Located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria is proud of its ancient and rich history. Thracians, Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Bulgarians inhabited these lands, leaving behind monuments and enriching the world’s cultural heritage.

Population
Bulgaria occupies 111 000 sq. km and has a population of approximately 7 888 600 according to data from 2004. The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. The country is divided into two by the Balkan range and borders the Black Sea to the East, Romania to the North, Turkey and Greece to the South and Serbia, Montenegro and FYR of Macedonia to the West.

Borders
Romania 608km Greece 494km Serbia and Montenegro 318km Turkey 240km FYR of Macedonia 148km

Ethnic groups
Bulgarians 83.0% Turks 9.0% Roma 3.0% others 6.0%

Climate
Most of Bulgaria areas enjoy a moderate continental climate with a cold winter and a hot summer. As a whole, the climate is more severe than the climate of other European countries at the same latitude and the average annual temperatures are higher than those of the neighboring countries.

Language
Bulgarian is the official language, spoken by approximately 90% of the population. Turkish is spoken by the largest minority group. Most of the younger people speak English and other languages spoken in the western part of Europe.

Religions
Orthodox Christians 84.0%
Muslims 13.0%
Roman Catholics 2.0%
Judaism 1.0%
Protestants, Armenians and others - 1.0%

Important dates in Bulgarian history
681 – foundation of the Bulgarian state
681-1018 – First Bulgarian Kingdom
1186-1396 – Second Bulgarian Kingdom
1396-1878 – Ottoman reign and liberation movement
1878 – Liberation and restoration of the Bulgarian state
1878-1946 – Third Bulgarian Kingdom
after 1946 - Republic of Bulgaria

Administrative districts
Sofia City, District of Sofia, Bourgas, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Haskovo, Lovech, Montana, Sliven, Yambol, Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, Gabrovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratza, Veliko Tarnovo, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Razgrad, Targovishte, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Stara Zagora

Official holidays
1 January – New Year’s Day
3 March – National holiday
Easter and the Monday after Easter
1 May – Labour Day
6 May - Gergyovden (St. George's Day), Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Army
24 May – Day of Cyril and Methodius
6 September - Unification Day
22 September - Independence Day
1 November - Day of the Bulgarian Enlighteners
24, 25, 26 December – Christmas Days

National currency: Lev
1 lev = 100 stotinki

Foreign exchange
Exchange currency only at the specialized offices – foreign exchange offices and banks. Do not exchange currency in the street regardless of the offered rate – there are people who may abuse your trust.

Measures and weights: metric system

Speed limits
Highway – 130km/h
First-class road – 90km/h
Towns/villages – 50km/h
Sharp turns – 30-40km/h
The safety belt is compulsory.

Important phone numbers
Medical emergency – 150
Police – 166
Fire brigade – 160
Road accidents – Traffic Police – 165
Mountain Rescue Service – 9632000
Civil Protection Service - 9620439

Petrol stations
Recommended petrol stations offering petrol of good quality - OMV, Lukoil, Eko, Shell

Constitution
The constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria was adopted in July 1991. It is based on the main principles of modern constitutionalism. The constitution envisages a multi-party parliamentary system and free elections where all citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria have the right to vote. After the elections the largest parliamentary group forms the government. Ordinary parliamentary majority is needed to approve the Government (the Council of Ministers) as well as to pass ordinary bills. Amendments of the Constitution are passed by a parliamentary majority of three thirds of the votes.

Political system: Parliamentary republic

Parliament
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic and the main authority in the country is the legislative body. The Parliament (the National Assembly) exercises legislative power and the right of parliamentary control. The mandate of the National Assembly is four years. The National Assembly consists of 240 members.

Head of state: Georgi Parvanov

President
The president is the head of state and is elected in direct elections once per five years for no more than two terms in office. The vice-president is elected for the same period, with the same ballot and under the same procedure as the president.

Education
About 99% of the Bulgarian population is literate. Education is free of charge and compulsory for children between 6 and 16 years of age and about 85% of the children falling within this group attend school. The education has several stages: basic education – 4 years, primary – 4 years and secondary 4-5 years, depending on the type of school. About 30% of the students continue their education at colleges and universities.

Official language: Bulgarian

Visas
The Republic of Bulgaria does not require visas for certain countries. Every tourist should search for information in advance as some types of visas take longer time to be processed and issued. A foreigner may enter the Republic of Bulgaria if he or she holds a valid document for travel abroad or another substituting document as well as an entry visa, a residence visa or a transit visa for passing through the country, when such visa is required. A short-term residence visa is issued to foreigners who enter the country once or multiple times for a period of 90 days within 6 months, considered from the date of the first entry. The multiple-entry visa for short-term residence may have term of validity up to 1 year. The term may be extended by the authorities for administrative control over foreigners for humanitarian reasons. Single-entry visas (tourist visas) with validity of up to 3 months and right to one entry and stay on the territory of the country. Multiple-entry visas with validity 3, 6 or 12 months and with right of unlimited entries into the territory. New Balkan Tours will provide all required documents accompanying the issue of visas and requested by the relevant state institutions to all clients who need a visa to stay in the Republic of Bulgaria
For more detailed information, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria -
http://www.mfa.government.bg

Customs regulations
Every tourist visiting the Republic of Bulgaria is allowed to import a limited amount of food, cigarettes and alcohol for personal consumption. The amount of the imported goods depends on the length of the stay and is specified at each customs check-point.
If the specified amount is exceeded, a customs declaration has to be filled in explaining the need for the exceeding amount. Among the items to be declared are gold, any valuables apart from the personal adornments, cameras, electronic equipment and devices of considerable value. The same articles have to be declared upon departing the country and thus the tourist verifies that these items have not been given as gifts or sold to other persons. Gifts and items carried on behalf of Bulgarians or foreigners residing in Bulgaria are also subject to declaration.

Subject to special import and export procedures are antiquities, works of art, historical and cultural treasures, rare coins of numismatic value and securities. The same need specific permits and documents obtained in the relevant country from the local authorities and the Bulgarian representative offices upon import and from the Bulgarian authorities upon export.