Before You Go: Bulgarian Travel Basics

You plan to limit your stay to 30 days within a 6-month period and are a citizen of the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, or Austrialia. EU countries (excepting Ireland and UK) can enter Bulgaria for 90 days within a 6-month period without a visa.

You are a citizen of another country or plan to stay longer than the allotted time allowed without a visa. Visas for a longer stay or multiple-entry visas should be gotten at a Bulgarian embassy in your own country, since it can be time-consuming and inconvienient to get a visa when you are already in Bulgaria.

Visitors to Bulgaria are required to register with the police within 48 hours of their arrival. Most hotels, hostels, campsites, or rooms rented through an agency should take care of this for you, but private stays require you to take this measure yourself. You will be given registration slips that you will present at passport control, so keep these in a safe place.

There are no vaccinations required to enter Bulgaria, and tapwater is safe everywhere in the country. However, getting innoculated against tickborn encephalitis is a good idea, especially if you will be hiking, biking, or camping. This vaccine is not given in the US, so US citizens should take other precautions against ticks.

Currency for Bulgaria is called lev. You should plan to do most of your spending in Bulgaria with cash, as credit cards are only accepted at more premier establishments or for car rentals--and to withdraw money from ATMs. Travelers' checks may not be accepted at many places either, though you may have better luck with them in Sofia.

Currency exchanges can be found in banks, hotels, and tourist offices. There are also private exchanges. You can expect to get slightly different rates at each. Beware the freelance money changers, as they are usually practiced in thievery.

Trains will take you around Bulgaria, but they can be slow. Timetables are difficult to come by, so you may have to actually go to the train station to plan you trip to another destination within the country. In the case that you need a sleeper car (for example, between Varna and Sofia), book in advance to be assured availability.

The conventions for bus travel varies from city to city. In Sofia, you can purchase intercity tickets in advance which will be punched at the time of boarding. In other cities, you pay per ride. If you plan to travel between cities by bus, look for private bus companies, whose buses are newer, cleaner, and faster.