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 Property in Bulgaria - Info on Bulgaria - Quick facts and figures
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Quick facts and figures
Official Name: Republic of Bulgaria
Population: 7,917,855
Capital City: Sofia (pop 1.1 million)
People: 85% Bulgarian, 9.5% Turkish, 4.5% Roma
Languages: Bulgarian, Turkish, Romany
Flag: 
The Bulgaria flag was officially adopted on November 22, 1990
The red and white colors of the flag were taken from the Pan Slavic colors. The green replaced the blue of the Russian Tricolor, and before 1990, the white stripe contained the Bulgarian coat of arms.
Latitude/Longitude: 43В° 00`N, 25В° 00`E
Official Currency: Lev
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Land Area: 110,550 sq km (42,683 sq miles)
Form of government: unitary multiparty republic with one legislative body (National Assembly [240]).
Chief of state: President.
Head of government: Prime Minister.
Population (1998): 8,273,000.
Population projection: (2000) 8,179,000; (2010) 7,926,000.
Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1996): -5.4 (world avg. 15.7).
Land use (1995): forested 30.2%; meadows and pastures 16.2%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 38.0%; other 15.6%.
Government: parliamentary democracy
Head of Government: President Georgi Purvanov
GDP: US$49.23 billion
GDP per capita: US$6,500
Annual Growth: 2.5%
Major Industries: Food processing, machine and metal building, electronics, chemicals, textiles, ferrous and nonferrous metals
Major Trading Partners: Italy, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Russia, USA
Member of EU: 2007
Landforms The Balkan Mountains cut across the central part of the country, while the Rhodope Mountains run through southwestern Bulgaria, along its borders with Macedonia and Greece.
The highest point in the country is Musala Mt., at 9,594 ft. (2,925 m).
North of the Balkan Mountains the fertile lowlands of the Danubian Plain slope gradually down to the Danube River. The south-eastern lowlands (Maritsa Basin), drained by a series of small rivers, slope to the Black Sea.
Major rivers include the Danube River, as it forms the northern border with Romania, and the Maritsa and Iskur.
Land Divisions 28 provinces, including: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa and Yambol
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: Most nationals of EU countries are admitted without a visa for stays of less than 90 days. Nationals of some countries - including the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are admitted without a visa for stays of less than 30 days. Alternatively, a 90-day visa costs between US$30-60 depending on which country you apply from. Visitors of most other nationalities are issued visas on a shifting fee scale depending on the type of visa sought - transit, tourist or business. Visitors must hold sufficient funds or return/onward tickets, other documents required for final destination and valid health insurance.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2
Dialling Code: 359
Electricity: 220V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go
Bulgaria has a temperate climate, with cold damp winters and hot dry summers. Spring (April to mid-June) is a good time to visit, with mild and pleasant weather and a host of cultural events taking place. Summer (mid-June to September) has reliable weather, perfect for hiking and outdoor festivals but the beaches on the Black Sea coast can get insanely crowded, and accommodation and camping grounds in coastal resorts tend to fill up. The coast is virtually deserted from mid-September to mid-May. The ski season begins in mid-December and can last until April.
Events
Public holidays include New Year (1 and 2 January), Liberation Day (3 March), Cyrillic Alphabet Day (24 May) and Christmas (25 and 26 December). The reason for the two Christmas days is that religious Bulgarians were forbidden to practise during the Communist era, so they invented a secular - and suspiciously Christmas-like - celebration on the following day. Since the collapse of Communism, the original Christmas Day has been celebrated as before, but the invented holiday has been sensibly retained. Bulgarians observe a number of traditional customs. Trifon Zarezan on 14 February is the ancient festival of the wine growers. Vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine to ensure a bounteous harvest. On 1 March Bulgarians give one another martenitsi, red and white tasselled threads which are worn for health and happiness at the coming of spring. When wearers see their first stork of the season, the martenitsa is tied to the nearest tree.
At the Koprivshtitsa International Folk Festival, which is held every five years, some 4000 finalists compete for awards. There is a biennial festival in Pernik at which participants, wearing traditional masks and costumes, perform ancient dances to drive away evil spirits and ask the good spirits for a plentiful harvest. Kukeri is another spring festival, most avidly celebrated in the Rodopi Mountains. The Festival of Roses is celebrated with folk songs and dances at Kazanlak and Karlovo on the first Sunday in June.
Money & Costs
Meals
- Budget: US$1-4
- Mid-range: US$4-10
- High: US$10+
Lodging
- Budget: US$8-16
- Mid-range: US$16-40
- High: US$40+
Despite a 20% value-added tax, you`ll probably find that souvenirs, admission prices, food and drink, and all forms of transport (including taxis) are cheap. Anything you can get for the same price as a Bulgarian will be cheap, but when there`s a higher tourist price (as there is for almost all accommodation) things can get expensive. You can get by on a budget of US$20-40 a day, depending on the level of comfort you require.
Cash is easily changed at numerous small exchange offices, usually for no commission. Travellers` cheques are more of a hassle as many banks do not accept them, and those that do will charge a commission of around 5%. ATMs are a common sight in Sofia and at Black Sea resorts, and cash advances on credit cards are also available in these areas. Still, it`s best to bring plenty of cash to Bulgaria.
Waiters and taxi-drivers expect the bill to be rounded up to the nearest convenient figure. With non-metered taxis you needn`t add a tip to the fare you agreed on beforehand.
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