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Bulgaria is situated in the south - east part of Europe, and in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsular. For centuries, the roads passing through the territory of the country have been connecting Europe with Asia and Africa. Four common European transport corridors, connecting West and North Europe with the eastern and southern part of the continent cross their roads here. |
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To the North, via the Danube River, Bulgaria borders on Romania, to the West – on Serbia and Montenegro and on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. To the South its neighbours are Greece and Turkey. To the East Bulgaria touches the Black Sea, which links it also to Russia, Ukraine. The Black Sea borderline is 378 km (240 miles) long.
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Territory
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110 993,6 km2 |
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Population
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7 973 671 |
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Capital
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Sofia |
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Official language
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Bulgarian./English, German, French and Russian is spoken in the country's resorts, hotels and restaurants/ |
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Political system
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Parliamentary Republic |
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Administrative regions
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Sofia – city, Sofia district, Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv, Rousse, Haskovo, Lovetch, Montana, Sliven, Yambol, Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, Gabrovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratza, Veliko Tarnovo, Pazardjik, Smolyan, Razgrad, Targovishte, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Kardjali, Stara Zagora. |
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Bulgaria occupies a relatively small area - 111 000 sq. km, but is nevertheless distinguished by generous and varied nature - a sea with a 380 km. long coastal line and golden broad beaches; 16 mountains with their own characteristics; shelters, valleys and high plateaus; over 550 curative mineral springs; 2000 unbelievable caves; a healthy climate and great diversity of flora and fauna. Bulgaria has many territories, which have preserved their natural state unique natural nooks, preserving a remarkable bio-diversity. The contemporary natural vegetation demonstrates a considerable ecological diversity - 12 360 species have been found in its composition, 3700 of them are higher plants. The Bulgarian fauna is no less interesting, with almost 13 000 animal species and subspecies, or about 14 percent of all European species.
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More than one quarter of the country's territory is covered with forests. The edelweiss, one of the rare plants grows in the high difficult accessible places in the Pirin Mountains and the Balkan Range. Bulgaria is famous for its oleaginous rose that blooms in the Valley of Roses. The Bulgarian tobacco brands are world-famous. Fishing is possible in lakes, dams, mountain brooks and sea; hunting not only in the numerous special hunting areas, but in almost in every mountain. |
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Rugged snow-capped peaks and soft green slopes, cool forests carrying the aroma of herbs and wild fruit, quick-flowing rivers and crystal-clear blue lakes, mineral springs and bio reserves, rare plants and herbs, large climatic and ski resorts and small picturesque villages with living traditions and folklore - every Bulgarian mountain has its own characteristic appearance, fascination and beautiful name.
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Bulgaria possesses a variety of natural forms, located in the range of 0 and 2,925 m. altitude. Its territory includes part of the lower Danube Plain, The Balkan Range – part of the Alpine-and-Himalayan chain, part of the Thracian lowland and to the south – the mountain structures of the Macedonian-Thracian massif. The best-known mountains are Rila (highest peak Mussala – 2,925 m.), Pirin (Vihren – 2,914 m.), Vitosha (Cherni Vrah – 2,291 m.), Stara Planina (the Balkan range -Botev Peak – 2,376 m.), and the Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik- 2,191 m.).
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The predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional continental. (2 000 to 2 400 hours of sunlight per year). There are clearly pronounced four seasons. The summer is dry and hot. Average temperature (April - September): + 23 °C .The winter is cold with snowfalls, average temperature: 0 °C. The average yearly temperature is 10.5 °C. A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the southwestern Rhodope Mountains. The northern limit of the climatic zone is the Balkan Range. The average January temperature in Sofia ranges between -4° and 2°. The July temperature ranges between 16° and 27° C. Along the Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges between -1° and 6° C and the July temperature ranges between 19° and 30° C. |
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The Black Sea is may be the most tempting and hospitable sea - clean and calm, without any tides or dangerous animals. The sandy sea bottom slopes gently, and is not dangerous for bathing and swimming even for the youngest holiday-makers. The Black Sea is half as saline as the Mediterranean. The Bulgarian seacoast extends over 378 km, dotted with vast beaches covered with fine golden sand. The majority of Bulgaria beaches have been awarded the EU Blue Flag for their environmental excellence. Air temperatures in summer vary between 23°C and 27°C, water temperatures between 17°C and 25°C. There are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September, and more than 300 in July and August. The deep-cutting coves and rugged shores, wooded hills and romantic peninsulas, vineyards and orchards, fishing towns and secluded campsites lend a unique fascination to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
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Holiday-makers have the unbelievable opportunity to choose from the big variety of resorts and accommodation places - depending on their budget and the kind of holiday they prefer. They can find anything from luxurious 4 to 5-star hotels, large holiday hotel complexes to private hotels, small guesthouses, not crowded and picturesque holiday villages, villas and rooms. The large major sea resorts are Albena, Golden Sands, Riviera Holiday Club, Sunny Day Tourist Complex, St. Constantine, Elenite Holiday Village, Sunny Beach, Dyuni Holiday Village. They tempt with the luxury; the innumerable sport and amusement facilities, nightlife entertainments and inland trips to noteworthy landmarks.
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Bulgaria has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with over than1 600 water sources. These are located chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts of all-national significance are Bankya, Velingrad, Sandanski, the mineral baths of Stara Zagora, Pomorie, Narechen, Sliven and Haskovo, as well as Kyustendil, Varshets, Pavel Banya, Hissarya, Shipkovo,Ribaritza, Momin Prohod, and Kostenets. |
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A network of 3 national parks has been set up (with a total area of 221 252.2 ha) – Rila, Pirin, and the Central Balkan; 9 natural parks (over 180 000 ha), reserves; as well as 2 234 protected territories and natural landmarks. Pirin National Park and Sreburna Biosphere Reserve have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. They together with other 16 biosphere reserves offer wonderful conditions for photo-hunting, scientific-and-cognitive tourism and hobby tourism, outlets walks in the nature. |
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No visa is required for purchasing a real estate or setting up a company within 30 days for citizens of the European Union.
Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need visa for a visit to Bulgaria for a period of up to 90 days within each period of six months: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need visa for a visit to Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days within each period of six months: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK, USA, and the Vatican.
For passport holders of countries enumerated in this section, a visa is needed only if: a. their stay in Bulgaria should exceed 30 days, or b. they require multiple entry for a longer period of time or a long-term visa.
Holders of valid ordinary passports do not need visa to enter Bulgaria in accordance with acting international agreements: Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Republic of Korea, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Tunisia, Yugoslavia.
Holders of passports of countries not mentioned in I, II or III need a visa to enter Bulgaria.
The processing of the visa applications can take up to 10 working days, as confirmation in each case has to be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria in Sofia
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(type "B" visa) - it can be single, double and multiple valid for 3, 6 and 12 months after the date of issue. It allows entering the country and a maximum stay of up to 24 hours in Bulgaria. The multiple transit visa allows entering the country for up to 90 times within each period of 6 months.
(type "C" visa) - it can be single or multiple valid for 3, 6 and 12 months following the date of issue. It is issued to foreign persons who travel to Bulgaria for tourism, on business trips or make private visits. It allows one or multiple entries into the country and a stay not exceeding 90 days within each period of 6 months (for more information visit the website of Bulgarian Embassy in London)
(type "D" visa) - it can be only single entry valid up to 6 months from the date of issue and a stay up to 90 days. It is issued to foreign persons who intend to apply for a long-term or a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria.
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