Bulgaria is rich in beautiful diverse landscapes and is full of surprises, with long sandy beaches, green fertile valleys, giving wonderful fresh vegetables and juicy fruits, wild mountain ranges, rivers, gorges and natural springs. The summers are long and hot with rich colours and scents of the fields and harvests, the beaches are extensive and surrounded by rocky coves and inlets encompassing the Idyllic serene waters of the Black Sea. The winters are full of deep natural snow, making it a wonderland for winter vacations with skiing in the mountains, toboggans, warm log fires, pine forests and marvellous folklore tales.

Bulgaria is an interesting and intriguing experience for anyone: for those who love the warm southern sea or snow-covered slopes, for those who want to see it's cultural and historic monuments, who wish to delight in its unique and living folklore, for young people fond of sports, for families with children, for the retired and people who need treatment, for those who dream of carefree holidays.

In short something for everyone and an all year round unspoilt playground ready to be discovered by those adventurous in spirit, but not wanting to stray too far from the central hub of Europe.

Capital: Sofia (pop. 1,141,000)

Large Cities: Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Turnovo

Map of Bulgaria. Click to enlarge

Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe and occupies the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the north it borders on Romania, to the east on the Black Sea, to the south and west on Greece and to the southeast Turkey.

Its land area is: 111.000 sq km.

You will need a valid passport on entry to the Republic of Bulgaria abroad. EEC residents do not require a visa for short stays.

If you are considering settling for a longer period of residence please take advice from your local advisor on the government legislation and current costs involved for issue of a long stay visa.

• Temperate continental with clearly marked four seasons.
• A Mediterranean influence is felt in the country's southern and eastern regions.
• The average annual temperature is 10.5°C.
• The average January temperature is around O°C but usually hotter on the coast.
• Average summer temperatures rarely exceed 30°C

• Bulgarian
• Russian
• English ( English is taught in school from a very early age)

• Over 8.5 million people

• January 1 - New Year
• March 3 - Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule - the National Day
• Easter - one week after the Catholic Easter
• May 1 - Labour Day
• May 6 - Bulgarian Army Day
• May 24 - Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and the Slav Script
• September 6 - Bulgaria's Unification
• September 22 - Independence Day
• December 25-26 - Christmas

60% of the population is Eastern Orthodox, 28% Christian. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch. The Orthodox makes for a later celebration of Christmas as the normal in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic

Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diners Club, American Express can be used for the payment of services in some hotels, restaurants, , shops, car rentals, plane tickets, etc. However, cash is the normal transaction method. Please make sure that the service for which you want to use a card for actually accepts this kind of payment.

There are now many banks in the capital and in outlying towns and districts. If you have a need for one please take advice and where possible use, well established certain Western European ones. This is obviously not a guarantee but one best practice.

Note: loans for property are available from certain local banking sectors, however the interest rates may well be high and the length of borrowing period short. So best to shop around and again take advice or even speak to your local bank manager back in the UK.

ATM machines can be found in Sophia and major cities, but they are not widespread throughout the country as yet.

You can change any money you wish at the 24hr change bureaux offices which there are many. Study the rates and look for the best deal. The exchange rate is announced every day, You may require a passport as means of identification.

Please be discreet when changing money and placing in wallet or purse: better to be safe than sorry.

Free first aid and consultation in emergencies; please make sure you have either private medical care in place or adequate holiday insurance. You may also check with NHS for overseas countries offering reciprocal medical agreements with the UK form E11. At present Bulgaria is offering this arrangement.

• Offices - 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
• Banks - 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
• Shops - 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 pm. (Monday to Friday, Saturday until noon)

• Public transport
    - in big cities: trams, trolley-buses, buses
    - elsewhere: buses
    - inter-city transport: plane, train, coach
• Taxi
• Private car with driver, we have a list of recommendations available on request.
• Rent-a-car: AVIS, Hertz, Europcar, Budget and International Car Rental in Sofia, the country's big cities and resorts.
Please enquire with us for specific details.

Winter time: GMT +2 hours (October through March)

Summer time: GMT +3 hours (April through September)

220 V only, you will need a standard round two pin adapter available in the UK for powering equipment.