USEFUL INFORMATION

The Population of Bulgaria amounts to about 8 million people.Over one million people live in the capital - Sofia.

Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe and occupies an area of 111 000 sq.km in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The average altitude is 470 m.

total: 110,910 sq km
water: 360 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km

predominantly Eastern Orthodox. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch

Winter time: GMT + 2 hours( October through March). Summer time: GMT + 3 hours (April through September).

January 1 - New Year
March 3 - National day of the Liberation from Ottoman Domination
Easter - Two days (Sunday and Monday) according to the Orthodox calendar
May 6 - St. George's Day
May 24 - the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and Slav Script
September 6 - National Day of Bulgaria's Reunion in the year of 1885
September 22 - Independence Day
November 1 - Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders
December 24-26 - Christmas Eve and Christmas
December 31 - New Year's Eve

From the phone unit in your room you may contact the number you wish by direct dialling. You can also make an international call from a public telephone using a phone-card: the yellow ( Bulfon cards ) and the blue ( Mobika cards ). For a foreign call you need at least 100 units.

Most important phone numbers :

0123 - operator for international calls (if no direct phone call is possible)
1286, 983 308 - Road Assistance
75 361 - Institute for Treatment of Foreign Citizens
798 035 - Sofia Airport - International Flights
722 414 - Sofia Airport - Domestic Flights
121 - operator for long-distance calls within the country
140 - sending of telegrams
144 - telephone information service for office phone numbers
145 - telephone information service for home numbers
146 - Emergency Road Service
150 - Emergency Medical Aid
166 - Police/Road patrols
175 - weather forecast
180 - exact time ("speaking" clock)

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday, from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. It is best to have your passport with you for you may need it when exchanging currency or cashing cheques. There are also ATMs ( Automatic Teller Machines ) at some of the hotels.

The Bulgarian currency is called LEV and 1 LEV consists of 100 stotinki. All payments should be made in national currency. There are banknotes of 1,2,5,10, 20, 50 and 100 Lev and coins of 1,2,5,10, 20 and 50 stotinki. It is advisable to exchange foreign currency at exchange bureaus or banks. It is possible to do it at the hotel or at the airports as well.

You can use the main international credit cards at the big hotels, the car hire offices, some restaurants and shopping centres.

Restaurants are open from 07:30 a.m. to 11-12 p.m., and some of them may be open as long as there are guests. Tips: you are not charged for the service in most of the bars and restaurants, therefore it is accepted to leave a tip of 5-10%. In some restaurants, the service charge is specified in the menu and included in your bill.

The most popular Bulgarian salad - shopska salata ( chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers sprinkled with Bulgarian white cheese ), kyopulo salad ( roasted aubergines, peppers, loads of garlic and parsley ), tarator ( cold yoghurt and cucumber soup ); dishes: kavarma ( meat and vegetable stew usually served in individual pots ), kebapcheta ( spicy mince meat, sausage shaped and grilled ), chushki biurek ( fried peppers stuffed with egg and cheese ), sirene po shopski ( white cheese, egg, tomatoes, peppers, baked in a pot ), etc.
Worth noting:
- Bulgaria offers excellent, world-famous red and white wines, as well as grape and plum brandy ( rakia in Bulgarian ). - You will find the prices surprisingly low.
- Bulgarians tend to serve food warm, rather than piping hot.
- When ordering a main course in a restaurant, check if it comes with "garnitura" - usually you have to order you side dishes extra.

Bulgarian language and alphabet
Bulgarian is a slavonic language. The alphabet is known as Cyrillic after its founders - Sts. Cyril and Methodius. A total of 30 letters.

Bulgarian language and alphabet:

Bulgarian is a slavonic language. The alphabet is known as Cyrillic after its founders - Sts. Cyril and Methodius. A total of 30 letters.

Good morning/ day/ evening = Dobro utro/ Dobar den/ Dobar vecher;
Hello = Zdraveite;
How are you = Kak ste;
My name is … = Az se kazvam …;
Thank you = Blagodaria;
Excuse me = Izviniavaite;
Would you please help me = Bihte li mi pomognali;
How much does it cost = Kolko struva tova;
Numbers: edno (1), dve (2), tri (3), chetiri (4), pet (5), shest (6), sedem (7), osem (8), devet (9), deset (10).

The climate in Northern Bulgaria is moderate continental, while the climate in Southern Bulgaria is intermediate continental tending to Mediterranean. The climate in the regions with an altitude of 1900-2000 m above sea level is mountainous and along the Black Sea coast it is maritime. The climate of the seaside regions is milder in the winter and cooler in the summer than the climate of the interior of the country. The average annual temperature is 10,50C, in winter about 00C (the lowest temperature - 38,30C - was measured in 1947). Average summer temperatures rarely exceed 30°C

Marked by four distinct seasons, Bulgaria enjoys a generally favorable climate that is one of the country's best features. Although located at the same latitude as southern New England, Bulgaria's climate is noticeably more temperate. Summers are typically hot and dry, but rarely oppressive, with moderate relative humidity. Winters are cold but not bitterly so. In the south and Black Sea coastal regions, Mediterranean influences temper the harsher continental climate of the interior. The country's half-dozen mountain groups also play a significant part in determining regional variances.

Beach Climate Parameters

Average Value Daily temperature, C°
May 22
June 26
July 29
August 29
September 24

Average Value Night trmperature, C°
May 12
June 16
July 17
August 15
September 13


Sea water temperature, C°
May 15
June 19
July 21
August 23
September 20

Rainy days per month:
May 7
June 8
July 6
August 3
September 4

Mountain Climate Parameters

Average Value Daily temperature, C°
December - 2.1
January - 4.6
February - 3.2
March 0.8

Average snow coverage(cm):
December 30 - 60
January 100 - 140
February 60
March 30