What are the entry requirements ?

Passport and visa service

Consular service of the Bulgarian embassy in the United States of America
Visa HQ

For further information

List of embassies and consulates abroad

Contact your embassy

What time is it ?

Current local time

It is %T:%M %A in Sofia

Summer time

Summer time from March to October.

What is the spoken language ?

Official language

Bulgarian

Other languages spoken

Many Bulgarians have some level of Russian language comprehension. German and French are also widely spoken.

Business language

Russian, English, German and French. Turkish is also used for business in the South.

Getting some knowledge

You can find some basic vocabulary below:
- "dobeur dèn" (phonétique) = hello
- "bwagodaria" = Thank you
- "molia" = Please
Visit the website Learn Bulgarian.

Free translation tools

SA Dictionary - Free dictionary English-Bulgarian
Ectaco - Free English-Bulgarian-English dictionary
Systran - Free English-Russian-English translator of texts and web pages
TV5 - Free translation arabic-bulgarian-arabic
lexicool - Free dictionary arabic-bulgarian-arabic
hexagone - Not free translation arabic-bulgarian-arabic

What is the local currency ?

Domestic currency

Bulgarian Lev

ISO Code

BGN

To obtain domestic currency

Visitors should exchange cash or travelers checks at banks or exchange bureaus. Some exchange bureaus charge commissions on both cash and travelers check transactions, which may be high or not clearly posted.

Possible means of payment

Major hotels accept credit cards, but most shops and restaurants do not. ATM cash machines are increasing in numbers in Sofia and other major cities, but bankcards, debit cards and credit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud or other criminal activity.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Bulgaria, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

What is the climate ?

Type of climate

Temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers.
Tempeatures vary from -1°C in January to 30°C in June.

For further information

Country guide on World travels website

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Last updates: May 2012