How to relax in Bulgaria yourself. How to organize an independent holiday in Bulgaria. Where to stay in Bulgaria: in apartments or hotels

The holiday season by the sea begins and I have a gift for you! Love Gordeeva, a professional in her field, tells about how to relax in Bulgaria in an interesting, tasty, comfortable and cost-free way. Lyubov lives in Bulgaria and organizes recreation. She knows everything about Bulgaria! Lots of photos, stories and tips on Luba's Instagram profile. If you use Instagram - subscribe Instagram.com/lyubovgordeeva And if you are not there yet, be sure to get yourself an Instagram account. There are not only cats and selfies, but a lot of interesting and useful information.
I give the floor to Luba).

My motto is relaxation without a headache. I know how uncomfortable it is to travel into the unknown, especially with small children. Therefore, in his blog on Instagram Instagram.com/lyubovgordeeva I talk about all the intricacies of holidays in Bulgaria, about the culture and traditions of this country. I myself live in Bulgaria, every day I go to shops, travel to different cities, communicate with people, and try to write about the most important and useful. My article is a help to those who are just planning to relax in Bulgaria. If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them - here or in private correspondence. Look for contacts at the very end.

When to go to Bulgaria for vacation

It is very easy to spoil your vacation if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, you love the heat and the sun, the warm sea and the non-stop beach, and arrived in Bulgaria in early June for 10 days. What are you at risk of getting? 2-3 cloudy days in a row and cool sea. For June, this is a common thing. The climate in Bulgaria is very mild. But June does not happen without rains and without cloudy days. And the sea is not yet fully warmed up.

Now, if you like excursions, wandering through the narrow cozy streets of the Old Town, discovering tiny cafes and shops, touching ancient ruins and medieval buildings - then you will definitely like it! And not only in June, but even in April and May.

By the way, we start sunbathing already in April, and children plunge into the sea from the beginning of May. So if you don't like heat and pandemonium - June is yours!

And also - September, the velvet season. In my opinion, September is the perfect month for a holiday in Bulgaria. The sea is warm, like fresh milk, the air and water temperature is above +20 degrees, the freshest seasonal vegetables and fruits, few tourists, all cafes and beach activities are still working (until mid-September, after the 15th, they slowly begin to close).

Choosing a city for a holiday in Bulgaria

The second important aspect is the place of rest. I can not tell you about all the resort towns in Bulgaria, so I will tell you about the most interesting ones for my taste.

If you want it to be noisy and fun - do not even hesitate and feel free to choose Sunny Beach! The city stretches for 10 kilometers along the sea, here is the widest (up to 1 km) beach. Thousands of hotels, cafes, restaurants, shops, clubs, casinos - whatever you want.

Here you can find very cheap hotels and apartments - from 15 euros per day. But there are also luxurious expensive hotels and complexes with a vast territory.

If you want to relax quietly and calmly - choose Ravda. Low-rise buildings, cheerful colored houses - hotels and apartments - tiny shops and restaurants, there is a promenade overlooking the sea and dozens of restaurants there. A kind of provincial resort life.

By the way, in Ravda there are very modern complexes with swimming pools, gardens of Eden, near the sea, with a closed protected area.

Rent of such apartments - 30-50 euros per day. Feel free to contact me, I will help you find the best accommodation options.

Another of the interesting cities in Bulgaria is Saint Vlas. Luxurious expensive city, it is called "little Switzerland". Mountain air mixes with the sea, forming healing air currents. In Soviet times, there was the most famous respiratory sanatorium here - people treated asthma and other respiratory diseases with air alone.

The most expensive apartments and hotels are here. Apartment rental - up to 200 euros per day. Even if you are relaxing in another city, be sure to visit the yacht port of St. Vlas. He will not leave anyone indifferent!

is a separate song. The old part, located on the peninsula, is protected by UNESCO, and is the cultural and historical center of the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Here are preserved architectural monuments created before our era! There used to be ancient Greek settlements on the peninsula.

Today, Nessebar is built up with small houses in the Bulgarian style, between which here and there are ancient artifacts, churches, baths. The first floors are occupied by souvenir shops, cafes. You can live right on the peninsula, in a tiny family hotel overlooking the sea!

Flights to Bulgaria

Where to stay in Bulgaria: in apartments or hotels

If you want to turn off your head and you have a short trip, choose a hotel. And even better - a ready-made tour. This does not mean that you will have to go on excursions with other Russians, it means that they will prepare a tour package for you, which includes flights, hotels, transfers from the airport and back, visas. And it will be cheaper than doing everything separately.

Hotels in Bulgaria with prices and reviews:

If you want to live in the country, feel the atmosphere, cook on your own (by the way, cooking from Bulgarian products is a pleasure) - choose an apartment. The apartments should have a kitchen, washing machine, refrigerator, air conditioning, balcony, dishes. Towels, bed linen. I will help you choose apartments for the most comfortable stay.

What to see in Bulgaria

Be sure to see Old Nessebar. And also - the old Sozopol. They are completely different, but here and there you will find thousand-year-old buildings, unique Bulgarian style, cozy cafes and restaurants.

Near Sozopol there is a very unusual place - Ravdinovo Castle. This is a new building. But it is so stylish and unusual that it will not leave anyone indifferent. This castle is a childhood dream of Georgi Tumpalov - he dreamed of living in a fairy-tale castle, and he built it himself.

Peacocks roam along the paths, quiet music plays, behind the fences - horses, llamas, other animals and birds - everyone lives peacefully, and is very fond of tourists. And in the pond in front of the castle swans swim - black and white.

Be sure to visit the tour "Bulgarian Village" - you will see how the Bulgarians traditionally lived - how they ran the household, how their houses looked like. The program includes a master class on cooking traditional Bulgarian food, a pottery lesson, as well as an unforgettable concert with national songs and dances (this is not a folklore circle for you, the spectacle is very powerful and unforgettable), and even dancing on hot coals. Around the stage are tables with traditional Bulgarian dishes, but drinks are unlimited.

If you have a thirst to visit as many interesting places as possible - go to Plovdiv, to the Shipka mountain, to the Rila Monastery, visit the home of the famous soothsayer Vanga or swim in the mineral springs in Hissar.

Bulgarian cuisine: what to try?

Bulgaria has a very rich national cuisine, and this is what it is definitely worth going to Bulgaria for! First, the portions! Do not try to order two salads for two. Try to master one first. I'm not talking about main courses. Portions are huge! Secondly - diversity - Bulgarians know how to perfectly cook fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes. The main thing is to know the places.

Shopska salad - it would seem - cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers (here, by the way, it is called Californian) - but it is so delicious!

Tarator is a traditional summer soup with sour milk, similar to our okroshka. Without sausage, but with garlic and fresh cucumber.

Be sure to try sach - a dish on a hot frying pan of vegetables, meat / fish / seafood - portions 400-900 gr.

Banitsa - a pie made from the thinnest dough and cheese - be careful not to swallow your fingers!

Seafood - try everything - fish, mussels in various sauces, shrimp. If you are having dinner with a large company, order a fish plateau - it's just an explosion of taste buds!

Instruction

Choose a resort. The cost of living and meals in different resorts in Bulgaria is different. On the most popular ones, such as Albena or Golden Sands, prices are about twice as high as on little known ones. In resorts located north of Burgas, payment for all types of services will be an order of magnitude higher than in those located south of this city. One of the best places to go is Primorsko. This is an inland resort. Mostly Europeans also rest here. There are very few Russians here.

Choose an inexpensive hotel. The cost of living in different resort towns depends on the proximity of the hotel to the sea and the level of comfort. In Primorsko you can choose a hotel located just 30 meters from the beach. There is a smooth descent to the sea, which is undoubtedly convenient for parents with small children. The room usually has a TV with Russian channels, air conditioning, shower, toilet, refrigerator. Half of the rooms have a sea view. In season, such a double room has a price of 25 euros per day. And, for example, the cost of the same room in Golden Sands will cost you 100 euros per day.

To save on food, it is better to go to eat in inexpensive cafes, which are plentiful in the resorts. Even at the peak of the season, you will spend 10-15 euros on a family dinner, if you do not abuse expensive wines. You will not stay hungry, because. portions of side dishes and salads are huge. Dinner for one adult at the hotel - about 7 euros.

There are many ways to get to your destination: by train, by plane, by your own car. But if we are talking about an inexpensive vacation, preference should be given to the bus. For 24 hours of moving you will pay about 75 euros. If you decide to fly from Moscow to Varna, Burgas or Sofia, then you can fly with Bulgaria Air and Aeroflot flights, the flight duration is 2 hours 55 minutes. Aeroflot offers flights 6 times a week, and Bulgaria Air - 7 times. The average ticket price is $400, but there are special offers. If you travel by train, the trip will cost you about 200 euros.

There are things that you should take with you, so as not to give extra money for them later. Take the boiler. It will be of great use to you. If you smoke, then buy in advance and take a pack of cigarettes with you (depending on how long you are going to rest). In Bulgaria, cigarettes are very expensive, so consider this point in advance. And do not forget to take a first aid kit and a supply of water with you. Acclimatization moments can be difficult for you, so everything needs to be planned. Take your camera with you. It is better to capture your vacation yourself than to pay for the services of private photographers.

Sources:

where to relax cheaply in bulgaria

For several decades, holidays in Bulgaria have been very popular among Russian tourists. The wonderful mild climate of this country allows us to call it a real health resort of Eastern Europe. Why is Bulgaria so attractive? Golden Sands, Sunny Beach: these names are already familiar to many tourists. After all, there you can not only improve your health, but also take a break from the noisy city and everyday bustle. Bulgaria hides a lot of new and unknown, and every tourist can make some discoveries for himself by visiting cultural and historical monuments, mountain ranges. Great opportunities for recreation, well-developed infrastructure make Bulgaria an excellent place for a family vacation, and alone. Moreover, the absence of a language barrier and low prices significantly distinguish holidays in Bulgaria from other countries. You will have positive impressions of your holiday in this country not only in summer but also in winter, as you can visit many well-equipped ski slopes and admire the winter forests. What places will undoubtedly leave a lot of positive emotions from a visit to Bulgaria? Here are some of them.

Instruction

The magnificent city, located on the southern coast of Bulgaria, is considered one of the oldest in Europe. It arose from a small, founded by the Thracians in the 2nd century AD. Nessebar is divided into two parts: Old, located on the peninsula and New. New Nessebar is the embodiment of the modern world: many restaurants, bars, comfortable hotels, discos.
Old Nessebar, located on a peninsula, is connected to the land by a long narrow isthmus (only 10 meters). The Old Eastern Gate with pentagonal towers decorates the entrance to Nessebar. The city is rich in beautiful churches, but St. Stephen's Cathedral makes the most indelible impression on tourists. The architecture of the churches combines the Slavic and orthodox Greek traditions. Nessebar, no doubt, can be called a city-museum.

Varna is a beautiful city, an ideal place for the whole family. A well-known resort, famous for its sandy beaches and the surprisingly calm Varna Bay, where even children can swim safely. The famous Seaside Park stretches along the beach line with many museums, a wonderful aquarium and a dolphinarium. Numerous monuments testify to the rich history and culture of Varna: Roman baths built in the 2nd century AD, Asporuhov Bridge - the largest on the Balkan Peninsula, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin.
Varna is not only a wonderful city for recreation, but also a useful one. The thermal springs that bubble up in Varna and its surroundings provide everything you need for an effective treatment.

Albena resort takes pride of place among the best resorts in Bulgaria. You will be captivated by the amazing combination of the richest nature and the calm water surface of the sea. Many different complexes have been concentrated here, where you can combine treatment with a pleasant stay, enjoy spa treatments.
If we talk about sights, then we cannot fail to mention the Palace of Queen Mary, which is of great cultural and historical interest. In this residence, the Romanian queen received guests from all over the world. A unique place in the palace is the garden, which surprises with its design and diversity of flora. We can say with confidence that visiting the royal palace will please everyone.
Albena is perhaps the most interesting and most suitable resort for families with children. There is absolutely everything for them here: from special children's clubs, playgrounds, swimming pools, equipped especially for children, ending with Luna Park, visiting which, children come to incredible delight!
Adults will also find activities for themselves. Fans of horses and equestrian sports will be able to visit the equestrian base. And for lovers of outdoor activities, tennis courts and football fields are open.
Having visited Albena only once, I want to come back here again and again!

Tip 5: What to see in Varna while traveling in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is a country that is great for summer holidays on the sea coast. One of the largest seaside towns in Bulgaria is “beautiful sunny Varna”, as the locals call it. It is here that numerous tourists come during their trip to the resorts to get new impressions, plunge into local life with its national flavor, and at the same time buy souvenirs and cheap sheepskin coats. What to see in Varna in order to have time to get an idea about it in one day and enjoy it?

Tired of sunbathing on the beach? Let's find out what Varna can offer vacationers. People come to this city from neighboring resorts for one day or purposefully choose it as a place to stay during their holidays. At first glance, Varna may seem rather boring. Especially if you pass it and go further, to other cities. Meanwhile, the most interesting thing awaits you in its historical center, in an area called Odessos, and a walk is more in line with the spirit of the ancient city, which is about two thousand years old.

So where to go first of all in Varna? Start with the Cathedral - the visiting card of the city. It can be seen from afar, and any resident of the city will immediately show you how to find it. Walk around the cathedral, go inside, inspect its magnificent murals.

Then, standing with your back to the main entrance to the cathedral, cross the road through the underpass and go to Independence Square, in the middle of which you will see a large fountain, and on the right - the magnificent building of the Opera House. Here begins the walking part of the city, intended for tourists. When you reach the New Yorker store, turn left and explore the shops and cafeterias, as well as the architecture of this part of Varna. Turning from "McDonald's" to the right, you will reach the main entrance to the "Primorsky Garden".

This is a large coastal park where you can spend the whole day. In the summer, exhibitions, concerts and holidays are constantly held here, cafeterias, rental of bicycles and other vehicles, as well as an amusement park are open from morning to evening. There are also several playgrounds for children's games, and a mini-train will take you around the entire perimeter of the park. In Primorsky Garden there is a zoo, the Naval Museum and the Aquarium, there is an equipped playground for rollerbladers. You can explore all corners of this park for a long time, and then go down to the sea. The city beach is quite suitable for swimming, and on the coast there are restaurants around the clock where you can dance all night, and on weekends there are concerts of popular youth performers.

Another park where you can have a good time is Asparukhovsky. It is located at the foot of the Asparuhovsky bridge, which in itself is a landmark of Varna. In the park itself there are playgrounds, cafeterias and the Fanagoria entertainment and historical complex with a show program that clearly demonstrates how the ancient Bulgarians lived, worked and fought.

By the way, opposite the Cathedral there is another interesting place: before reaching Independence Square, you can turn right and get to the souvenir market, where silver jewelry, beautiful shells, magnets and mugs with the symbols of Bulgaria and Varna, as well as tablecloths and famous cosmetics are sold daily. from roses - the pride of this country.

Among other things, there are many museums in Varna, among which the largest is the Archaeological Museum. Guests of the city are impressed by the Roman Baths - an open museum in the middle of the historic center of the city. These are the preserved remains of Roman buildings, which impress with their scale and antiquity.

During the season, Varna lives a busy, active life both at night and during the day, and if you wish, you can find many ways to have fun in this seaside city of Bulgaria.

First of all, you need to take care of the visa. It should be remembered that you can enter Bulgaria on a Schengen visa, or if there is no such visa, you need to get a Bulgarian tourist visa. The cheapest way to make a visa yourself is through the Bulgarian Embassy, which is located in Moscow on Mosfilmovskaya Street. You should plan your vacation in advance, then you can significantly reduce costs. When choosing a travel date, you need to take into account that there are several seasons in Bulgaria: low season (May, early June, late August, early September), high season (late June, July, early August). Accommodation prices are cheaper in the low season. For accommodation, you should rent an apartment. Price for a studio - 35 euros, for a one-bedroom apartment - 40 euros per day, 150 meters from the beach. All apartments have kitchens, so you can save a lot on breakfast and possibly dinner, and sometimes lunch. From personal experience, it is better to rent apartments from Russia and in advance. Closer to the season, it is almost impossible to find good apartments at a low price. Having chosen the apartment and decided on the trip, you need to take care of the travel. There are several options: get there by train, plane. If you are traveling for more than two to three weeks and you are more than two people, you can choose to travel by car. If your trip is short, it is better to choose a plane. For charter flights. You can buy such tickets on travel websites and travel agencies. Having planned your trip, you need to go to an insurance company and take out medical insurance, as well as insurance for a car or "". Medical care in Bulgaria is quite expensive. When leaving, exchange rubles for euros. Although in Bulgaria they willingly exchange rubles for the local currency, the Bulgarian lev, the exchange rate is rather unfavorable, especially during the season.

Our first trip was introductory. I wanted to expand the list of travels, adding to it a country that is not far from flying, and in which there is a sea. Then we discovered many pluses for ourselves, without finding any significant minuses. After the birth of a child, Bulgaria became completely ideal for us:

Small distance. Fly from 2.5 to 3.5 hours;
Mild climate. No sweltering heat and too high humidity;
Food. Very tasty, inexpensive, while in any cafe you can find dishes that fit under the category of "children's menu".
Language. Bulgarian, somewhat similar to Russian. Signs are written in Cyrillic, not Latin. At the same time, many, especially the older generation, know Russian. We never had any communication difficulties.

Why do we organize the trip ourselves. Because it is interesting and not difficult. Moreover, every year more and more services appear on the Internet where you can book a hotel,. All this takes not so much time, while saving significant funds.

On holiday in Bulgaria. Where to look for cheap flights to Bulgaria?

There are various ways to get to Bulgaria:

By car, through the territory of Ukraine or Belarus;
By train. Until 2014, there was a railway connection between Moscow and Sofia, train number 59/60 ran between the cities. Now it has been cancelled. So Bulgaria can only be reached with transfers.
By plane. This is the fastest and most common way.

We do not consider ourselves aerophobes. Therefore, we always fly to Bulgaria. This is especially convenient with a child. We never had any problems: fast, comfortable, affordable. There are several ways to find cheap air tickets:

Search for air tickets on airline websites;
Search for air tickets for charter flights;
Search on metasearch engines for air tickets.

The planes of the Russian Aeroflot, its daughters Rossiya, S7, the Bulgarian Bulgaria Air and others depart from Moscow and other cities to Sofia, and the resorts of Burgas and Varna. Most often we refer to the site AviaSales. To search for tickets, you can either use the search form right here:

In the resort area of Bulgaria, there are international airports in and. The distance between cities is 150 km. Burgas Airport is slightly larger than Varna and in summer the passenger flow is higher. From Burgas Airport it is more convenient to get to,,. From closer to, Kranevo, Balchik.

Visa to Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a country of the European Union, but it is not yet officially included in the Schengen zone. Although you can enter here on a Schengen visa category C and D, if you have one. And so for a trip to the country you need to issue. We have never had any problems getting it. We collect the necessary documents, take them to the visa center and, on average, after two weeks, we have an entry permit in our hands. If you do not want to deal with the visa application yourself, you can contact.

You can enter Bulgaria on an open national visa of Cyprus, Croatia, Romania. And with a Bulgarian visa, you can safely go to these countries. There was also talk that Russian citizens would be able to obtain a Bulgarian visa upon arrival at the airport. But this is contrary to the laws of the European Union.

Travel insurance for people traveling abroad (TZR)

Medical insurance with a coverage of 30 thousand euros is required to obtain a visa to Bulgaria. It is issued by any insurance company. We recommend comparing the cost of travel insurance (TVR) on the website (an online service for comparing and selling travel insurance)and on the website - “with the best assistance in Russia - the company Mondial. This is the only assistance with an “AA” rating from Standard&Poor’s.” By the way, we have always dealt with this particular assistance, not knowing that it is “the best”, and only good impressions have been formed about it.

Resorts in Bulgaria

Without exaggeration, we traveled all over the Black Sea coast. And among our favorite resorts -,. Going to, you need to know exactly the main purpose of the visit. It will be a family and measured vacation, noisy and youthful, exclusively beach or sightseeing. It is from here that you need to push off.

The currency of Bulgaria is Lev (BGN)

The national currency of Bulgaria is the lev. Not the euro, although the country is part of the EU zone. To avoid confusion, rubles at home must be exchanged for euros, and upon arrival, euros for levs. Rubles can be exchanged for levs in Bulgaria, but not everywhere and the exchange rate is not very favorable.

It is impossible to pay euros according to Bulgarian laws, but some shops and shops violate these laws. And here the main thing is not to fall for the bait. All prices are in national currency. A tourist, not knowing this, pays in euros, actually overpaying twice. At the official exchange rate, 1 euro is equal to about 2 leva. And for information, 1 lev is equal to 35-40 rubles. The international designation of Bulgarian money is BGN.

It is best to change money in banks and in street exchangers, and not in hotels and airports. Cards are accepted in large cities, shopping centers, and in remote settlements there may be problems with terminals. Do not neglect the local pennies - stotinki. For 70 stotinki you can buy an ice cream cone, for 50 a bun, for 40 you can buy coffee from a vending machine.

Accommodation: private sector or hotels, which is better to choose for a holiday in Bulgaria

During our travels, we lived in various hotels and also rented accommodation. Each option has its own advantages. A hotel vacation frees you from everyday worries, thoughts about an umbrella and a sunbed on the beach, about what to eat for breakfast. But a long stay in a hotel is still a costly business even in budget Bulgaria.

If we go to the country for a long period, we rent housing. They often rent apartments in very modern residential complexes. Where the territory is closed, there are swimming pools and decent dining rooms, maids clean up on request for a moderate fee. Such housing in the summer will cost an average of 50-70 thousand rubles a month, this is for three people. So the terrible picture of eternal cleaning, cooking, ironing on vacation is not so real.

When the child was very small, the presence of a kitchen was a must for us. At any moment it was possible to sterilize the bottles, cook something, heat it up. In hotels, the options for meals depend on the travel program. If it is full of excursions, breakfast is enough, if it provides for lying by the pool - “full board” is an option, but not necessary. There are so many restaurants, cafes with reasonable prices in Bulgaria that you definitely will not stay hungry.

Booking a hotel or renting an apartment is easy. For those looking for an apartment, the site is suitable Airbnb. Here you can compare prices, read reviews of other guests, see photos and geolocation. Many praise this service on the Internet ( Airbnb) We haven't used it yet. In our opinion, the rental service is more convenient, but each tourist chooses for himself what is convenient for him.

When looking for a hotel, you can recommend booking systems such as agoda.com and booking.com. Both of these hotel booking systems have their own separate contractual relationship with hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world, so you can use these two systems at once to find a hotel and the best prices. But for the global search for hotels, there are also search aggregators - metasearch engines that look for hotel offers among a variety of booking systems. One of them is a Russian project Hotellook and international project.

We compare prices, choose, book, pay with a card and prepare for the next trip.

Transfer, taxi and public transport in Bulgaria

And so you booked a hotel room or an apartment, bought air tickets - the question arises, how do you get from the airport to your chosen holiday resort? For example, the airport of arrival Burgas (for Varna airport, the algorithm is about the same), you have several options:

Taxi. Taxis in Bulgaria are expensive, even compared to Moscow and Sochi, from 60 to 120 rubles / km (depending on the resort). At the same time, unscrupulous drivers can cheat and choose an incredibly long way, and the meter can spin much faster than expected. Taxi drivers won't haggle at the airport, not because they don't want to do it, but because their colleagues won't let them do it (by the way, this applies not only to airports, but also to large shopping centers like Burgas Plaza, we just moved away from the shopping center to the road and caught a taxi there one and a half times cheaper, at the airport such a reception is not very convenient - after a three-hour flight with suitcases, you won’t want to go somewhere).
Public transport. There is a bus stop about 300 meters from Burgas Airport, and if you are light and not so tired from the flight, and you have a desire to wait for the bus, then you can save a lot, a trip to Sunny Beach will cost you 6 leva (3 euros), up to Pomorie - 3 levs, Sozopol - 4.5 levs.
Rent a Car. If you plan to rent a car in Bulgaria, then when booking a car online, you can indicate that you will pick up the car at the airport, so you also save and save well. You need to book a car in advance via the Internet, you can find great deals on car rental at Myrentacar.
Transfer. “Transport transfer is the transportation of a passenger from an agreed place to another pre-agreed place” (Wikipedia). We recommend ordering a taxi from the airport to your chosen resort in advance, through the following online services:And intui.travel

Holiday cost

When calculating future expenses, travelers should keep in mind about the dependence of prices on a particular month. During the period of influx of tourists, the cost of both services and products increases markedly. The only thing that remains unchanged

If there is an opportunity to go to Bulgaria, then some are faced with a choice: buy a tour to Bulgaria or go traveling on their own? When traveling on your own, there is no need to stand in line at a travel agency, take tours that are offered, and not what you would like.

There is nothing difficult in independent travel. It is enough just to have some information about the country, to show imagination, and you will save your strength and money, besides, during the "free swimming" you will get a lot of unforgettable impressions.

Europeans do not always use the services of travel agencies, independent travel has been practiced there for a long time, all the more so it is not necessary to issue visas to visit many states of this continent.

Bulgaria is no exception, the country is attractive for tourists to visit with a variety of natural landscapes, there is a sea, mountains, caves, waterfalls, historical and cultural monuments, ancient cities, temples and monasteries.

The cost of the tour, which is offered by travel agencies, includes a flight to the place of rest, transfer, accommodation and meals at the hotel, excursions are possible. However, it will be cheaper to buy these services separately.

You will not be limited by the time frame of the voucher and choose the length of your stay in the country yourself. Tourists who travel on their own are unlikely to ever return to organized tourism.

On vacation, a sense of peace is very important for many, there is no need to be tied to a whole crowd of compatriots, where someone else chooses all the services for you, right down to restaurants and menus. Not to mention excursions that are not interesting for you, unnecessary shops.

If you do not like the hotel, there is an opportunity to change it to a more convenient one. After all, an advance payment is usually made in 2-3 days, approximately 30%, the rest is on the spot. In this case, you can search for yourself. There are many websites dedicated to hotels on the Internet. Find information about the hotel you are interested in, read reviews,. When buying a tour in an agency, it is almost impossible to change the hotel.

Traveling on your own is convenient when you have chosen a combined tour: for example, upon arriving at a vacation spot, you would like to stay at sea for 5 days, go to the mountains for 3 days or make a pilgrimage trip to some Christian shrine, travel around the country for 7 days and again return to the sea. You can plan your trip so as not to overpay for the hotel.

Organizing an independent tour will seem difficult only for the first time.

For those who decide to go to Bulgaria on their own:

Flights

Choice of hotel, apartments

Hotels are different, comfortable star, family, private apartments, rural houses.

Choose which option suits you best. An apartment is an apartment with a kitchen and a bathroom. The price includes bed linen, dishes, refrigerator, TV and more. But in the apartments, unlike the hotel, there are no maids and porters. The cost of apartments will be cheaper, the level of comfort is not inferior to the hotel. Renting an apartment is easy, read how you can do it.

Insurance

A requirement for entry into many countries is. When insurance should be provided with other documents. It is best to buy insurance online, it will definitely be cheaper.

Transfer

Transfer - transfer from the airport to the place of residence on vacation. You can do this on your own, by public transport, by a pre-rented car or taxi. You can read about the features of transport in Bulgaria in the article.

So you took the risk of arranging a vacation in Bulgaria on your own, and rightly so! that's the right decision! Why pay more when you can save on self-selection of a vacation spot, route, transport and housing. And the money that you save is better spent on yourself and get more pleasure and benefit for the same amount.

Bulgaria, namely Bulgaria, because it loves Russian tourists and gives them a pleasant, interesting holiday with low prices and high quality. In Bulgaria, everything is clear at home, the locals have a familiar mentality, they are hospitable and cordial, have clear thinking and familiar jokes. Bulgaria is not Asia, it is very difficult to get confused.

Today, almost everyone has international passports, but each country has its own requirements for the validity of a foreign passport. For a trip to Bulgaria, the validity period must be at least 3 months (180 days) from the date of departure from the country. In order to avoid trouble at customs, in case of extending your pleasant stay, it would be better to extend the validity of your passport up to 6 months.

Recently, there have been rumors on the Internet that it is not necessary to take a visa to Bulgaria, it can be obtained upon arrival at the airport. Unfortunately, this information remained only at the level of rumors. You need a visa for Bulgaria.

A visa to Bulgaria can be obtained in two ways:
Method 1. Contact the travel agency, in this case, all your headache becomes the headache of the travel agency, but you will have to pay for this.
Method 2. Make a visa yourself.

Since you have decided to organize your own holiday in Bulgaria, it means that you will be interested in the method number two. In this case, you need to prepare documents, prepare a consular and service fee, and submit it all to one of the following authorities:
1 Visa Application Center
2 Visa section of the embassy
3 Consulate General of Bulgaria in St. Petersburg or Moscow

When applying for a visa to Bulgaria on your own, you need to keep in mind that the following types of visas are suitable for tourist purposes: guest, tourist, multiple entry, or Schengen category C or D.

In the event that you visit Bulgaria on a Schengen visa, you should know a pleasant moment that the days that you spend in Bulgaria on a Schengen visa are not counted in the number of days allotted for Schengen.

You can also get a free visa to Bulgaria, but in this case you will need a serious reason for this. A free visa to Bulgaria is issued only if the applicant travels to Bulgaria for language courses.

How to get to Bulgaria. There are many options to get to Bulgaria: plane, train, bus, own transport, boat on the Black Sea, hitchhiking or a mix of different modes of transport.

Certainly the fastest, most comfortable and convenient aircraft. It takes only 2 hours to fly from Moscow to Bulgaria. Agree that this is a significant advantage in the temporary restriction of vacation.

The fastest way to get to Bulgaria is by plane

For those who are thinking of making their trip to Bulgaria by train, keep in mind that not only will you have a tiring 4 day train trip, you will also lose 4 days of your tourist visa. Those. if you have received a visa to Bulgaria for 12 days, then taking into account the travel back and forth by train, the time spent in the car will be more than the holiday in Bulgaria itself. You will also have to cross several borders with all the charms of customs, purchase a transit visa to Romania and travel in a trailer car.

For extreme people - lovers of buses. You can get from Moscow to Burgas in 2 days, travel through five countries, having an unforgettable experience of communicating with a huge crowd of border guards from five countries (those who have passed this test say that this is really an unforgettable “pleasure”)

Bus to Bulgaria, only for extreme people and not for the faint of heart

Currency in Bulgaria. The main currency in Bulgaria is the Lev (BGL), equal to 100 stotinki. The approximate exchange rate of the Bulgarian lev against the dollar today is 100 Bulgarian lions equal to 66 US dollars.

The import of Bulgarian and foreign currency is not limited. If the amount of imported currency exceeds 8,000 leva or the equivalent of this amount in another currency, then it is necessary to fill out a customs declaration.

You can exchange currency at exchange offices Exchange, Change, ATMs, banks, hotels. Banks are closed on weekends. On weekdays they work according to the standard schedule (from 9:00 to 17:00 with a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00)

The national currency of Bulgaria is Lev

Currency in Bulgaria is best kept in dollars or euros. Russian rubles are exchanged only in exchange offices and at a very unfavorable rate.

Currency exchange fees must be included in the exchange rate difference. If you have any suspicions of fraud, you can call the tax office, video is being recorded in the exchangers. Claims for the exchange are accepted only before the signing of the extended cash receipt, so before the exchange, it is best to clarify how much you will receive clean in your hands, think about it and only then change it. Sometimes the rate at which you will change your currency is very different from the rate you see on the billboard.

It must be borne in mind that the reverse exchange of local currency for dollars is possible only upon departure and only if there is a receipt for the exchange of dollars for lions. Those. if you brought Bulgarian lions with you, then you should not expect that you can exchange them for dollars in Bulgaria, this is prohibited by law.

As for credit cards, they are accepted only in major tourist centers. In case of a problem with credit cards in Bulgaria, round-the-clock telephones of the Borika service work

Holiday home in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria there are always a lot of vacationing tourists, in the summer on the beaches, and in the winter in the mountains. Types of housing in Bulgaria:
- hotels
- villas
- apartments
- private sector
- house by the sea

How pleasant it is to relax in a house made of white stone under the tiles, among greenery and a sea of flowers! To do this, you need to sit at the computer and see the prices, and then choose the city according to the prices, depending on the season and the level of comfort. For example, in the city of Aheloy, ten meters from the sea, apartments can be rented for 20 euros per day, and a villa in Varna, five hundred meters from the sea, already for 250 euros per day. Early booking reduces prices by up to 25%. On average, apartment prices start at 20 euros per day and depend on the popularity and fame of the resort. You can find accommodation on vacation yourself in advance, or you can contact agents, they will do all the nasty and tedious work for you, except that you have to fork out for it, pleasure costs money.

For lovers of a luxurious holiday, there are a lot of five-star hotels, among which it is worth noting:
- Marina Royal Palace
- Helena Park
- Riviera Beach
- Grand Hotel Primorsko
Grand Hotel London
- Royal Palace Helena Sands

Five-star hotel Marina Royal Palace

In hotels and hotels in Bulgaria you will never have problems, as many people speak Russian and understand almost everything. Moreover, if you wish, you can always understand each other, the sign language is clear to everyone, and a piece of paper with a pen at hand can generally become the most convenient translator, especially when specifying the price.

Only when using sign language, one must not forget that gestures, yes - no, are the other way around in Bulgaria. Nod “no” - chin down, “yes” - turn your head from side to side.

Resorts and attractions in Bulgaria. Resorts in Bulgaria are divided into winter, summer, balneological, spa resorts, children's and youth camps.

Golden Sands and Sunny Beach, the best of Bulgaria's Black Sea resorts, are oriented to the East. According to legend, a very long time ago, on the coast near the city of Varna, sea pirates hid a huge treasure of gold, when they returned they found sand instead of gold. Old-timers say that if you search well, even today you can find small gold nuggets. Entrance to the beach is free, but you have to pay for a sunbed and an umbrella.

Sunny Beach is one of the best beaches in Bulgaria

11 beaches in Bulgaria have been awarded the EU Blue Flag. Among them are Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Albena, Riviera, St. Constantine and Elena….

Fans of skiing and snowboarding among the winter resorts prefer Bansko, Borovets and Pamrovo, as these resorts are considered the best winter resorts in Bulgaria.

Among the most popular attractions are the national art gallery, the Aqua Paradise water park, the Aquapolis amusement park, the archaeological museum in the city of forty churches Nessebar, the Bani Bashi Mosque. In total, there are more than 500 sights worthy of attention and often visited by tourists - this is the Albotinsky rock monastery, the Alexander Tomb, unique reserves and much more that you need to see.

Transport in Bulgaria. To have time to see and see as much as possible during your vacation, you need to use transport. The most popular form of transport in Bulgaria is the bus. The fare is 0.5 euros. Tickets are sold at kiosks, and if you want to save money, you can buy a ticket for one day, five days or a month.

In addition to buses, there are fixed-route taxis, trolleybuses, trams and one line of meters in Sofia. Public transport in the resort area operates from 05:30 to 20:00.

Taxis in Bulgaria are always a pleasant yellow color

Taxis can be called by phone, taken at the parking lot. Basically, a taxi is paid according to the following scheme: the amount for landing + the amount for each kilometer of run + the amount for each minute of waiting + the amount for an additional piece of luggage. There is a double rate at night. Sometimes you can find taxis whose drivers offer negotiated prices.

You can get to all major cities by rail. You can rent a car only after twenty-one years. There is a special road tax for foreign tourist drivers

National features and local customs of Bulgaria. In this country, it is customary to tip for service, usually 5% of the bill and depending on the quality of service. (How much you can give a waiter in a restaurant or a maid in a hotel is your own business). Nudist beaches exist in Bulgaria, although they are not listed in the official naturist catalogues. They are located away from crowded places or on the edge of the beach. On an ordinary beach, you can sunbathe topless without any problems, there will be no problems with the police and vacationers. In Bulgaria, naturists are tolerant and sympathetic.

The opening hours of museums in Bulgaria are convenient for visitors. Many museums are closed on Mondays and some on Tuesdays.

Wine connoisseurs believe that red wine should be drunk only in months with the letter “P” in the name, and white in the rest. Therefore, it is better for lovers of red wine to relax in winter, otherwise they, according to the rules, will have to drink white in summer. At the beginning of spring, a wine festival is held in Plovdiv with a mandatory tasting. For gourmets and true connoisseurs of wine, snow wine is prepared from overripe, slightly frozen grapes.