Bulgaria is the 14th largest country in Europe in terms of surface area and is situated in the territory of South-Eastern Europe in the vicinity of Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south and the Black Sea to the east. Bulgaria is similar to Romania in many ways. Summers are almost identical to ours, hot and dry, with an average temperature of about 25 degrees.
The best-known landforms on the Bulgarian territory are the Danube Plain, the Balkan Mountains, the Thracian Plain and the Rhodope Mountains.
Bulgaria has three national parks and 11 nature parks, and 35% of its land is covered by forests.
In recent years, Bulgaria has become an attractive tourist location, with some of the cheapest mountain resorts in Europe and more (the most visited) cthe most accessible seaside resorts. Value for money is the factor that influences tourists to experience more, tourism in Bulgaria. Nearly 9 million tourists visit the country annually, most of them being Romanians, French, Greeks and Germans.
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How can you travel from Romania to Bulgaria and which routes are available?
You can travel with:
- personal car through the border points mentioned above,
- by train: from Craiova to Sofia (capital of Bulgaria) and from Bucharest to Ruse, and in summer from Bucharest directly to Sofia.
- by coach: there are direct flights to Bulgaria from different cities in Romania.
- by plane from Bucharest, direct flight to Sofia.
1. Giurgiu-Ruse road- It is the most used, especially by Romanians. It connects Bucharest, Moldova, Ardeal and the south of the country with several cities of Bulgaria (Sofia, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Plevna and others).
The Friendship Bridge, built in 1954, allows crossing the Danube by car or train.
2. Calafat Road–Vidin- It is a border point linking Craiova, the south-west and west of the country with the western part of Bulgaria, where the "Friends Bridge" allows crossing the Danube by car or train.
3. Road Vama Veche - Bulgaria - The road is used by Romanians who are from the Dobrogea area or by tourists on the Romanian coast who want to go to the Varna-Burgas area. The passage on this section of the road is only possible by car.
There is also other border points: Zimnicea-Svishtov (ferry crossing), Ostrov-Silistra (for those in south-west Dobrogea), Dobromir (those in southern Dobrogea), Turnu Magurele-Nikopol (ferry crossing), Bechet-Rahova (ferry crossing), Black Voda-Yovkovo (with road and rail crossing).
Tips and information about travelling by car in Bulgaria
There is a fee for crossing the bridge. To cross the Danube by ferry, you will have to pay a ticket. Only the border crossing through Vama Veche is free of charge.
Body language in Bulgaria is a bit more strange than what you are used to. For example in Bulgarian when you say "Yes" it means "No" and vice versa. Pay attention to this aspect, in order not to create unwanted problems.
If you travel to or within Bulgaria with your own car, you must have your identity card, driving license, car papers, insurance.
You must have an up-to-date GPS, because the signposts/indicators are not always very accurate.
In order to drive on Bulgaria's public roads, you must buy a vignette. It is not expensive to buy it at customs or petrol stations. It must be stuck on the windscreen of the car, on the lower right side.
If you leave Romania via Giurgiu, you have to pay the bridge tax, round trip.
Respect the speed limits, because Bulgarian policemen are very vigilant and always stay "on the lookout". In case you get a fine, it must be paid on the spot (always ask for a receipt).
Speed limits on Bulgarian territory are: 50 km/h in the locality, 90 km/h outside the locality and 130 km/h on the motorway.
In Bulgaria, cars parked on unauthorized places can be removed by authorized persons. They are issued by the competent authorities only after full payment of the fine.
Important phone numbers, in case you need them are: Police 166, Fire Brigade 160, Ambulance 150, Roadside Assistance 146.
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Information about Golden Sands - the most attractive seaside resort of Bulgaria
Golden Sands on the Bulgarian coast - the most famous resort on the Bulgarian coast. Bulgarian coastknown for its fine sand and beautiful beaches. The resort is only 15 km from Albena and 18 km from Varna.
The name "Golden Sands" comes from an old legend that says that many years ago, pirates buried a great treasure on the cliff of the Black Sea and nature took revenge on them by turning their treasure into fine and shiny sands.
The resort is the largest on the North Black Sea coast, with a beach 3.5 km long and 100 m wide and is composed of wooded hills and golden-white beaches. The average summer temperature is between 27-30 degrees and the water temperature can reach 25-28 degrees.
The resort is very visited by Romanian tourists, but also by those from England, France, Germany or Russia and is addressed to young people looking for adventure, as well as to families with children, due to the diversity of activities offered. The little ones can experience the water parks, swimming pools and playgrounds specially arranged by most of the surrounding hotels. And for adults there are a variety of activities such as: yachting, mini golf, tennis, bowling and many more.
Route from Romania
The golden sands resort is located 334 km from Bucharest. The car is the most convenient and fastest mode of transport, but also the most preferred by our Romanians. The route chosen by most Romanian tourists is: Giurgiu - Ruse - Varna - Golden Sands. The journey takes about 4 hours.
Coastal area prices
For accommodation at hotels in the area, prices start at 65 leva-BGN (135 lei) for a one-star hotel and can go up to 205 leva (500 lei).
For renting a car the average price for an economy car is 90 leva and for a van you can pay around 130 leva.
For a meal for 3 people including 3 dishes you will have to spend between 50-60 BGN. For example a bottle of water costs 1 BGN, a coffee costs up to 2 BGN and a cheeseburger can cost between 2 and 3 BGN.
The cost of a ticket is 1 leva (2 lei) and the fare for a taxi is between BGN 0.8 and BGN 1.2.
As far as buying clothes is concerned, you should know that a pair of jeans costs between 45-125 BGN and a pair of sneakers costs from 40 BGN upwards.
In the mountains in Bulgaria - Bansko, the most visited mountain resort by tourists
Bulgaria is the ideal location for a skiing holiday and is known for its impeccable and endless slopes arranged for winter sports in the best conditions, with prices more than accessible to all. Bansko and Borovets are two of the most practicable and favorite ski resorts in Bulgaria.
Bansko is Bulgaria's most famous ski resort located in the south of the country, in the Pirin Mountains, 160 km from the capital. The resort has 16 ski slopes (4 for amateurs, 11 with medium difficulty and one for professionals) with a total length of 70 km, with altitudes up to 2,600 m and a gondola lift, 8 cable cars, 7 chair lifts, 7 ski lifts and 10 children's ski lifts.
Bansko is the most modern ski resort in Bulgaria and has the best ski centre in Eastern and Central Europe. Those who choose to go to Bansko are attracted firstly by the winter activities and secondly by the splendid architecture.
The easiest and most used way to get to Bansko is by personal car. There is also the option of flying by plane from Bucharest to the Bulgarian capital, but for those who want to ski on the resort's slopes it would be a more difficult option, due to the sports equipment.
The distance between Bucharest and Bansko resort is 520 km (of which 200 km are on the highway) and can be covered in about 7 hours. The price of fuel can vary, depending on the consumption of the car and the driving style of the driver, so for a round trip, at an average consumption of 6/8l/km you should pay about 600 lei. If you go in a group of 4 people, the price of transport is about 150 lei per person.
The best route from Bucharest is - Giurgiu - Ruse - Plevna - Sofia belt - Blagoevgrad - Bansko.
In addition to fuel, the bridge tax between Ruse and Giurgiu (13 lei one way and 4 leva return) and the specific Bulgarian vignette must be paid.
Other routes to Bansko from Romania:
For those from Oltenia or Banat, it is much closer to Bansko if the exit from the country is via the bridge over the Danube at Calafat or by ferry from Bechet - Oriahovo.
The distance between Craiova and Bansko via Calafat is 445 km, which takes about 6-7 hours.
Craiova - Bansko route through Calafat: Craiova - Calafat - Vidin - Tar Simeonovo - Montana - Bozurishte - Sofia - Blagoevgrad - Simitli - Gradevo - Bansko.
If you want to cross the Danube by ferry via Bechet, the route is: Craiova - Bechet - Oriahovo - Krusovita - Borovan - Vratsa - Botevgrad - Yana - Sofia - Blagoevgrad - Simitli - Gradevo - Bansko. The distance of the route Craiova - Bansko via Bechet is 420 km.
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Prices in Bansko
As for prices, you should know that a holiday in Bulgaria can be up to 4 times cheaper than one in our country. And you can't even compare the quality services offered by Bulgarians with ours (for parties). Thus, a night's accommodation in a local hotel starts at 20 euros for two people. Pensions for the same amount even include breakfast. In general, accommodation in a 3-star hotel costs an average of 25 euros per night.
Prices for ski passes, ski lessons and equipment hire are over 50% cheaper than other European mountain resorts. Prices per part start at 50 leva for one day, and if you take a multi-day pass, the price drops substantially.
As far as food is concerned, you can find out that for a meal at a local restaurant, two people will take out 35 leva (less than 80 lei) for 3 dishes. A beer or a mulled wine costs between 1,5-2 leva (one leva = 2,4 lei).
Food is about the same price as here, sometimes even cheaper. The same goes for taxis, which charge 0.80 leva/km.
In total, for a day's holiday two people will pay less than 100 euros for accommodation, food, skiing and winter activities, or other entertainment.
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