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Country Guide > Europe > Bulgaria | |
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Travel - Internal Air Bulgaria Air and Hemus Air operates domestic services connecting Sofia with the coast and main towns. The journeys from Sofia to Bourgas and Varna can be made in about one hour. Air travel is comparatively cheap, and is only slightly more expensive than rail travel. River Regular boat and hydrofoil services along the Bulgarian bank of the Danube link many centres, including Vidin, Lom, Kozloduj, Orjahovo, Nikopol, Svishtov, Tutrakan and Silistra. Rail There are over 4200km (2625 miles) of railways in the country. Bulgarian State Railways connects Sofia with main towns. Reservations are essential and first-class travel is advised. For details, contact the State Railway Office (website: www.bdz.bg). Road There are over 13,000km (8000 miles) of roads linking the major centres; their quality is variable and some main roads have major potholes, plus driving standards are generally poor. Traffic drives on the right. International road signs are used, although roadworks are often not signposted. Night driving can be dangerous owing to poor lighting. Foreign drivers are sometimes liable to extra road tolls. Additionally, if the vehicle is stolen in Bulgaria, import duty and related taxes must be paid: insurance may be taken to cover this. Speed limits are strictly adhered to: 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (55mph) outside built-up areas and 120kph (75mph) on motorways. In addition, the driver may be banned from driving in Bulgaria for up to three years. The nationwide alcohol limit is 0.05 per cent; on-the-spot fines of between Lv50-150 are imposed for offences. Spare parts are easily available. There are large numerous petrol stations. It should also be observed that car-theft is on the increase in Bulgaria, and all cars should ideally be fitted with alarms and other visible security measures. Car-jacking is also becoming more frequent, usually occurring at night, and with some criminals even impersonating traffic policeman in the process. It is best to drive in daylight. Bus: There is a good network of buses that are cheap and convenient but with erratic timetabling. Taxi: Available in all towns and also for intercity journeys. Vehicles may not be in top condition. Vehicles are metered, unless they are privately owned. Taxi meters may be rigged so that foreign passengers can be overcharged; foreign visitors should therefore take great caution in determining the correct fare before travel. A 5 to 10 per cent tip is appreciated. Car hire: Available through hotel reception desks. Available car hire companies include Avis and Hertz. There are no fly-drive arrangements through the airlines. Payment is usually in hard currency. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. A Green Card is compulsory. Urban Bus, tramway and trolleybus services operate in Sofia; in addition, a metro is under construction. Flat fares are charged and tickets must be pre-purchased. Buses and taxis operate in all the main towns. There are also trolleybuses in Plovdiv and Varna. Travel times The following chart gives approximate travel times from Sofia (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Bulgaria.
Note *From Varna Airport. **From Bourgas Airport. |