Getting Around

Getting Around Bulgaria

There are four international airports in Bulgaria: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas and Plovdiv. The national airline is Bulgaria Air and they also operate some domestic services connecting Sofia with the Black Sea coast. Air travel is cheap and is only slightly more expensive than first class rail travel.

Travelling by rail is inexpensive however slower than by bus. It is advised to book in advance especially during peak seasons and first class travel is recommended. There is also a good network of buses offering the cheapest and fastest form of travel around the country. Routes go from and to every large city however most drivers and bus station agents will not speak any language except Bulgarian.

Traffic drives on the right, road quality is variable and driving standards are generally poor. Night driving can be dangerous due to poor lighting and car theft and carjacking are both on the increase throughout the country. Car hire is available through hotel reception desks and at Sofia airport and most of the major international car hire agencies are represented. Driving in Bulgaria can be quite dangerous as many roads are not well marked and locals often do not observe the speed limit. When travelling from Sofia to Greece be very careful as there is extensive road reconstruction and conditions are dangerous. Never drink and drive in Bulgaria as this can lead to a long prison sentence. Oh and it's also where I met my wife.