Summer rest in Bulgaria: what sea, beaches, resorts, interesting places, children's rest, hotels. An independent trip to Bulgaria by car, train: visa, card, language, currency, money, what can I bring from Bulgaria

Bulgaria has become the main overseas destination for Russians since the USSR, and since then has been confidently staying in the top five most popular destinations for recreation. Bulgaria map with resorts in Russian, language, money

Map of Bulgaria in Russian. What is the sea in Bulgaria?

Map of resorts in Bulgaria

View on the map of Bulgaria the location of attractions, museums, restaurants, entertainment parks and much more you can here. On the same page you can download a map of Bulgaria in Russian on your gadget to always have it at hand while traveling.

Language in Bulgaria

The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, many words are similar to Russian or have one root, you can often guess intuitively without an interpreter about the meaning of what they say to you. In Bulgaria, when using Cyrillic letters, the inscriptions in Bulgarian also do not constitute a particular difficulty for Russian-speaking tourists.

Street sign in Bulgarian

Money in Bulgaria. Which currency is better to take with you?

The national currency of Bulgaria is left. In circulation, there are notes in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva. Small change coins are called "stotinki", 1 lev = 100 stotinki. In the resort area, except for levs, dollars and euros are in circulation.

You can exchange currency in exchange offices and bank branches, in many places, rubles are accepted for exchange. In the exchange office you may encounter a heavily overpriced course. And, the sign on the exchanger can promise a very profitable percentage( 1-1,5%), but after the exchange you will be told that it is valid only for large amounts, and you will be taken with 15-20%, and it is unlikely to take back your moneywill succeed.

Five Bulgarian levs

In banks such fraudulent schemes are excluded, but banks only work until 4pm, and on Saturday and Sunday they have a day off, so take care of the exchange in advance. The most profitable way is to settle in Bulgaria in euros, and exchange rubles for euros before the trip.

Plastic cards are accepted for payment almost everywhere, even in small family establishments. Sometimes there are difficulties with the MasterCard system, and VISA cards are accepted for payment everywhere without any restrictions.

The money of Bulgaria - the left and the hundred-fold

Do you need a visa to Bulgaria and how much is it done?

To visit Bulgaria you need to obtain a national Bulgarian visa. Detailed information on the rules of filing, the necessary documents and the cost can be found on the official website of the Service-Visa Center of Bulgaria in Russia.

It is also possible to enter Bulgaria in accordance with the current Schengen visa, but only after you visit at least one of the Schengen countries on this visa.

National Bulgarian visa

Independent trip to Bulgaria by car, by train

Drive to Bulgaria by car

For self-trip to Bulgaria by car you need to arrange a special car insurance( green card).On the cost and terms of registration of such insurance, you can consult in any major insurance company. Copies of documents on the car and your driving license will need to be provided to the visa center of Bulgaria together with the main package of documents for the visa.

No special visa is required for transit through Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, but special fees will be required at the border crossing. To travel to other European countries( for example, through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary) you will need a Schengen transit visa that will allow you to stay in these countries for one to five days.

Highway in Bulgaria

The duration of such a visa will be calculated based on your itinerary. The transit visa must be issued at the consulate or visa center of the country through which you will enter the Schengen territory. When obtaining a visa, please note that they are for single entry and multiple entry - ask for the number of entries based on the planned route.

At the height of the summer season on the borders with Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova are often accumulated queues of cars, be prepared for the fact that the queue will have to spend several hours, including at night. In the border checkpoints, food and beverage prices are 1.5-2 times higher than in stalls in other sections of the route, it is worth to stock up on the products in advance if you have to spend a long time in line.

Motel and roadside restaurant in Bulgaria

For cars with tinted windows, cars with tinted windows are often not allowed for transit travel by car across Europe. Some sections of the road pass through mountainous terrain, driving along such roads requires certain skills. Also there are paid sections of roads, so it is worthwhile to prepare small bills and coins in euros without change.

In Europe, a network of roadside motels is quite well developed, if you want, you can find an inexpensive and well-equipped place for sleeping and resting on any part of the route. In Ukraine and in Moldova such institutions are much smaller, so there may be problems with overnight stops.

Mountain serpentine in Bulgaria

How to get to Bulgaria by train?

There are direct trains from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Sofia, Varna and Bourgas. There are also railway routes from other cities of Russia. Tickets are sold at the ticket offices of Russian Railways. Tickets to Bulgaria can also be purchased on the official website of RZD, to pay for tickets online you will need a bank card. Please note that on the RZD website only tickets for the next two months are available for sale, not earlier.

To travel by train you need a transit Schengen visa. Read how to get it.

Railway station in Burgas, Bulgaria

How to decide on a holiday destination in Bulgaria, where is it better?

Golden Sands: hotels, sea, beaches, landmarks

Golden Sands( in Bulgarian "Zlatni Piasci") is a natural coastal plain with a wide sandy strip along the sea. The farther from the sea, the more natural elevations and terraces, so families with children are more suitable hotels located closer to the sea.

In Golden Sands Bulgaria has a well-developed infrastructure: all kinds of water activities, sports grounds and discotheques of sanatoriums and boarding houses. There are open natural mineral springs near which the health complexes are built. The resort is one of the first places among the most popular in Bulgaria.

Golden Sands resort in Bulgaria

Golden sands are considered youth, there are a lot of entertaining establishments along the whole coast, music in many of them does not cease all night. But this does not mean that rest with children in Golden Sands is contraindicated. For parents with children there is a special kindergarten in which you can leave your child for a while. Also there are very decent hotels for families, equipped with children's playgrounds and other infrastructure.

Beaches in Golden Sands is a place where you can spend all day without exaggeration. They are equipped with everything you need. There is a large selection of catering establishments for any wallet. For the youngest, entire amusement parks are broken, where the little one is happy to ride for hours on the attractions. For tourists tired of the scorching sun, near the beaches are planted small parks and shady alleys, where it is convenient to wait out the heat.

Amusement park in the resort of Golden Sands, Bulgaria

Beaches in this resort are paid and free. Entrance is free everywhere, fenced off areas you will not meet. On free beaches you can settle with your equipment, but they are usually dirtier than paid ones, so the municipality removes them noticeably less often than paid plots, for the purity of which are watched by tenants.

On the natural features of the beaches in Golden Sands: they are ideal for swimming. Fine sand, level entrance to the sea, clean water without algae or unpleasant living creatures( jellyfish and biting fish).Waves are rare.

Infrastructure on the beaches of Golden Sands, Bulgaria

If desired, on any stretch of the beach you can buy a yacht ride along the coast, rent a catamaran, ride a banana or a water parachute. For the safety of tourists on any of the segments follows several rescuers.

The Aladzha Rock Monastery, the town of Balchik with its botanical garden and the summer residence of Queen Maria of Romania, Cape Kaliakra and the ruins of an ancient fortress, and the resort of Albena, where music festivals, exhibitions and open-air concerts are often held, deserve attention from sights in Golden Sands.

Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria

Best hotels in Golden Sands resort in Bulgaria:

• Hotel Melia Grand Hermitage 5 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Admiral 5 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Riu Dolce Vita 4 *, hotel reviews and photos here
• Grifid Arabella 4 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Kini Park 3 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Paradise Green Park 3 *, reviews and photos hotel here

Hotel Melia Grand Hermitage 5 *, Golden Sands, Bulgaria

Holiday in Burgas: the sea, beaches, sights

Burgas is a city that tourists prefer in many respects. Firstly, Burgas has its own international airport, seaport and railway station, where there are direct routes from Russia.

Secondly, Burgas has traditionally been considered one of the most inexpensive among all the resorts in Bulgaria. Thirdly, this is a large city, in which there is where to stroll and what to see. You can list it yet, but even these three items will suffice so that you will consider Bourgas as a place of rest more carefully.

Burgas, Bulgaria

The atmosphere of Burgas is very similar to the Black Sea coast of Russia: numerous hotels, guest houses and private boarding houses, lazy flocks of holidaymakers, sand sculptures on the beach, street vendors, restaurants of national cuisine, and other attributes of the resort seaside town.

The beaches of Bourgas are famous for their unique sand. Because of the high content of magnetite sand on the beach has a characteristic dark tint and has healing properties. A special charm to the beaches is attached to the Marine Park, which stretches for several kilometers along the coastline throughout the center of Bourgas.

Beach in Burgas, Bulgaria

This is a vast green area on which plants are planted from all over the world. Also there is a summer theater, a zoo, sports grounds, a casino, many walking paths and cafes. Throughout the park you can see sculptures of famous citizens and national heroes of Bulgaria.

Other sights worth mentioning are the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius, several museums, the ancient ruins of the fortress of Pyrgos and the famous lagoon of Burgas - three natural lakes, along the banks of which you can see rare species of birds( pelicans, herons, etc.)

Sea Park in Burgas, Bulgaria

The best hotels in the resort of Burgas in Bulgaria:

• Central 3, reviews and hotel photos for
• Mirage 4 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Primoretz Grand Hotel &Spa 5 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Helios Beach 3 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Bulgaria 4 *, reviews and photos hotel here
  Fors 2 *, reviews and photos hotel here

Primoretz Grand Hotel &Spa 5 *, Burgas, Bulgaria

Sunny Beach: the sea, beaches, landmarks

Sunny Beach( in Bulgarian "Sunny Beach") is the most "children's" of all resorts in Bulgaria. From the winds of the mainland, Sunny Beach is protected by the Stara Planina Ridge, so there is a complete calm almost all year round here. Of the plants, coniferous trees predominate, which makes the air particularly curative. You can not keep silent about the magnificent beaches, which stretched a continuous strip of fine sand with a gentle entrance to the sea.

Sunny Beach is divided into two parts: the old south and the new north. In the old part of the main building was still in the middle of the last century, in the 1950-1960's, so there the number of rooms is more modest, many Soviet-built buildings.

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

In the new part of the construction began 20 years ago and is still, respectively, in the north of Sunny Beach, much more modern hotels and large hotel complexes.

The beach strip of Sunny Beach is perfectly equipped. Along it along all the resort buildings a convenient pedestrian promenade is laid. The sea near the shore is shallow with a smoothly descending bottom, the entrance to the water is sandy.

Beaches of Golden Sands, Bulgaria

From entertainment in the resort of Sunny Beach are presented all the attractions and activites that you can imagine. Children's infrastructure is especially well developed. There are also many entertainment and entertainment facilities for young people. Annually the entire coast of Sunny Beach is awarded the Blue Flag - a sign of cleanliness and high ecology of the coast.

In addition to beach and water activities in Sunny Beach, there are variety shows, casinos, the most modern discos and clubs, cinemas and concert venues, equestrian club, bicycle rental, bowling and much more. Recently in the resort one of the biggest water parks in Bulgaria has opened.

Action Aquapark, Golden Sands Resort, Bulgaria

The main attractions of the resort Sunny Beach is its capital city of Nessebar. It is one of the most ancient cities in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the city is located on the fortress island, which connects with the land a small narrow isthmus.

The streets of Old Nessebar are simply crammed with unique medieval buildings and churches. The atmosphere of this place is difficult to convey in a few words, it is worth at least once to visit this beautiful place.

City of Nessebar, Bulgaria

Best hotels in Sunny Beach in Bulgaria:

• Helena Park 5 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Harmony Suites SPA 3 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Majestic Beach Resort 4 *, reviews and hotel photos here
• Neptun Beach 4 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Sveti Valentin 3 *, reviews and photos hotel here
• Blue Pearl 4 *, hotel reviews here

The most popular hotel complexes for families are the most popular Planet 4 *, reviews and photoscomplex look here.

From hotels for adults the most considered the best hotel is Imperial 4 *, reviews and photos can be found here.

Hotel Majestic Beach Resort 4 *, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

Ravda

Speaking about the resort of Sunny Ber in Bulgaria, it is worth to single out the town of Ravda - the center of children's and sports tourism, one of the most promising resorts in Bulgaria. There is a huge number of children's sports schools, summer camps for schoolchildren and students, an excellent base for water sports, where professional teams from many countries train.

Currently in Ravda is actively building hotels, private boarding houses, and entire residential complexes in which apartments are sold to all comers( in Russia, the demand for facilities in Ravda is quite large), and the most advanced resort infrastructure is also actively developing.

Residential apartments in Ravda, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

Holiday in Varna: the sea, beaches, sights

Varna is one of the few places in Bulgaria where beach holidays are successfully combined with the excursion program. The city was founded by the ancient Greeks;It is noteworthy that in ancient times the settlement was called Odessos.

In the era of the early Middle Ages Varna was the most important Christian cultural and commercial center, however in the XIV century it came under the authority of the Ottoman Turks, during whose reign the city turned into a well fortified impregnable fortress. It was only at the end of the 19th century that she finally managed to free herself from Turkish influence.

Varna, Bulgaria

Varna has the largest percentage of Russian-speaking local residents. In cultural terms, Varna can offer numerous museums, archaeological finds of antiquity and artifacts from prehistoric times, Orthodox churches, a botanical garden, a dolphinarium and a zoo, art galleries and exhibitions.

Varna beaches

Despite the fact that Varna is a major commercial port, this is not reflected in the cleanliness of the local beaches. On the South Beach of Varna, , in addition to traditional beach entertainment, there is an extensive lounge area with comfortable sofas, a sports center with freshwater pools and a spa.

Lounge area on the South Beach of Varna, Bulgaria

The central beach of the city boasts numerous nightlife, paid VIP areas, an abundance of cafes, and a seaside park - a green strip of plantations that stretches along the central part of the city.

Central beach of Varna, Bulgaria

Officer beach Varna is the most popular holiday destination for families with children. There are fewer people here than on the southern and central beaches, the coastal strip is equipped with everything necessary, here there are children's attractions and water activities. On the beach there is a unique pool with healing mineral water.

Officer beach in Varna, Bulgaria

BEADS BEADS is a place where young people and adolescents mostly prefer to rest. There are many water attractions for adults, there are volleyball courts, water scooters and catamarans.

Beach Bunite, Varna, Bulgaria

In addition to the above listed in Varna, there are several wild beaches( located on the outskirts), which often rest nudists and lovers of complete solitude.
With rare exceptions( wild beaches and some areas of Bunite) all the beaches in Varna have a sandy bottom and a gentle entrance to the sea, equipped with sun loungers, locker rooms and toilets.

Wild beach Pasha Dere in Varna, Bulgaria

Varna also includes beaches and resorts located in the outskirts of the city. The most notable of the suburbs of Varna is Chaika, the oldest and most colorful Bulgarian resort. The town is quite small, it is often chosen for a cozy atmosphere, small sandy coves and a chic forest, which sometimes approaches the shore itself. In the Seagull, one of the most democratic prices on the entire coast.

Chayka, Bulgaria

Best hotels in Varna resort in Bulgaria:

• Graffit Gallery 5 *, photos and hotel reviews here
• Dallas Residence 5 *, photos and hotel reviews here
• Best Western Park 3 *, photos and hotel reviews here
• Reverence 3 *, photos and hotel reviews here
• Swiss-Belhotel Varna 5 *, photos and hotel reviews here
• Complex Maxim 2 *, photos and hotel reviews here

Hotel Dallas Residence 5 *, Varna, Bulgaria

Other resorts in Bulgaria

• Albena - the only resort in Bulgaria, where municipal beaches do not charge for the use of sun loungers. A picturesque city, drowning in flower beds, a lot of entertainment for every taste
• Dunes - one of the youngest and modern resorts in Bulgaria. Most of the hotels in the resort are all-inclusive and they are huge hotel complexes

Dune Resort, Bulgaria

• Elenite is a small resort town that is chosen for a relaxed atmosphere, a dimension, a simple atmosphere and a large number of hotels offering a quiet family vacation
• Overview - a popular center for youth and children's tourism - the place where the largest concentration of children's camps and student centers. A lot of discotheques, entertainment centers, the center of romantic couples and incendiary parties

Elenite resort, Bulgaria

• Pomorie is a balneological resort that is famous for its curative mud and extensive sanatorium-health infrastructure. Another thing of pride at the resort is the endless vineyards, young wine and branded Bulgarian cognac, which is produced here
• Riviera - another center for sanatorium-and-spa treatment. Natural thermal waters and mineral springs are the basis of all medical procedures on the Riviera. The resort is very fond of young parents and grown-up couples for a calm sea, a shallow bottom and a relatively small number of holidaymakers.

Pomorie Resort, Bulgaria

• St. Vlas is a rapidly growing resort that began to develop from a small fishing village literally 10-15 years ago. The main value of the resort - most hotels here are new, modern, and the infrastructure meets the latest trendy resort trends.
• Sunny Day - once closed to ordinary mortals, the holiday home of Bulgaria's top people. Currently the resort is accessible to everyone, but still holds the brand of an elite resort, a prestigious balneology center, a pet of bohemia and wealthy families

Resort Saint Vlas Bulgaria

Sights of the Bulgarian capital Sofia

• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a national symbol of Bulgaria,on all guidebooks and booklets about the country. The majestic temple erected in honor of Bulgaria's liberation from the Turkish yoke

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria

• St. George's Rotunda is one of the oldest Orthodox Christian churches in Bulgaria. The walls of the church retained unique frescoes of the X-XI century. Currently there is a museum on the territory of the church, but festive divine services are still held here on special occasions

St. George's Rotunda in Sofia, Bulgaria

• National Park on Vitosha Mountain - in winter the favorite ski resort of the townspeople, in summer a place for rest on thenature, hiking and family picnics. From the observation platforms of Vitosha, a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding area opens up

National Park on Vitosha Mountain in Sofia, Bulgaria

• Boyana Church is an ancient temple at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, whose construction dates back to the 11th century. Most of the church attracts tourists with ancient wall murals and icons

Ancient frescoes of the Boyana church in Sofia, Bulgaria

• The Bulgarian Archaeological Museum is located in the building of the former main mosque of the Ottoman rulers. The museum exposition acquaints visitors with the history of Bulgaria from the beginning of times to the present day

Bulgarian Archaeological Museum in Sofia

• Hagia Sophia Cathedral is an active Orthodox church erected in the 6th century in Byzantine times. It was this church that gave the name to the capital of Bulgaria. During the time of the Ottomans, the church was converted into a mosque, and precious orthodox relics were destroyed. As a result of one of the earthquakes all minarets collapsed( in the opinion of Orthodox Bulgarians it was a punishment of God for outraging the main Christian cathedral of the country).The Ottomans considered the fall of the minarets to be a bad sign and left the church alone

The Hagia Sophia in Bulgaria

• The Cyril and Methodius Library is an impressive collection of Old Slavonic books and manuscripts, a historical museum dedicated to the Slavic writing and literacy. The exposition includes a large number of valuable book-printed samples.

The Cyril and Methodius Library in Sofia, Bulgaria

• The National Palace of Culture is the venue for exhibitions, festivals, concerts and other cultural events. The present center of cultural and social life of Sofia

National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria

• Zoo of Sofia is one of the best zoos in Europe. Unlike other zoos, there are no enclosures, animals are kept in conditions that are as close as possible to the natural habitat. The zoo is spread over a vast territory, the viewing of all its corners can take a whole day, but the place is so interesting that you will not notice how the time passes

Varan in Sofia Zoo, Bulgaria

• The National Gallery of Art occupies the building of the former royal palace and has one of thethe most impressive collections of medieval art in the entire post-Soviet space. The gallery regularly hosts exhibitions and lectures on historical topics

National Gallery of Art in Sofia, Bulgaria

What to See in Sozopol: Sights

• The Church of the Blessed Virgin is a small church of the 15th century. It is famous for being built during the reign of the Ottoman Turks. Because of the prohibition on the construction of temples during the time of the Muslim domination, the main premises of the church are erected below the ground level, therefore outside the temple looks like a usual house

Church of the Blessed Virgin in Sozopol, Bulgaria

• Castle "The Enamored Wind" is a modern tourist complex builtin the style of medieval buildings. The castle is surrounded by a park, broken by all the rules of landscape design of past centuries. Peacocks are walking in the park, there is a stables with expensive horses and a wine cellar. The castle and the park are open to all comers.

Castle "The Enamored Wind" in Sozopol, Bulgaria

• The island of Saint Ivan is the site of ancient sacrifices, later the territory of an early Christian monastery, destroyed by the Turks. At present, active archaeological excavations are being conducted on the island, many reconstructed objects are available for inspection.

St. Iván Island, Sozopol, Bulgaria

• The Apollonia Amphitheater is a Roman building in which classical music concerts and events of the Sozopol Culture Festival are held. The amphitheater was discovered very recently, at the end of the last century, and since then has gained great popularity among the city and tourists

Amphitheater of Apollonia in Sozopol, Bulgaria

• Southern Fortress - the old town fortifications of Sozopol, built by the Romans. On the territory of the fortress there is a historical museum, which presents various finds found in the vicinity of the wall. For inspection is available the upper part of the fortifications, where the inhabitants of Sozopol kept the defenses from besieging enemies

Southern Fortress in Sozopol, Bulgaria

• The old town of is the historical part of Sozopol, an architectural and archaeological reserve, on the territory of which there are many medieval buildings and buildings of ordinary townspeople of the XVII-XIX centuries. In the center of the Old Town there is the Aeological Museum of Sozopol

The Old Town of Sozopol, Bulgaria

Shopping: What to bring from Bulgaria

• Cooker masks - ritual objects for repelling evil spirits, made of different materials in traditional Bulgarian technique
• Wooden carvings and pictures of wood - traditional Bulgarian craft, the products of which will decorate any interior and will become a worthy gift to relatives
• Embroidery - tablecloths, napkins and handmade stoles with traditionalShedisi

Cooker Mask, Bulgaria

• wigs - handmade coverings and handmade pieces of colored fabric or hand-tied
• Ceramics - decorated with traditional Bulgarian ornament pottery: utensils, vases, jugs
• Articles made of copper tableware and interior, made by hand forging
• Rose oil or rose water , as well as various products made on their basis( soap, perfume, cosmetics)

Plate of wood, inlaid

• jam from roses is an amazing treat that is produced only in Bulgaria
• Sudzhuk - traditional Bulgarian cheese sausage seasoned with
• spices Rakia and mastic - strong spirits from fruits and anise
• Handmade icons made intraditional Bulgarian wood-based paints based on egg yolk

Jam from rose petals, Bulgaria

What to try in Bulgaria from food?

• Bean soup - prepared from canned beans with the addition of various vegetables, spices and country sausage, is considered a traditional dish on Christmas Eve
• The is a cold soup;salad of fresh cucumbers, greens, garlic and walnuts are poured with sour milk, diluted with water.
• Banitza - puff cake with different fillings, sometimes the layers are not horizontally arranged, but they are turned into a roll

Traditional pie "banitsa", Bulgaria

• Sarmi our cabbage rolls - minced meat with meat or vegetables twisted into leaves of grapes in summer, or cabbage leaves in winter
• Patatnik - lean pie without dough based on mashed potatoes, eggs and cheese with the addition of spices
• Güveç -meat and vegetables, cooked in a pot, can be lean( only from vegetables)
  Chutes falling - Bulgarian pepper stuffed with different fillings

National dish "Sarmi", Bulgaria

• Kapama - a dish of 4-5 different types of meat laid out in layers andseasoned with sauerkraut with the addition of spices, baked in a sealed container on a small fire for at least 4 hours.
• Cheverme - lamb roasted on a spit entirely

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