Bulgarian country guide, Bulgarian Climate, Bulgarian regions, Visiting Bulgaria

Bulgaria is situated in south-eastern Europe. It occupies the central part of Balkan Peninsula on both sides of the Balkan Range (the Balkans), from which the peninsula has taken its name. The greater part of the northern border with Romania passes along the Danube, and the eastern border is the Black Sea. The land borders with Yugoslavia and Macedonia to the west, with Turkey to the south-east, and with Greece to the south.

Bulgaria is a beautiful mountainous country, with tourism opportunities being one of its biggest assets. The modern ski resorts as Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo and Vitosha attract attention of lots of foreign tourists. Bulgaria possesses beautiful landscapes and beaches, and is becoming a real resort paradise. The Black Sea Coast on its East border is famous for its fine sanded beaches, and perfect temperatures of water and air. There are plenty of sea resorts (Albena, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Saint Vlas, Elenite and many others) and sea towns and villages (Varna, Bourgas, Balchik, Nessebur, Sozopol, Kiten and more) that give opportunity for great sea sports, family vacations and relaxing spa holidays.

Further, Bulgaria has more than 500 natural mineral springs, with water temperatures ranging from 20 to 60 degrees Celsius, whose baths and health spas are famous for holidays in spring and summer and huge tourist attractions. The most popular and well known spa resorts are Hissar, Velingrad, Devin, Varshetz and Pavel Banya. Thousands of tourists visit the mineral water spa resorts every month.

 

Divisions of Bulgaria:

The territory of the republic of Bulgaria is divided into 263 municipalities from 28 districts (provinces), grouped into 6 “economic regions”. The administrative territorial division is:

• North - West Region - Districts: Vidin, Vratza and Montana
• North - Central Region - Districts: Veliko Turnovo, Gabrovo, Lovech, Pleven and Russe
• North - East Region - Districts: Dobrich, Shumen, Varna, Razgrad, Silistra and Turgovishte
• South - West Region - Districts: Sofia- City, Blagoebgrad, Kustendil, Pernik and Sofia- District
• South - Central Region - Districts: Pazardjik, Plovdiv, Smolyan, Kurdjali, Haskovo and Stara Zagora
• South - East Region - Districts: Bourgas, Sliven and Yambol

 

Other facts about Bulgaria

 

Religion:

predominantly Eastern Orthodox. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch

Language:

the official language is Bulgarian and uses only the Cyrillic alphabet. To facilitate tourists, road and direction signs in populated areas, resorts, railway stations, airports and along the main motorways are also spelled in Roman letters. English, German, French, Russian and other languages are spoken in the country.

Time difference:

Winter time: GMT + 2 hours (October through March)
Summer time: GMT + 3 hours (April through September)

 

Location:

South-Eastern Europe, Balkan peninsula

Latitude:

43N

Longitude:

25E

Area size of Bulgaria:

110910 km²

Population of Bulgaria:

7577000 people

Country domain code for Bulgaria:

BG

International Phone code for Bulgaria:

00359

Capital city:

Sofia

 

Distances from Sofia International Airport to other cities:

Distance Sofia - Varna:

377.16 km

Distance Sofia - Bourgas:

341.754 km

Distance Sofia - Plovdiv:

131.714 km

Distance Sofia - Rousse:

251.338 km

 

Main Geographic Regions in Bulgaria:

 

6 - North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-East, South-Central, South-West

Provinces (Districts) in Bulgaria:

28

Total Municipalities in Bulgaria:

264

Total Towns and Cities in Bulgaria:

252

Total Villages in Bulgaria:

5078

 

Public holidays:

• January 1 - New Year
• March 3 - National day of the Liberation from Ottoman Domination
• Easter - Two days (Sunday and Monday) according to the Orthodox calendar
• May 6 - St. George's Day
• May 24 - the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and Slav Script
• September 6 - National Day of Bulgaria's Reunion in the year of 1885
• September 22 - Independence Day
• November 1 - Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders
• December 24-26 - Christmas Eve and Christmas
• December 31 - New Year's Eve