Balkanology :: Explore Southeast EuropeDisclaimer: These pages are not actively maintained, and some of the practical information on the site is out of date. I am working on a new version of the site that will focus more on my photos and memories of travel in Southeast Europe, and less on practical details that too easily become obsolete. In the meantime, please treat the information here with caution.
Bulgaria :: Links
The sites listed on this page are specifically about Bulgaria. Many of the more general sites listed in the Overview of the Balkans are also useful for planning a trip to Bulgaria.
Travel Information
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Welcome to Bulgaria
Standard tourist board site, lots of lists but not particularly inspiring.
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Pictures of Bulgaria
This site has a lot more than just pictures - you can also find detailed information about many of Bulgaria's tourist attractions, including some quite obscure ones barely mentioned in most guidebooks.
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Bulgaria In Your Pocket
IYP's Sofia city guide has the usual concise but thorough treatment of the city, with some additional information about out-of-town sights such as Mount Vitosha. They also have smaller-scale guides to Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Bansko.
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Sofia City Guide
What to see and where to go out in the capital.
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Plovdiv Guide
This site includes lots of information about Plovdiv, online hotel booking, and a long list of places to see (but note that many of these places are nowhere near Plovdiv - this is not quite made clear). There is also a useful guide to the Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabet, including the handwritten version which guidebooks and phrasebooks tend to ignore.
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Bulgarian Monastery
This site describes itself as "The ultimate guide to monastery tourism in Bulgaria", which seems fair enough. They have descriptions and photos of more than 30 monasteries. All that's missing is an indication of how to reach them by public transport.
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Across the Map of Bulgaria
Radio Bulgaria's ongoing series of travel articles goes beyond the usual sun-and-ski destinations to look at some less publicised attractions. Recent articles have covered monasteries in the Central Balkan range and rock sanctuaries in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains.
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Beach Bulgaria
BulgariaSkiAs a non-skier and non-sunbather I didn't spend long looking at either of these sites, but they seem to offer fairly detailed information, and both have online booking facilities.
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Bulgarian National Parks
Central site for three national parks: Rila, Pirin, and Central Balkan. The information provided is fairly limited.
Transport and Practicalities
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BDZ - Bulgarian State Railways
The English version of the BDZ site is simple and effective. Almost anything you need to know about Bulgaria domestic trains can be found quickly here: timetables for individual stations and between any two stations, with full details of fares. There is also a full international timetable, but (as usual) little indication of international fares. Note that place names in drop-down lists are listed in alphabetic order based on the Cyrillic alphabet, even when the names themselves are displayed in the Latin alphabet.
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Avtogari.info - Interurban Bus Timetable
This site allows you to search for bus timetables between any two towns in Bulgaria. It has recently been made available in a user-friendly English version.
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Sofia Central Bus Station
Timetables and fares to and from Sofia's shiny new terminal, in English. Both domestic and international buses are included. Note that these schedules do not include buses from Sofia's other bus stations (for example, some international buses that leave from a nearby parking lot). The home page informs us that the station is equipped with "technical equipments and sanitary knots", which is reassuring. I think.
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Etap / Grup
One (or two) of Bulgaria's largest private bus operators, running comfortable coaches on various main routes - check fare and schedules here.
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MATPU-96
One of the main international bus operators (although there are many more), with services to Turkey, Macedonia, Greece, and Serbia.
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Bulgaria Air
Sofia Airport
Varna AirportBulgaria Air operates domestic flights from Sofia to Varna as well as international flights. See the airport sites for information on other airlines flying to Bulgaria.
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Bulgarian Embassy in London
Includes information about entry requirements for visitors to Bulgaria.
From the Travel Pages
Where East meets West (Sofia)
The Irish Times, 02 May 2009Bulgaria's coastal defence (wild beaches on the Black Sea)
The Guardian, 25 April 2009Hidden Treasure (Veliko Târnovo)
The Guardian, 23 August 2008"I am starting to love this dirty town" (Varna)
The Guardian, 21 April 2008Dancing Bears Park sanctuary (Belitsa)
The Telegraph, 15 April 2008Give Bulgaria's capital a miss, head for its cultural heart (Plovdiv)
The Independent, 04 November 2007Partying amid Cold War ruins (Sofia)
The New York Times, 01 July 2007 (may require registration)Driving Bulgaria (Driving in the southwest)
Sunday Times, 18 February 2007Follow the Yellow Brick Road (Sofia)
Wizzair Magazine, February 2006Sofia so good
The Times, 26 January 2006Bansko: the upwardly mobile ski resort
The Independent, 31 December 2005Welcome to the Costa del Bulgaria
The Independent, 04 September 2005Heaven and earth (Trekking in the Rila Mountains)
The Independent, 13 August 2005For a few leva more... (Skiing in Borovets)
The Observer, 17 October 2004Bulgaria's venerable second city (Plovdiv)
The New York Times (requires free registration), 02 May 2004
Background
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Vagabond
Monthly English-language magazine, with some excellent features about travel in Bulgaria and its Balkan neighbours, as well as articles on a range of other topics.
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Sofia News Agency
Up-to-the-minute news from Bulgaria.
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Sofia Echo
The online edition of Sofia's English-language weekly newspaper.
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O Pismeneh: A website dedicated to Bulgaria
Learn more about the history, art, language, and constitution of Bulgaria.