Advice for First-Time Travellers to Bulgaria

 If you are a first-time traveller to Bulgaria, you should know that Bulgaria is unlike country that you may have visited. You will certainly have an enjoyable time in Bulgaria. So, even as you look for the cheapest flights to Bulgaria from Ireland, be sure to follow the simple advice given here.

You don’t need a visa to Bulgaria –Bulgaria is an EU member state, so as long as you have an EU passport, you won’t require a visa to visit Bulgaria.

You don’t really need to know Bulgarian – Most people in Bulgaria, at least in the cities, speak very good English or at least understand English very well. So you don’t really need to learn Bulgarian. But you can impress your Bulgarian friends by greeting them in the local language; that would make them feel very much appreciated.

Be sensible to be safe – Bulgaria is a very safe country and you will feel instantly at home here. But it is important to take the basic safety precautions to protect yourself against mugging and theft. Make sure that your belongings are safe and always by your side. If you get into trouble use the emergency phone number 112, the Bulgarian police will come to your aid.

Where to find good coffee in Bulgaria? Coffee in Bulgaria is cheap, but of the highest quality.  Most convenience stores and newsstands here server coffee, which costs as little as €0.30!  There’s Starbucks in Bulgaria too. Coffee costs just €2 in Starbucks in Sofia and in other cities in Bulgaria.

Be careful when driving – If you are driving in Bulgaria, it is important to be very safe, as the traffic can get dangerous here. Many drivers in Bulgaria don’t really care about the traffic lights and can be quite reckless. Traffic rules are broken with impunity and there is nothing anyone can do about that. It’s a miracle that nobody dies or gets seriously hurt as it’s rare to have a really bad car accident in Bulgaria.  

Dogs! They are everywhere – Bulgaria has a major problem with street dogs. They are everywhere. Generally they don’t bother anyone passing by and are very docile. But don’t make the mistake of getting close to them. Don’t stroke them or pet them, they can turn on you and turn vicious in an instant. These dogs are unfortunately uncared for and are cold and hungry all the time. Thankfully, the authorities are handling this issue on a priority basis.

Avoid banks while transferring money in Bulgaria – Banks in Bulgaria charge quite a lot for international financial transactions. If you want to exchange money, it is much better to use an online payment service such as PayPal or Payza.

 Understand the basics of Bulgarian culture – Bulgaria is unique in the sense that when you shake your head here, it means “yes” and when you nod, it means “no”. This is pretty much the opposite of how it is like in the rest of the world. There are such little things about Bulgarian culture that you should know.

 Bulgaria’s currency – Bulgaria has its own currency called Lev. Most shops accept payments in Lev, not in Euro, and those that accept Euro charge extra for the privilege. Get your Euros exchanged for the local currency at the airport when you arrive.  Also, most of the hotels and restaurants in smaller places only accept cash, not credit card, so keep enough cash with you at all times.

 Network with other expats – There is a huge British and Irish expat community in Bulgaria, especially in Sofia, Sunny Beach, and Burgas.  Join the global networking site for expats in Bulgaria called Internations, there is every chance that you could attend a meeting and make new friends. Expats usually meet in nice bars, the meetings are pleasant and friendly. You will appreciate the cold beer as well.