Interactive map and information of Bulgaria

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This political map of Bulgaria is a courtesy of World Sites Atlas

http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=42.729759&lon=25.49159&mag=12&q1=bulgaria

If you look at the center of South East Europe you can see the thirteen-century old Bulgaria. With a total area of 111.000 sq km this country has always been playing an important strategic location providing the Central Europe with the shortest way to the Orient.

Country overview
You've surely heard of the famous Valley of Roses in the city of Kazanlak. The town which has become an international tourist center bringing lots of people together right from the early June when the famous oleaginous roses start to bloom.

Landshaft full of magnificent mountains, vast valleys and a beautiful seaside - that is Bulgaria. A place which every keen tourist could explore and enjoy the sight of ancient forests, mineral springs, vineyards, flower gardens as well as the abundance of natural fruits and vegetables. It is a known fact that the animal kingdom here represents around 13,000 species or 14% of all European animals.

But don't forget the historical sights: traces from the ancient Thracians, old Roman and Byzantine ruins, medieval monasteries and churches as well as the places connected with the Turkish yoke and the National Anti-Fascism Movement.


Climate
The climate is temperate, continental and mild. A Mediterranean influence is felt in the country's southern regions making it suitable for sea cruises and recreation.

January - the coldest month has an average temperature of about 0C, and the summer temperatures usually exceed 30C.
Bulgaria is located in between the moderate and Mediterranean weather frontier. Northwards the atmosphere is mild-continental having four clearly expressed seasons, while southwards there is Mediterranean influence.

In this country there are 5 distinct climate areas: mild continental, transitional, continental-Mediterranean, Black Sea area and mountain area. For the first 3 main factors is the geographic width, for the mountain area is the relief, and the sea-side is influenced by the Blacksea.


Seasons
Spring is cool and rainy, with often falling hails and late frosts. First half of the autumn is cool, sunny and dry. During the second half the weather cools down, the cloudiness increases and the continuous rain is mixed with frequent mists and strong winds. Sometimes in the beginning of fall there are even frosts.

The most striking temperature distance is during winter period. The typical temperature for north Bulgaria is around -5 -10C and for south around 0C while during the summer it is around 22-25C.


Bulgarian winds vary with constant northwest and west winds causing warmth during autumn and rains during summer. Often there is a northeast wind - cold during the wintertime and warm in the summertime.
The regular rainfall is from 450-1300mm most of which appears in May and June in the highest parts of the mountains during winter. The snow cover stays from 10days in the Blacksea to 200 days in the mountain peeks.
Above 1500m you can find typical mountain-type environment with lower temperatures, strong rainfall and continuous snow cover with a common temperature of 10.5C.


Average season temperatures:(°C)
Spring +4..+12
Summer +12..+26
Autumn +12..+18
Winter -17..+4


Resorts



The world famous Bulgarian summer resorts are: Albena, Golden Sands, Sozopol, Nessebar, Obzor and Sunny Beach. The winter ones are: Borovetz, Pamporovo, Chepelare and Bansko.

It is worth mentioning that the 354km coastline runs in parallel with the eastern horizon - a feature that few beaches in Europe could offer. This is an advantage for every visitor who seeks romantic atmosphere and a fun vacation.


Health tourism

Here are the things which one can benefit from while being in Bulgaria:

Mineral water treatment

Bulgara has thousands of natural mineral springs. The water quality in many of them has similar components as in Baden-Baden or Vichy. That's why the mineral water therapy is so popular among the foreign tourists.

Some Bulgarian spas are built upon the sites of an ancient Roman and Turkish baths. A popular balneology and mudbath therapy centers are located in Pavel Banya, Hisar, Velingrad, Narechen, Vurshets, Kiustendil and Momin Prohod, also near Kostenets specialized in different ailments treating.

Hisar, with its impressive ancient Roman fortress ruins is recommended for renal and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Sapareva Banya sprang up around the hottest water spring in Bulgaria.
Narechen specialises in neural disorders, Pavel Banya in orthopaedic illnesses and traumas, and Sandanski in pulmonary diseases. The two large seaside resorts, Albena and Pomorie are offering mud-bath healing.

Most of these centers also offer rehabilitation and toning programmes like:
anti-stress, aromatherapy, massage, and Iye-phoresis, rheumatic pain therapy etc...

Bulgaria has a plenty of private cosmetic surgery and dental clinics with fees several times lower than the members of European Union. This has attracted the attention of large insurance companies covering clients medical expenses. That's why tourists are more willing than before to visit the lesser known East, where care will be much cheaper.


Dental services
Another popular benefit to the tourism in Bulgaria is the dental services. There is a variety of private dental surgeries and the prices are incredibiy low, compared to prices in Western Europe.

Some surgeries have dual pricing system for Bulgarians and foreigners so it is good to check beforehead.


Slimming centers
Other popular destinations are the slimming centres. A popular clinic for non-medicinal treatment of obesity is located at the Black Sea resort Sts. Constantine and Helena. Offering a mild form of therapeutic starvation practised under a quallified supervision combined with a daily allowance of one kilogramme of raw fruit to build up and healthy eating habits.

The stay in the sanatorium can vary from 10 to 20 days depending on the length of the procedures. It includes accommodation, daily doctor's rounds, personal consultation, individual diet, nutrition schedule and therapeutic examinations.


Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery also attracts many tourists. The plastic and cosmetic surgery clinics are investing in modern high quality equipment and good specialists.


Rights for the foreigns according to the bulgarian law
Bulgarian legislation grants to foreign citizens the right to treatment in all medical centers in the country. In case of emergency, foreigners can get help in the nearest center. Except in emergencies the foreign insures must be informed by the head of the medical center immediately about the treatment. The clinic or other medical center must inform the patient of the relevant costs prior the treatment. Short-term foreign visitors to Bulgaria who are not insured according to bulgarian regulations have to pay for their medical treatment.


Traditional dishes





Banitza - pastry filled with cheese, spinach or leek. Best consumed with a cup of yoghurt.

Kozunak - sugar sprinkled flavored bread like bun.

Shopska salad (with name coming from the native citizens of Sofia) – fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, sprinkled with white cheese.

Russian salad (Ruska)– potatoes, cold cuts, green beans, pickled cucumbers and mayonnaise.

Potatoe salad (Kartofena) – potatoes, onion, vegetable oil and vinegar.

Tatator – summer refreshing soup with fresh cucumbers and yoghurt.

Sandwich (Princessa)- bread toast with meat or cheese top.

Donner – chicken cuts, pickle cucumbers and sauces wrapped up in a small flat loaf.

Meat balls: Shishche, Kyufte, Kebapche.

Kyopolu - flavoured spicy stew of aubergines, tomatoes etc.

Giuvetch,Musaka - potatoes and meat with egg topping.

Shkembe chorba - spicy pork belly soup, for a better taste add some garlic & cayenne pepper.

Feta cheese - unique

Boza - deep thick and brown wheat cereal drink.

Beer – various brands – famous Kamenitza, Zagorka,Varna, MM, Ledenika etc…

Wine – superb quality

Rakia - Bulgarian spirit, brandy or schnapps, made from grapes, plums, peaches or other fruits.


Prices of services, food and beveragers

Public utilities:
Electricity 0,12Euro/kWh
Water 0,60Euro/m3


Telephony:
Stationary phone 90Euro/once + 6Euro/month
Inner-city call 0,07Euro/per call + 0.01/per minute


Mobile operators:
"M-TEL", "GLOBUL", "VIVATEL"
pre-paid service: 5, 10, 20Euro with 0,25Euro/min.
account: ~5 to 50Euro monthly. Please check vendors websites for more information: www.mtel.net ,www.vivatel.bg ,www.globul.bg


Internet:
Internet-LAN 12Euro/month
Internet-ADSL 15Euro/month


Fuel:
Gasoline 1Euro/litre
Diesel 0,8Euro/litre
Gas 0,8Euro/litre


Transport:
Bus 0.3Euro/town ticket
Taxi 0,25Euro/km.


Food:
Bread 0.3Euro/800gr.
Chicken 2Euro/kg.
Bacon 4Euro/kg.
Salami 2Euro/kg.
Cheese 2Euro/kg.
Fresh milk 0.5Euro/liter
Yogurt 0.5Euro/500gr.
Rice 0.5Euro/kg.
Paste 0.5Euro/220gr.
Jam 1Euro/300gr.
Coffee Jacobs Monarch 0.6Euro/100gr.
Coffee NESCAFE GOLD 5Euro/1kg.


Alcohol beverages:
Vodka Absolut, Finlandia… ~8 Euro/litre
Bulgarian brandy 3 Euro/0,7litre


At the restaurant:
Dinner for 2, including: 2 main dishes, 2 starters(salads), 2 juices and wine ~ 20Euro
Bulgarian wine from 2-50Euro/bottle(0,75litre)
Tips 1-5Euro


There are several ways to get to Bulgaria:

By plane

The 3 main airports are Sofia, Varna and Burgas. All airports operate through the whole year serving all destinations. Hint: You could also find cheap charter flights to Greece, Turkey, Serbia or Romania and then come to Bulgaria by bus or train.

Among the airlines which support online booking are:

Bulgaria-Air: www.bulgaria-air.co.uk

Wizzair:www.wizzair.com

Bmi:www.flybmi.com

Eastern Airways:www.easternairways.com

Flybe: www.flybe.com

Jet2.com: www.jet2.com

KLM: www.klm.com

Ryanair: www.ryanair.com

Air Southwest: www.airsouthwest.com

Swe Fly: www.swefly.com

Thomas Cook:www.thomascook.com

Air-via: www.air-via.com

Bulgaria Air: www.air.bg

Hemus Air: www.hemusair.bg

Malev: www.malev.com/bp/eng/index.asp

Once you are there here are the contact phones of the international Bulgarian airports:

Sofia 003592720672 www.sofia-airport.bg/default.aspx

Plovdiv 0035932551963 www.plovdivairport.com/

Varna 0035952500834; 00359500840 www.varna-airport.bg/Airport_new/Home/MainPage.asp

Bourgas 003595634062 www.bourgas-airport.com/l_en/index.php


By bus
There exists many bus lines to/from main European cities. For more information on which to choose ask your local travel agent.

You can use the websites to main international and domestic bulgarian bus lines:

www.businfobg.com

www.bus.light-bg.com


By train
There are several international railway destinations to Bulgaria from Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, Czech Republic, Russia, Belarus etc...

How well do you know Bulgaria?
Here are some quizzes that will tell you how well you know the local culture and tradition:
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII

They are benefit to those planning to come to Bulgaria shortly and will prepare them for the local customs and traditions. So play them - for fun and profit!


Interactive information
Links to an interactive information on Bulgarian history and culture in ages, landscapes, treasures, medieval towns, as well as nice image galleries. Everything that a real tourist needs!

http://www.otkrivam.bg is a tour guide featuring subtitled videos from the national satellite television: http://programata.bnt.bg/


Galleries
Urls to country's precious landscapes:

Photos

All around

Gallery - main cities and landscapes

Travel photo gallery

Mountains


Four reasons to be here
Every tourist dreams of visiting one or other place. And everyone has a different taste. Here are the main reasons for visiting Bulgaria:

1. To meet new people, to knew more about their life, towns, villages and culture.

2. To have some fun time, take photos or shoot a movie.

3. Surprise the relatives and friends with prospects, collections or souvenirs.

4. Get to know something new, untraditional and pleasant, buy a real estate property or land.