Step-by-step instructions for traveling to Bulgaria on your own. Independent trip to Bulgaria. Cost of food in Bulgaria

Victor Pashinsky

You can go to Bulgaria on your own in your own car or fly in by purchasing tickets from.

In this article we will try to describe the process in as much detail as possible. independent organization holidays in Bulgaria and highlight the main ways to save on hotels, tickets, insurance or visas.

Do you need a visa to Bulgaria, how much does it cost and how to get it?

To Bulgaria indeed need a visa, but it's very easy to get. To get a visa to Bulgaria, you will need:

Statement of account— on the account at least 70 Euros per person, the statement is less than a month old. Done at your bank.
Certificate from place of work(on letterhead) - you must indicate your position and wages. The certificate is also no more than 30 days old.
international passport— when you leave Bulgaria, there must be at least 91 days left until your passport expires.
Regular passport- must be valid.
Your photo– 2 copies of photo for a European visa
Medical insurance- for a minimum amount of 30,000 Euro.
Hotel and flight reservations— issued immediately after their purchase.
Payment of consular fee- 35 Euro regular (per week) 70 Euro - urgent (per day).

In fact, a visa to Bulgaria is issued very simply. For example, we did not submit either a bank account statement or a certificate of employment. And nothing, we got everything fine (however, for Ukraine, tourist visas are processed according to a simplified scheme). You can get a visa yourself at the embassy - it will be cheaper than through an agency.

If all this is difficult for you, we advise you to use it - everything is described in detail there. All you have to do is consult, collect Required documents and the visa will be delivered directly to your home. This simplified visa service costs approximately 2,500 rubles including delivery.

Travel insurance for a trip to Bulgaria - where to get it cheaply and quickly?

To open a visa to Bulgaria, you must purchase health insurance. For example, we bought a trip through an agency and our insurance didn’t include anything: even insurance against rain and hurricanes. Seriously. It’s scary to imagine how much we overpaid for all this happiness.

The minimum insurance amount of medical insurance for obtaining a visa to Bulgaria is 30,000 Euro. It’s up to us to choose the ideal insurance - he compares the prices of reliable insurance companies that will really help if something happens. We use it ourselves and recommend it to you. By the way, if you add a couple of additional options to your insurance, the price often increases very slightly.

Prices for package tours to Bulgaria in 2016

It's no secret that package tours to Bulgaria on the Internet can cost less than from travel agencies - their markup is about 10%, but on the Internet it can be only 1-3% due to reduced costs.

When searching for tours, we use a service that automatically searches for the most profitable options among largest tour operators and offers them to you at reduced prices (less commission).

But this is not even the main advantage. At an agency, you usually choose from 2-3 options, but here you are offered a choice among dozens of offers.

How much will you have to spend on air tickets to Bulgaria?

The most profitable way to buy tickets to Bulgaria is from Moscow to the airport. If you do not have a clear connection to the departure dates, we advise you to look for tickets to nearby dates . This often results in savings of about 20-30% of the flight cost.

It is quite difficult to search for tickets on airline websites (although sometimes there are exclusive offers, and sometimes the same flights are more expensive), we recommend using the low price calendar from Aviasales:

You need to select the city of departure and arrival (it’s worth looking for both Burgas and Varna), indicate the number of people, select the month in which you want to fly and evaluate the minimum ticket prices by day of the week.

How to choose hotels in Bulgaria at the lowest price

To search for hotels, we usually use . It allows you to automatically compare prices in different booking systems and choose the cheapest option.

The key advantage of the service is the ability to quickly sort hotels by the desired number of stars and price, go to the map and choose a hotel near the sea and away from the noisy center.

It is also very important to be able to look at prices in different months and book a room with a sea view in literally 15-20 minutes.

Of course, each hotel is accompanied by a photo, description and list of services and a rating with reviews from guests.

On Sunny Beach, for example, it is very a good choice hotels

Many of them are in no way inferior the best hotels 4* and 5* Turkey and Egypt

There are, of course, cheaper options, which you can easily book using the button below.

Prices for renting apartments and rooms in Bulgaria

If you want to live not in a popular resort like , but in a normal city, we advise you to stay not in a hotel, but in rented apartment. In our experience, the price is almost the same, and living in your own apartment is many times more pleasant than in a hotel.

We usually search for and rent housing through the popular rental service AirBnB. It is quite convenient, very fast and very reliable. As they say, we use it ourselves and recommend it to you.

Pomorie is divided into new and old part. The new one is being actively built up, while the old one is mainly used for renting out apartments that are several decades old.

So you took the risk of organizing a holiday in Bulgaria on your own, and rightly so!

that's the right decision! Why pay more when you can save on choosing your own vacation spot, route, transport and housing. And the money you save is better spent on yourself and get more pleasure and benefit for the same amount. Bulgaria, namely Bulgaria, because it loves Russian tourists and gives them a pleasant, interesting vacation With low prices And high quality

. In Bulgaria, everything is as clear as home, the locals have a familiar mentality, they are hospitable and welcoming, have clear thinking and familiar jokes. Bulgaria is not Asia, it’s very difficult to get confused.

Today, almost everyone has an international passport, but each country has its own requirements for the validity of a foreign passport. To travel to Bulgaria, the validity period must be at least 3 months (180 days) from the date of departure from the country. To avoid troubles at customs, in case of extending your pleasant holiday, it would be better to increase the validity of your passport to 6 months.

Recently there have been rumors on the Internet that you do not need to take a visa to Bulgaria, you can get it upon arrival at the airport. Unfortunately, this information remained only at the level of rumors. A visa to Bulgaria is required.
A visa to Bulgaria can be obtained in two ways:
Method 1. Contact a travel agency, in this case all your headache becomes the travel agency's headache, but you will have to pay for it.

Method 2. Apply for a visa yourself.
Since you have decided to organize your own holiday to Bulgaria, it means that you will be interested in method number two. In this case, you need to prepare documents, prepare consular and service fees, and submit all this to one of the following authorities:
1 Visa Application Center
2 Visa department of the embassy 3 Consulate General of Bulgaria in St. Petersburg

When applying for a visa to Bulgaria on your own, you need to keep in mind that the following types of visas are suitable for tourism purposes: guest, tourist, multiple-entry, or Schengen categories C or D.

If you are visiting Bulgaria on a Schengen visa, you should know the pleasant thing that the days you spend in Bulgaria on a Schengen visa are not counted in the number of days allotted for Schengen.

You can also get a free visa to Bulgaria, but in this case you will need a serious reason for this. A free visa to Bulgaria is issued only if the applicant travels to Bulgaria for language courses.

How to get to Bulgaria. There are many options to get to Bulgaria: plane, train, bus, your own transport, a ship on the Black Sea, hitchhiking or a mix of different types transport.

Of course the fastest, most comfortable and convenient plane. The flight from Moscow to Bulgaria is only 2 hours. Agree that this is a significant advantage when temporarily limiting vacation.

Most quick way getting to Bulgaria is a plane

For those who are thinking of making their trip to Bulgaria by train, you need to keep in mind that not only will you have a tiring 4-day train trip, you will also lose 4 days of your tourist visa. Those. If you received a visa to Bulgaria for 12 days, then taking into account traveling back and forth by train, the time spent in the carriage will be longer than the holiday in Bulgaria itself. You will also have to cross several borders with all the delights of customs, purchase transit visa to Romania and travel in a trailer carriage.

For extreme sports enthusiasts – bus lovers. You can get from Moscow to Burgas in 2 days, travel through five countries, getting an unforgettable experience of communicating with a huge crowd of border guards from five countries (those who have passed this test say that this is truly an unforgettable “pleasure”)

Bus to Bulgaria, only for extreme sports and not for the faint of heart

Currency in Bulgaria. The main currency in Bulgaria is Lev (BGL), equal to 100 stotinki. The approximate rate of the Bulgarian lion to the dollar today is 100 Bulgarian lions equal to 66 American dollars.

The import of Bulgarian and foreign currency is not limited. If the amount of imported currency exceeds 8,000 leva or the equivalent of this amount in another currency, then it is necessary to fill out a customs declaration.

You can exchange currency at exchange offices Exchange, Change, ATMs, banks, hotels. Banks are closed on weekends. On weekdays they work according to a standard schedule (from 9:00 to 17:00 with a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00)

The national currency of Bulgaria is Lev

Currency in Bulgaria is best kept in dollars or euros. Russian rubles are exchanged only in exchange offices and at a very unfavorable rate.

Currency exchange fees should be included in the exchange rate difference. If you suspect fraud, you can call tax office, video recording is carried out in exchangers. Claims for exchange are accepted only before the extended cash receipt is signed, so before the exchange, it is best to clarify how much you will receive in your hands, think about it, and only then change. Sometimes the rate at which your currency will be changed is very different from the rate you see on the billboard.

You need to keep in mind that the reverse exchange of local currency into dollars is possible only upon departure and only if you have a receipt for the exchange of dollars for lions. Those. If you brought Bulgarian lions with you, then you should not expect that you will be able to exchange them in Bulgaria for dollars, this is prohibited by law.

As for credit cards, they are accepted only in major tourist centers. If there is a problem with credit cards in Bulgaria there are 24-hour telephone numbers of the “Borika” service

Holiday accommodation in Bulgaria. There are always a lot of vacationing tourists in Bulgaria, on the beaches in summer and in the mountains in winter. Types of housing in Bulgaria:
- hotels
- villas
- apartments
- private sector
- house by the sea

How pleasant it is to relax in a house made of white stone under tiles, among greenery and a sea of flowers! To do this, you need to sit at the computer and look at the prices, and then select a city based on the prices, depending on the season and level of comfort. For example, in the city of Aheloy, ten meters from the sea, an apartment can be rented for 20 euros per day, and a villa in Varna, five hundred meters from the sea, for 250 euros per day. Early booking reduces prices up to 25%. On average, prices for apartments start from 20 euros per day and depend on the popularity and fame of the resort. You can find accommodation for your vacation in advance yourself, or you can contact agents, they will do all the nasty and tedious work for you, unless you have to fork out for it, pleasure costs money.

For lovers have a great holiday There are a lot of five star hotels, among which it is worth noting:
- Marina Royal Palace
- Helena Park
- Riviera Beach
- Grand Hotel Primorsko
- Grand Hotel London
- Royal Palace Helena Sands

Five-star Marina Royal Palace Hotel

You will never have problems in hotels in Bulgaria, since many speak Russian and understand almost everything. Moreover, if you wish, you can always understand each other, sign language is clear to everyone, and a piece of paper with a pen at hand can generally become the most convenient translator, especially when clarifying the price.

Just when using sign language, you must not forget that gestures, yes - no, are the other way around in Bulgaria. Nod “no” - chin down, “yes” - turn your head from side to side.

Resorts and attractions of Bulgaria. Resorts in Bulgaria are divided into winter, summer, balneological, spa resorts, children's and youth camps.

Golden Sands and Sunny Beach, the best of Bulgaria's resorts on the Black Sea, are oriented to the East. According to legend, a very, very long time ago, on the coast near the city of Varna, sea pirates They hid a huge treasure of gold, but when they returned they found sand instead of gold. Old-timers say that if you look hard enough, you can still find small gold nuggets today. Entrance to the beach is free, but you have to pay for a sunbed and umbrella.

Sunny Beach is one of the most best beaches Bulgaria

11 Bulgarian beaches awarded Blue Flag EU. Among them are Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Albena, Riviera, St. Constantine and Helena….

Lovers alpine skiing and snowboarding among winter resorts, preference is given to Bansko, Borovets and Pamrovo, since these resorts are considered the best winter resorts Bulgaria.

Among the attractions, the most popular are the national art Gallery, water park “Aqua Paradise”, amusement park “Aquapolis”, archaeological museum in the city of forty churches of Nessebar, Bani Bashi mosque. Total attractions worthy of attention and more than 500 frequently visited by tourists - these are the Albotinsky rock monastery, the Alexander Tomb, unique reserves and much more that need to be seen.

Transport in Bulgaria. To have time to see and see as much as possible during your vacation, you need to use transport. Most popular look transport in Bulgaria - bus. The fare is 0.5 euros. Tickets are sold at kiosks, and if you want to save money, you can purchase a one-day, five-day or monthly pass.

In addition to buses there are minibuses, trolleybuses, trams and one line of meters in Sofia. Public transport in resort area open from 05:30 to 20:00.

Taxis in Bulgaria are always a pleasant yellow color

You can call a taxi by phone or pick it up at the parking lot. Basically, a taxi is paid according to the following scheme: the amount for boarding + the amount for each kilometer driven + the amount for each minute of waiting + the amount for an additional piece of luggage. At night there is a double rate. Sometimes you can find taxis whose drivers offer negotiated prices.

By rail you can reach all big cities. You can only rent a car after you are twenty-one years old. There is a special road tax for foreign tourists drivers

National characteristics and local customs Bulgaria. In this country, it is customary to tip for service, usually 5% of the bill and depends on the quality of service. (How much you can give to a waiter in a restaurant or a maid in a hotel is your personal choice). There are nudist beaches in Bulgaria, although they are not registered in official naturist directories. They are located away from crowded places or on the edge of the beach. On an ordinary beach you can sunbathe topless without any problems; there will be no problems with the police or vacationers. In Bulgaria, naturists are treated tolerantly and favorably.

The opening hours of museums in Bulgaria are convenient for visitors. Many museums are closed on Mondays, and some on Tuesdays.

Wine connoisseurs believe that red wine should only be drunk in months with the letter “R” in the name, and white wine in the rest. Therefore, it is better for red wine lovers to relax in the winter, otherwise, according to the rules, they will have to drink white in the summer. At the beginning of spring, a wine festival is held in Plovdiv with mandatory tasting. For gourmets and true wine connoisseurs, snow wine is prepared from overripe, slightly frostbitten grapes.

Instructions

Select a resort. The cost of accommodation and meals at different resorts in Bulgaria varies. On the most popular ones, such as Albena or Golden Sands, prices are approximately twice as high as on little-known ones. At resorts located north of Burgas, payments for all types of services will be an order of magnitude higher than at those located south of this city. One of best places, where it is worth going is Primorsko. This is an inland resort. Mostly Europeans also vacation here. There are very few Russians here.

Choose an inexpensive hotel. Cost of living in different resort towns depends on the hotel’s proximity to the sea and level of comfort. In Primorsko you can choose a hotel located just 30 meters from the beach. There is a smooth descent to the sea, which is undoubtedly convenient for parents with small children. The room usually has a TV with Russian channels, air conditioning, shower, toilet, and refrigerator. Half of the rooms have sea views. In this season Double Room has a price of 25 euros per day. And, for example, the cost of the same room in Golden Sands will cost you 100 euros per day.

To save on food, it is better to go eat in inexpensive cafes, of which there are plenty at the resorts. Even during peak season, you will spend 10-15 euros on a family dinner, if you do not overdo it with expensive wines. You won't remain hungry, because... The portions of side dishes and salads are huge. Dinner for one adult at the hotel is about 7 euros.

You can get to your destination in different ways: by train, plane, own car. But if we're talking about inexpensive holiday, preference should be given to the bus. For 24 hours of moving you will pay about 75 euros. If you decide to fly from Moscow to Varna, Burgas or Sofia, you can fly with Bulgaria Air and Aeroflot flights, the flight duration is 2 hours 55 minutes. Aeroflot offers flights 6 times a week, and Bulgaria Air - 7 times. average price tickets - 400 dollars, but there are Special offers. If you travel by train, the trip will cost you approximately 200 euros.

There are things that you should take with you so that you don’t have to pay extra money for them later. Take a boiler. It will be very useful to you. If you smoke, then buy in advance and take with you a carton of cigarettes (depending on how long you are going on vacation). In Bulgaria, cigarettes are very expensive, so think about this point in advance. And don't forget to take a first aid kit and water with you. Moments of acclimatization may be difficult for you, so everything needs to be taken into account. Bring your camera with you. It’s better to capture your vacation yourself than to pay for the services of private photographers.

Sources:

where to relax cheaply in Bulgaria

For several decades now, holidays in Bulgaria have been very popular among Russian tourists. The wonderful mild climate of this country allows us to call it a real health resort of Eastern Europe. Why is Bulgaria so attractive? Golden Sands, Sunny Beach: these names are already familiar to many tourists. After all, there you can not only improve your health, but also take a break from the noisy city and everyday bustle. Bulgaria conceals a lot of new and unknown things, and every tourist can make some discoveries for himself by visiting cultural and historical monuments, mountain ranges. Great opportunities for relax, developed infrastructure make Bulgaria excellent place both for relaxing with the whole family and alone. Moreover, the absence of a language barrier and low prices significantly distinguish holidays in Bulgaria from other countries. You will have positive impressions of your holiday in this country not only in summer, but also in winter, as you will be able to visit many well-equipped ski slopes and admire the winter forests. What places will undoubtedly leave a lot of positive emotions from a visit to Bulgaria? Here are some of them.

Instructions

Magnificent city, located on south coast Bulgaria, considered one of the oldest in Europe. It arose from a small one founded by the Thracians in the 2nd century AD. Nessebar is divided into two parts: Old, located on the peninsula, and New. New Nessebar is the embodiment modern world: many restaurants, bars, comfortable hotels, discos.
Old Nessebar, located on a peninsula, is connected to the mainland by a long narrow isthmus (only 10 meters). The Old Eastern Gate with pentagonal towers adorns the entrance to Nessebar. The city is rich the most beautiful churches, but the most indelible impression St. Stephen's Cathedral attracts tourists. The architecture of the churches combines Slavic and Orthodox Greek traditions. Nessebar, without a doubt, can be called a museum city.

Varna – a beautiful city, an ideal place for the whole family. A widely known resort, famous for its sandy beaches and the surprisingly calm Varna Bay, where even children will be safe to swim. Along the beach line stretches the famous Seaside Park with many museums, a wonderful aquarium and a dolphinarium. ABOUT rich history and the culture of Varna are evidenced by numerous monuments: Roman baths built in the 2nd century AD, “Asporukhov Bridge” - the largest Balkan Peninsula, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Varna is not only a wonderful city for relaxation, but also useful. Thermal springs, which operate in Varna and its surroundings, provide everything necessary for effective treatment.

Albena resort takes pride of place among best resorts Bulgaria. You will be captivated by the amazing combination of rich nature and the calm water surface of the sea. There are many different complexes concentrated here, where you can combine treatment with have a pleasant holiday, enjoy spa treatments.
If we talk about attractions, we cannot fail to mention the Palace of Queen Mary, which is of great cultural and historical interest. In this residence, the Romanian queen received guests from different parts of the world. A unique place the palace has a garden that surprises with its design and variety flora. It is safe to say that the visit royal palace will please everyone.
Albena is perhaps the most interesting and most suitable resort for families with children. There is absolutely everything for them here: from special children's clubs, playgrounds, swimming pools specially designed for children, ending with Luna Park, which, after visiting, children are incredibly delighted!
Adults will also find activities for themselves. Lovers of horses and equestrian sports will be able to visit the equestrian base. And for lovers active rest Tennis courts and football fields are open.
Having visited Albena only once, you want to come back here again and again!

Video on the topic

Bulgarian resort Golden Sands attracts tourists from Eastern Europe, Germany and Russia due to its mild climate and high prices. To go there, you can purchase a ready-made voucher from travel companies or plan a trip yourself.

Instructions

Make sure that all travelers' passports are valid for at least another 6 months from the date of their intended departure from Bulgaria.

Book a hotel, apartment or villa on a specialized website. Select your arrival and departure dates. Choose the option that suits you best in terms of distance and price category. You can also read vacationers about a particular place of residence. Enter information about all travelers and make payment using a plastic card. Some sites allow you to deposit a small part of the amount; the rest must be paid in cash to the owner of the property upon arrival. Receive confirmation of your apartment or hotel reservation by email.

Buy air tickets to Bulgaria. The most convenient way to get to the resort of Varna. Non-stop flights Siberia Airlines (S7 Airlines) and Bulgaria Air operate from Moscow. There is a shuttle from the airport to Golden Sands, you can also use the services of taxi drivers, it is 18 km away.

Issue policies health insurance for everyone traveling to Bulgaria for the entire period of stay in the country. To do this, you must contact an insurance company licensed to provide this type of insurance.

Get a visa to Bulgaria. The list of documents required to obtain a visa can be found on the official website of the embassy of the republic in Moscow.

Purchase enough Bulgarian currency (levs) to cover your expenses during your trip. In addition to cash, large retail outlets and restaurants accept payment by plastic card, but in souvenir shops and small points Catering She won’t be able to pay in small shops either.

Go to the airport when check-in for your flight opens; for international flights, it starts three hours before.

Video on the topic

Sources:

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, official website

Instructions

When going to Bulgaria, do not try to purchase an all-inclusive tour. In this country, literally at every step there are cafes and restaurants for every budget and taste. Most of them offer quite acceptable prices, and in some you can eat for almost pennies. True, as everywhere else: the closer to the sea, the more expensive the prices. Having visited Bulgaria, you should definitely try “gyuvech” - stewed meat with potatoes and vegetables and local wines: “Kadarku”, “Melnik”, “Mavrud”.

Hotels do not have own beaches, all beaches in Bulgaria are municipal, but at the same time they are well-groomed and clean, with many cheap shops and bars. Golden Sands and Sunny Beach are large resorts with water parks and many other attractions, but with higher prices. If you don’t want to overpay and like a relaxing holiday, go to the Obzor or St. Constantine and Helena resorts.

The most economical holiday option in Bulgaria is a trip "". Book your room in advance private hotel in a small village. Prices for food and all services there are much lower than at big resorts. By the way, you can rent an apartment upon arrival - you will see signs about housing for rent on every corner.

To make air travel cheaper, try to purchase tickets for a charter flight, both there and back. You will also have to apply for a visa yourself. Bulgaria is not part of the Schengen zone, but a multi-Schengen visa is valid on its territory. If you are traveling only to Bulgaria, and your plans do not include visiting other EU countries, you just need to get a Bulgarian visa. All the details of its design can be clarified on the website bulgariavac.ru.

Excursion program It’s entirely possible to compose it yourself. To do this, arm yourself with a map and get to attractions in a rented car or public transport. If you love history, ancient cities with unique architecture and narrow streets await you - Sozopl and Nessebar.

Tip 5: What to see in Varna while traveling around Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is a country that is great for summer holiday on the sea coast. One of the largest seaside cities in Bulgaria - “beautiful sunny Varna”, as it is called local residents. It is here that numerous tourists come during their voyage to the resorts to get new impressions, to plunge into local life with its national flavor, and at the same time buy souvenirs and cheap sheepskin coats. What to see in Varna so that you can get an idea about it and enjoy it in one day?

Tired of sunbathing on the beach? Let's find out what Varna has to offer to vacationers. People come to this city from neighboring resorts for one day or deliberately choose it as a place to stay during their vacation. At first glance, Varna may seem quite boring. Especially if you drive through it and go further to other cities. Meanwhile, the most interesting things await you in its historical center, in an area called Odessos, and walking more in keeping with the spirit ancient city, which dates back about two thousand years.

So where should you go first in Varna? Start with Cathedral - business card cities. It can be seen from afar, and any resident of the city will immediately show you how to find it. Walk around the cathedral, go inside, and see its magnificent paintings.

Then, with your back to the main entrance of the cathedral, cross the road along the underground passage and go to Independence Square, in the middle of which you will see a large fountain, and on the right - a magnificent building Opera House. The walking part of the city intended for tourists begins here. When you reach the New Yorker store, turn left and explore the shops and cafes, as well as the architecture of this part of Varna. Turning right from McDonald's, you will reach the main entrance to the Seaside Garden.

This is a large coastal park where you can spend the whole day. In the summer, exhibitions, concerts and festivals are constantly held here, cafeterias, bicycle rentals and other services are open from morning to evening. Vehicle, as well as an amusement park. There are also several play areas for children, and a mini-train will take you along the entire perimeter of the park. The Primorsky Garden has a zoo, a Naval Museum and an Aquarium, and there is an equipped area for roller skating. You can explore all corners of this park for a long time, and then go down to the sea. The city beach is quite suitable for swimming, and on the coast there are restaurants open 24 hours a day, where you can dance all night, and on weekends there are concerts of popular youth performers.

Another park where you can have a good time is “Asparukhovsky”. It is located at the foot of the Asparuhov Bridge, which in itself is a landmark of Varna. In the park itself there are children's playgrounds, cafeterias and the entertainment and historical complex "Phanagoria" with a show program that clearly demonstrates how the ancient Bulgarians lived, worked and fought.

By the way, opposite the Cathedral there is another interesting place: before reaching Independence Square, you can turn right and get to the souvenir market, where silver jewelry, beautiful shells, magnets and mugs with the symbols of Bulgaria and Varna, as well as tablecloths and famous cosmetics are sold every day of roses - the pride of this country.

Among other things, Varna has many museums, including the largest - Archaeological Museum. Guests of the city are impressed by the Roman Baths - open museum in the middle of the historical city center. These are the preserved remains of Roman buildings, which are impressive in their scale and antiquity.

During the season, Varna lives a busy, active life both at night and during the day, and if you wish, you can find many ways to have fun in this seaside city of Bulgaria.

First of all, you need to take care of your visa. It should be remembered that you can enter Bulgaria with a Schengen visa or, if you do not have such a visa, you need to get a Bulgarian tourist visa. The cheapest way is to apply for a visa yourself through the Bulgarian Embassy, which is located in Moscow on Mosfilmovskaya Street. You should plan your vacation in advance, then you can significantly reduce costs. When choosing a travel date, you need to take into account that Bulgaria has several seasons: low season (May, early June, late August, early September), high season(end of June, July, beginning of August). Accommodation prices are cheaper in low season. For accommodation you should rent an apartment. The price for a studio is 35 euros, for an apartment with one bedroom - 40 euros per day, 150 meters from the beach. All apartments have kitchens, so you can save a lot on breakfast and possibly dinner, and sometimes lunch. By personal experience, it is better to rent apartments from Russia in advance. Closer to the season, it is almost impossible to find good apartments at a low price. Having chosen an apartment and decided on a trip, you need to take care of travel. There are several options: get there by train, plane. If you are traveling for more than two to three weeks and there are more than two of you, you can choose to travel by car. If your trip is short, it is better to choose a plane. On charter flights. You can buy such tickets on travel websites and from travel agencies. Having planned your trip, you need to go to the insurance company and take out medical insurance, as well as car insurance or "". Medical care in Bulgaria is quite expensive. When leaving, exchange rubles for euros. Although in Bulgaria they willingly exchange rubles for the local currency, the Bulgarian lev, the exchange rate is quite unfavorable, especially during the season.

How to relax in Bulgaria on your own? We talk about obtaining a visa, ticket prices and accommodation. Which resorts to spend time at? What to see on your own or with a guided tour? Tips for tourists and a traveler's review.

Travels that we organize entirely ourselves leave strong impressions and change our lives. One of popular destinations For independent travelers Bulgaria was and remains. Today we will talk about how to independently prepare for a holiday in Bulgaria and not forget anything, what to see and when is the best time to go.

You can also go to Bulgaria on a tour package - often a vacation on a tour costs less than an independent trip. Look at the prices and decide which is more profitable and convenient for you. Last minute tours search on services and they will find best deals among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

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Visa to Bulgaria on your own

Contrary to popular belief, Bulgaria is not visa-free country for Russians. There are several ways to enter the territory.

The Schengen agreement has been partially in force in Bulgaria since 2007. This means that with a multiple-entry Schengen visa (also called multi-Schengen), you can enter the country for up to 90 days within six months.
You can enter Bulgaria with a visa, and Romania.
The third option is a national visa.

Documents for a Schengen or national visa to Bulgaria:

A passport valid for at least 3 months after the end of the trip.
A copy of the first page of your passport (the page with your personal data).
One color photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm - there are also certain requirements for the size of the face and the background of the photograph.
A questionnaire filled out by you personally. It is issued at the consulate or visa center. You can also download the application form for obtaining a visa to Bulgaria yourself, fill it out and print it on A4 sheets.
A certificate from work on company letterhead indicating your position, length of service and your salary - it is certified by the seal and signature of the manager.
Insurance.

When to go?

The swimming season in Bulgaria is from May to September, however, both May and September are not too hot. Our independent trip Our trip to Bulgaria fell at the end of August, we visited several cities - we experienced rain, wind, and cool nights. From December to March is the ski season.

Flights

You can fly to Bulgarian resorts from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and several other large cities.

On average, the price of round-trip air tickets in summer starts from 7,000 rubles. But this expense item may be quite small. Prices for one-way tickets from Moscow start from 1,500 rubles. And sometimes one-way tickets to Bulgarian resorts can be bought - attention - for less than 2,000 rubles! These are usually charter flights, most often from Moscow and St. Petersburg, for which you can catch a ticket even at the height of the season. Such prices are also found at Pobeda, Rossiya Airlines and some others.

Where to book a hotel in Bulgaria on your own

Housing prices in Bulgaria will pleasantly surprise you. On large popular resorts(Sunny Beach and Golden Sands) prices for apartments and small hotels start from 13 euros per night per room. In other cities (Varna, Burgas, Sofia) you can find housing for even 10 euros per day, especially if you live further from the sea. As a rule, these are hostels, apartments or mini-hotels. Hotels on the first line even here offer rooms from 20 euros per night.

There are also many interesting accommodation options on the Airbnb website. In addition to standard apartments, rooms and hotels, you will find private villas surrounded by greenery, authentic accommodation and modern equipped campsites. Prices start from 10 euros per night. Of course, tourists visiting Bulgaria on their own will like it more here.

During our trip to Bulgaria, we independently booked a studio apartment in an unremarkable high-rise building, a tent on a wild beach, a room in a small hostel and a room in a small hotel in a mountain village.

Where to relax on your own in Bulgaria

The most important thing in Bulgaria is the sea and golden sand, stretching for many kilometers. Along the Black Sea are located resort villages, port cities, popular and secluded beaches. People also come here for health reasons: there are plenty of sanatoriums, mud clinics and boarding houses here.

The most famous resorts Bulgaria:

Pomorie;
Sunny Beach;
Golden Sands;
Nessebar;
Balchik.

Besides this, there is also big cities, for example, Varna and Burgas. Here you can relax and swim (and save on housing).

Rentals on the beach:

sun lounger - 6-8 leva;
umbrella - 6-8 leva;
bedspread - 3 leva.

Each resort is a place with a varied infrastructure and plenty of entertainment for vacationers of all ages. Depending on the location of the beach, you can find a suitable type of active recreation: surfing on the “Golden Fish” and “Dunes” beaches, fishing and sailing on a yacht on the beaches of the Primorsko resort, paragliding on Albena beach.

You can simply sunbathe on the sand - Golden Sands and Sunny Beach are perfect for this. And if you get tired, outside the beach area there are amusement parks, shops, cathedrals and museums. In the evening you can go to a club or restaurant - there are a huge number of them at each resort.

Food prices in Bulgaria

Compared to other resort countries, you can eat in Bulgaria quite inexpensively.

Approximate prices in leva:

simple budget breakfast in a cafe - 6 leva;
lunch - 10 leva;
lunch at inexpensive cafe- 15 leva;
lunch at good restaurant- 40 levs;
have lunch at McDonald's - 8 leva;
0.5 liters of homemade beer - 2 leva;
a standard size cup of cappuccino 2-2.5 leva;
bottle of water 0.33 l - 1 lev.

Transport and car rental

In cities and towns in Bulgaria you can use regular buses. They are quite inexpensive - about 1.5 leva. A tangible advantage of local buses is that almost all of them have open Wi-Fi.

Another a good option- rent a car if you don’t want to spend your entire vacation in one place. We rented a car in Varna for two days. We were looking for a company via the Internet, and best price- 26 euros per day. Typically cars cost 40 euros per day or more.

Our review and advice for car rentals:

habitual right-hand traffic;
very good roads;
strict speed limit: on the highway - up to 60 km/h, very rarely - up to 90;
There are enough cameras on the roads;
never saw the police;
To rent a car, a Russian license is enough.

Rent a car- this is the best way to travel! - reliable and convenient car rental service in Bulgaria. Choose a car to suit your taste and budget - there is a wide choice. The cost of renting a car is from 8 euros per day. Do you have any questions? The Russian-speaking support service will help you with everything.

Excursions in Bulgaria

Since Bulgaria is a country with a rich culture and history, popular excursions here include walks through ancient quarters, visits to museums and Orthodox shrines. Such excursions are available in Varna, Nessebar, Sofia and other cities. But the drive to Sofia is almost 400 km from the sea, so tourists often do not have time to visit here.

There is a large selection of sea excursions and cruises - for one evening or several days. For lovers unusual program there is jeeping, a safari park, diving and visiting Bulgarian villages and villages with national music and dinners.

In summer, the Balkan National Park is attractive in Bulgaria. If you want to see Bulgaria from different sides on your own, be sure to visit ecological trails, take a walk in the mountains. Live in small cozy villages, try real national food, practically not hearing Russian speech - we rested just like that and were delighted!

Bulgarian the language is not so simple, as it seems. Even though they use the Cyrillic alphabet, many words are incomprehensible in writing and even more so in hearing.

It's practically don't drink tea and coffee. When it comes to coffee, Bulgarians recognize only espresso (cappuccino is also found, but much less frequently; you can completely forget the words “mocha” and “glaze”). Tea is drunk only in winter, and teapots are rarely found in homes and hotels.

Don't be surprised by nudists, if you see them on the beach. This is a common phenomenon in Bulgaria, and there are many nudist beaches here!

Bulgaria is an uncomplicated and friendly country. A holiday in Bulgaria, organized independently or packaged by a travel agency, will definitely be remembered by you for its warmth, simplicity and affordable prices. Have a nice trip!

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