a month).
• Healthy organic food. Most Bulgarian fruits, vegetables, meat and cereals can be safely eaten by children, as they are grown in a clean, non-industrial region.
• Bulgarian summer resorts meet modern security requirements, hotels are equipped with year-round security and round-the-clock duty.
• No language barrier: the staff of the vast majority of hotels speak good Russian, so they will always be able to help, and in extreme cases, they will call someone who does it great (such people always turn out to be somewhere nearby), and then the problem will be solved 100%.
• And finally, entertainment. In an effort to attract tourists, Bulgaria has invested in all sorts of swings and carousels. There will definitely be plenty of places to go with your child: little robbers will love the pirate water park with steep slides, active kids will be able to jump on a trampoline, take pictures with their favorite cartoon characters, curious explorers will be able to travel with their parents on a jeep safari, and little fashionistas will have a photo shoot in beautiful dresses. So there can only be one piece of advice to parents: prepare your wallet, because there are a lot of temptations on the coast, and they are located so temptingly that no one can resist them.

Flaws

I can name only one of these: there is a possibility of contracting a so-called rotavirus infection. It is quite difficult, especially in children, so I recommend taking medications for this disease with you in your first aid kit.

Safety

Bulgaria - enough safe country. Order and compliance with the laws on the streets of cities and resorts is ensured by the police: gendarmes in uniform patrol public places from time to time, so you don’t have to fear for your life; I wouldn’t call this country criminal.

The only trouble that tourists who come to Bulgaria may encounter is a meeting with the so-called ethnic gypsies. This is a special social class in Bulgaria, living by its own rules.

For the most part, they do not work and make a living by begging for money from everyone they come across. In such a situation, it is better to simply ignore the beggars (these can be children, adult women and disabled men) and move on without paying any attention to them. The gypsies themselves understand the powerlessness of their position in society, so they definitely won’t pester you too much.

Regarding thefts at resorts, I have heard several times from other tourists about cases of theft of valuables and money on the beaches. Pah-pah, but personally I have never encountered this, although I often go swimming, leaving things unattended. True, I don’t take money, documents or expensive electronics there, which is what I advise you to do.

Popular types of scams

I have not seen any sophisticated methods of fraud in Bulgaria. Rather, small tricks that take advantage of the inattention and gullibility of tourists, for example:

5 things you definitely shouldn't do

I can’t name any cardinal prohibitions, but the things I definitely don’t recommend doing are:

5 things you must do in this country

I hope that with my article I have convinced you that vacationing in Bulgaria is healthy, interesting, tasty and also not very expensive. Once again I will repeat the thought said in the introduction: regardless of age, marital status, taste and cultural preferences, you will have a good time in Bulgaria. It’s comfortable, because a lot of things here are like we have in Russia (and some things are even like in the USSR), but still, this is the European Union. Your holiday in Bulgaria will definitely not be in vain if you manage to do five extremely important things:

To summarize

In conclusion, I would like to say: while vacationing in Bulgaria, do everything your soul asks. Even if it is very immoral, local authorities treat tourists humanely, on whom the country’s economy depends. At best, no one will pay attention to this, and at worst, they will give you a warning and let you go in peace. This is how a modern resident of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria, lives: with one foot in the glorious past with historical heritage and rich traditions, and the other is so eager to get to modern Europe with a decent level of economy, service and tourism.

Nearby countries

Now a little more about where you can go from Bulgaria.

Balkan brotherhood

I call this collection of countries the “Balkan brotherhood”: ancient history, arid, hot climate, historical passion for agriculture. Even the attitude to life of these peoples is somewhat similar: slowness, unhurriedness in business, a completely different sense of the passage of time. But at the same time, remember the films of the real Balkan - Yugoslav Emir Kusturica (who hasn’t seen it, I highly recommend it for acquaintance, for example, his film “Black Cat, White Cat”)! This is a real tangle of incredible events, a fireworks display of emotions and a fountain of passions! And all this in an ordinary village among silent sunflowers under the blue cloudless sky of the Balkans!

Where to go

While vacationing in Bulgaria, I always find time to get out to one of the neighboring countries: sometimes joining an organized excursion group, and sometimes independently setting off on an exciting voyage to one of the Balkan neighbors. When going on a visit, do not forget to get yourself a double-entry visa (or multiple entry visa) in advance so that at the end of your trip you will be allowed back into the country. So, where exactly is it worth getting from Bulgaria:

1. . See with your own eyes the ancient ruins of the old city, admire the architectural monuments and feed the black swans with bread in national park Herastrau is all this, or the city of joy, as the Romanians themselves call it.
   But the most popular attraction in this extremely poor country is Bran Castle, located 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov. Remember chilling the story of the vampire Dracula? So, according to legend, it was in this castle that a demonic creature lived, hunting people at night.
   Price two day trip to Romania will cost tourists 100 € (200 levs). By the way, due to the distance of the road and high fees for entry tickets to museums this is the most expensive excursion program, offered in Bulgaria.
2. . Among tourists living in the Bulgarian Sofia, the option of spending a weekend in brotherly Serbia is extremely popular. Only 12€ (24 leva), four hours of travel, and you're in quiet town or Pirot (depending on where you decide to go). Admire ancient fortresses, wander through the native streets of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, and when you get hungry, appreciate the quality and low prices Serbian food.
   The cuisine is similar to Bulgarian: mainly grilled fish and meat with vegetables. Unpretentious and very tasty! Another plus: Russians do not need a visa to stay in this country. Unmarried women should remember that the demographic situation in Serbia is extremely favorable for dating with a serious relationship: according to statistics, there are more men than women, and all of them are eager to find family happiness. Russian girls are very loved and appreciated, by the way. And they are Orthodox, just like us.
3. . “I have never been to the Bosphorus,” wrote Sergei Yesenin, and Russians have a great opportunity to visit Istanbul - one of the most beautiful cities this Muslim neighbor of Bulgaria. When vacationing in the south-eastern part of the country, be sure to find time to go here: the journey will only take five to six hours, but you will have a lot of impressions. I still remember this magical city located on the Bosphorus Strait!
   Mosques soaring upward, the cry of the muezzin flying over the waves, delicious dondurma ice cream - I have never seen such a fabulous eastern city anywhere else! A bus ticket here will cost about 80 € (160 levs), and a trip organized by an agency for two days will cost about twice as much. In light of recent political events, Russians are temporarily blocked from traveling to Turkey, but I really hope that the situation will be resolved in the near future, because they will lose the opportunity to see beautiful city, standing at the border of two countries of the world, Europe and Asia, is very, very sad.
4. . The main destinations for tourist trips to Greece from Bulgaria are the city in the northern mainland of the country, the bustling port of Kavala, from where you can take a ferry to the green island of Thassos, lost in the Aegean Sea.
   You can get to this wonderful country both from the capital Sofia and from the southeastern coast. All you need is to check the train schedule on the Bulgarian railways and... go towards ancient Hellas! A ticket for a comfortable train will cost from 10 € (from the coast) to 15 € (from Sofia). By monitoring hotels in Kavala, I found the average price per night, it is about 72 € (5,000 rubles). When choosing an organized trip to Greece, which in my opinion is more economical, be prepared to pay an average of 105€ (210 lev) for a two-day stay. Don’t forget to take care of your Schengen visa in advance, since this is an EU country.

To summarize

Although a trip to a neighboring country is often quite an expensive expense, I advise you not to waste money and go to at least one place. These are such vivid impressions! It's like several small trips inside one!

Money

Despite joining the European Union, Bulgaria, in addition to the universal euro, retained its own national currency. It is considered the Bulgarian lev (BGN or lev. in the designation).

The standard exchange rate of the Bulgarian lev to the euro is 1.95. This means that for 100 € you get 195 BGN. The ratio of the leva to the euro is thus, relatively speaking, 2:1.

The lev to ruble exchange rate is approximately 0.256–0.268, depending on the time of year and the resort where you change. This means that for 1000 rubles they will give you 25.6 or 26.8 leva, or 1 leva is a little less than 40 rubles.

To mentally translate Bulgarian prices into euros, you just need to divide the price by two, and to get the same amount in rubles, multiply by 40. This method is very helpful, because psychologically, seeing prices of 2,3, 4 levs, people think that everything is cheap , but having multiplied and compared this with prices in the homeland, as a rule, they stop rejoicing.

Where to exchange money in Bulgaria

You can change money in Bulgaria:

In such places they exchange not only rubles and euros, but also all major European currencies; in some points you can buy Israeli shekels.

However, tourist popularity, as well as the thirst for simple economic profit, has led to the fact that in the summer, during the so-called “high season” (July - August), the real exchange rate of the lev fluctuates from 1.90 to 1.95. This means that at a well-known resort you will be offered to exchange 100 euros for 190 levs, and in big city(especially if it is unpopular among tourists) at 195. The average optimal option is offered by banks: from 1.92 to 1.94 depending on the location.

Payment by cards

All major stores and restaurants accept both cash and international cards Visa, Maestro, Mastercard for payment. In this case, there will be no large commissions or double overpayments; the price will remain the same based on the exchange rate of 40 rubles per 1 lev. In some stores, in the absence of Bulgarian levs, they are ready to accept euros out of the kindness of their hearts. But, as far as I saw, the Bulgarian brothers do not accept rubles anywhere.

Therefore, currency advice to tourists can only be this: if you are traveling to Bulgaria for the first time, especially on large resort, and you don’t have Bulgarian levs in stock, prepare small bills in denominations of 5, 10, 20 € in advance, then when exchanging at the first point you come across on the way (believe me, this is unlikely to be a favorable rate) your losses will be minimal. Once you reach your destination, find a bank with the optimal exchange rate and change the principal amount there. And you will be happy!

Prices in Bulgaria

Finally, I wanted to say how the current crisis has affected prices in Bulgaria. Just a few years ago, before the fall of some currencies, the ratio of the lev to the ruble was different: 1 lev cost about 20 rubles. In this situation, the vast majority of prices for goods and services seemed cheap. And so it was. Let's say, a bottle of good champagne for 1 €, or 2.5 leva in our money, cost only 50 rubles! It was a time of cheap alcohol, fruits, cheeses, clothes, services, etc.

However, after the fall of the ruble and other disturbances in the European economy, prices have increased noticeably. And today, most products and services are no cheaper, or even more expensive, than we are used to. Smokers will obviously not like the fact that a pack of cigarettes, which costs 2 €, or 150 rubles in Moscow, will cost you about 5.7 €, or 400 rubles, in Bulgaria. Alas, for now the times of super cheap prices are over, but perhaps the situation will change, and we will once again rush to our fellow Bulgarians for the warm sea and cheap products.

Sunny Bulgaria is not only the sea and mountains. We will tell you what else Bulgaria is famous for, what local sites are included in the UNESCO heritage list and.

Rose oil is what Bulgaria is known for far beyond the borders of the state itself. Rose oil is used to create different kinds cosmetics. Rose petal jam is also popular. Collecting flowers in the Valley of Roses. It is located between the mountain slopes in the area of ​​​​Kazanlak and Karlovo. 30 kilometers of fragrant blooming roses is an amazing sight of beauty and aroma.

2. Lavender fields

They are not only in France! What Bulgaria is famous for is its landscapes. And the lavender fields with their delicate lilac colors are a wonderful decoration of the local landscape and a good backdrop for photographs. In addition, lavender is used to make excellent cosmetics. Bulgarian lavender can be admired near Plovdiv and Pomorie.

3. Trojan pottery

Troyanska sharka is deservedly included in the list of what Bulgaria is famous for. This technique of painting ceramics is as original and recognizable as Russian Gzhel or Khokhloma. The design is applied in the form of drops, and then the colors are mixed linearly. It is believed that this method of decorating ceramic products was created by craftsmen from the city of Troyan.

Another regional craft that over time has become a national treasure and what Bulgaria is famous for. The historical town of Chiprovtsi is home to amazingly beautiful carpets, woven by hand in a special way. Kilims, as the locals call them, are distinguished by their bright colors. Ancient Bulgarian patterns “bloom” on them. Chiprovo carpets are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

5. Sharena salt

A spice with a unique aroma that attracts tourists as a bright and practical souvenir. Includes several types of spices layered for a colorful look. Typically, sharena salt consists of thyme, paprika, fenugreek and other herbs.

6. Dairy products

When talking about what else Bulgaria is famous for, it’s hard not to mention local yogurt and cheeses. The consistency of sour mlyak is closer to yogurt, and its taste is very subtle and delicate. Among the cheeses, it is worth noting the brine sirene cheese and kashkaval - a semi-hard yellow cheese of medium salinity made from sheep's milk.

A talisman that Bulgarians usually give to each other at the beginning of spring. It is woven from red and white threads and has a sacred meaning. Martenitsa is also included in the list of world cultural heritage UNESCO.

8. Nestinary

Walking barefoot on hot coals is probably the most impressive thing Bulgaria is known for. The closest thing to the art of nestinar is the phenomenon of Indian yogis who know how to lie on nails. At the same time, dancing on coals is one of the oldest Bulgarian traditions.

9. Bulgarian gaida (bagpipes)

Bagpipes are something that Bulgaria is known for, along with Scotland, as it is a national instrument in both states. The Bulgarians call it gaida and involve it in mass performances - on average from 50 to 100 bagpipers. By the way, the Guinness Book records the Bulgarian record for playing 333 bagpipes simultaneously.

10. Julia

One of the relatively new traditions that Bulgaria is known for. On the night of July 1, local youth gather on the country's beaches and party with bonfires, guitar and electronic music until dawn. In recent years, the July holiday has attracted guests from nearby countries.

Famous people of Bulgaria

• Hristo Botev. The country's national hero, as well as one of its most famous poets.
• Elias Canetti. At the time of writing this article, he is the only famous person in Bulgaria to have received the Nobel Prize during the existence of the award. Writer and cultural scientist. Prized in 1981 for the richness of ideas and artistic strength of his works.
• Boris Hristov. Opera singer, considered one of the best basses of the famous stage of La Scala and the greatest of the second half of the 20th century. The audience remembered him in the signature roles of Boris Godunov and Mephistopheles.
• Philip Kirkorov . One of the most popular pop singers in Russia is also included in the list of famous Bulgarian people among our compatriots. Born in Varna, has dual citizenship.
• Dimitar Berbatov. Footballer, top scorer in the history of the Bulgarian national team. Player of the English club Manchester United and the Tottenham Hotspur team, the German team Bayer Leverkusen and the Indian club Kerala Blasters.
• Count Dracula (Prince Vlad the Impaler). The list of famous people in Bulgaria was recently supplemented by Count Vlad Tepes, former prototype Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel. Recent research has shown that he was probably of Bulgarian origin rather than Romanian.