Bulgaria will surprise you with its beautiful nature, impressive mountain scenery with picturesque resorts, fine wines and a friendly and accommodating population.

See trips to Bulgaria

Residents: 7 mio.

Capital: Sofia

Language: Bulgarian – written with the Cyrillic alphabet

the Bulgarians nod when they really mean no and shake their heads when they mean yes?

chalga is bulgarian pop music with oriental rhythms?

Nature

According to top-medical-schools, Bulgaria is located in the southeastern part of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. To the north, Bulgaria borders Romania, and here the Danube flows with its varied play of colors in an illustration of the most beautiful border between the two countries. To the south, Bulgaria borders Greece and Turkey, and to the west, northern Macedonia and Serbia. To the east is the Black Sea. The Balkan Mountains divide the country into north and south, with plains on both sides of the mountains. An area in the mountain area is called the Valley of the Roses and here roses are grown for the world’s perfume industry. Bulgarian rose oil is of high quality and spreads an outstanding scent. Over large areas, the landscape is characterized by vineyards. Bulgaria annually produces 500 million bottles of wine with an even distribution between red and white wines.

History

Bulgaria was an important European state in the ninth and tenth centuries and was in conflict with the Byzantine Empire for control of the Balkans. The Bulgarian state was defeated by the Russians in 969 and the country was completely crushed and oppressed after a Byzantine attack in 1018. At the end of the 14th century, the country was occupied by the Ottomans and only in 1878 did it regain its independence. Bulgaria has been involved in a series of conflicts in the Balkans, and after World War II the country was besieged by the Soviet Union and declared a Communist People’s Republic. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria became a parliamentary republic in 1990 and in 2007 it became a member of the EU.

Sofia

With its 1.2 million inhabitants, Sofia is Bulgaria’s largest city and the country’s capital. Here we can recommend a visit to the mighty Alexander Nevsky Cathedral from 1912. The cathedral has room for as many as 7,000 people. Here we also find an icon museum with orthodox church art – one of Bulgaria’s brands. Car Osvoboditel Boulevard leads up to the centrally located Sankt Nedelja. Here are some of Sofia’s really old buildings, such as St. George’s Church, which is one of Bulgaria’s oldest architectural works. Those who want a little crowded should visit the large central market hall Halite where they sell food, clothes, music and electronic gadgets.

Ruse

Ruse is located on the southern bank of the Danube and is Bulgaria’s most important river port and is also known as the Vienna of the East. The city is Bulgaria’s fifth largest and has well over 200,000 inhabitants. On the opposite bank is the Romanian city of Giugiu and there is a bridge connection between the two cities, a so-called friendship bridge from 1954. The city’s central meeting point is Freedom Square, which was established in the 1930s. Here is the city’s beautiful theater, the Palace of Justice and the city hall. In the middle of the square, the Freedom Monument reigns in memory of the victory over the Ottomans in 1878. In Ruse you will find many small pleasant streets with handicraft shops and galleries.

Facts about Bulgaria

Below you will find practical information in connection with trips to Bulgaria

Residents: 7 mill.

Capital: Sofia

Language: Bulgarian – written with the Cyrillic alphabet

Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox

Currency: Bulgarian lev (BGN)

Surface: 110 879 km2

Worth knowing

Time difference

+ 1 hour
Bulgaria is one hour ahead of Sweden.

Transport in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria we travel by bus in good condition.

Economist

Prices in Bulgaria are significantly lower than in Sweden, among the lowest in Europe in fact. You can get a good meal for about 50 kroner.

Tip

They usually give about 10 percent in tips at restaurants. In bars and cafés, it is a good idea to leave a small amount. For taxi journeys, it is customary to give the equivalent of 1 to 2 euros, and for guided tours, you usually also leave a little tip.

Currency and credit cards

The currency in Bulgaria is Lev (BGN). It is possible to use Visa, MasterCard and more in many places, but the most common is to pay with cash, especially in rural areas.

Electricity

In Bulgaria, it has 220 volts and the sockets are suitable for Swedish electrical appliances.

Telephone and internet

Bulgaria’s international country code is +359. It is expensive to call to and from Sweden with a mobile phone, but feel free to check with your Swedish operator. There are many internet cafes in the larger cities.

Drinking water and hygiene

Bottled water is recommended. Hygiene can vary from place to place, so feel free to bring your own wet wipes and possibly. hand disinfection.

Tact and tone

Bulgaria is a modern society and ordinary courtesy and good behavior are expected. When visiting churches, it is not considered appropriate to show only arms and legs.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in public places. In smaller bars and cafés, it is the owner who decides whether to smoke or not. In some places, specific smoking areas have been allocated with the necessary ventilation.

Climate and weather in Bulgaria

Here you can read about the weather in Bulgaria and about the weather in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, and in Varna.

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	CHRISTMAS	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Sofia
Daytime temperature	2	5	10	16	20	24	26	26	23	17	10	4
Night temperature	-5	-3	0	5	9	12	14	13	10	6	1	-3
Precipitation (mm)	28	31	38	51	73	75	63	51	38	35	48	40

Warn
Daytime temperature	6	7	10	15	20	25	27	27	24	18	13	8
Night temperature	-1	0	2	7	12	16	18	18	14	10	8	2
Precipitation (mm)	38	41	34	44	40	46	37	32	31	36	50	45