Driving regulations

International road regulations are valid in Bulgaria. Driving conditions in major cities, as well as on the highways, are fair to good. You might experience problems if trying to reach more remote areas because of the poor road conditions (read: potholes!) and the lack of proper signage.

Your home-country driving licence may be used for up to six months in Bulgaria, after which it has either to be traded in for a Bulgarian one or you have to retake your test here to get a Bulgarian licence while keeping hold of your own. US driving licences are acceptable only if accompanied by an International Driver's License.

Some of the most common violations for which police in Bulgaria hand out fines include speed limit violations, driving without a seat belt and drink driving. You may also be curious to note that it is illegal to drive in high heels, open sandals and flip flops and to eat and drink behind the wheel. On most of the open roads around the country you will find speed traps. Frequently you will be warned by oncoming traffic flashing their lights at you, if not then you face a fine to be paid later at the local municipality.

Regulations

Foreigners in Bulgaria may use their driving licence issued in their home country for up to six months in Bulgaria. Once this period is over, the licence needs to be translated and legalised.

According to the US embassy in Bulgaria, the US driver's licence in Bulgaria is accepted only if accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
International Driving Permits (IDP) are recognised in nearly 150 countries and serve as an official translation of the US driver's licence.

A vehicle entering the country needs to have insurance. Drivers entering the country also need to pay an entrance fee, calculated in accordance to the type of vehicle.
Road signs and driving regulations in Bulgaria follow international standards, though some signs might be missing in villages and on rural roads.

Bulgaria occupies a unique and strategically important geographic location. Since ancient times, the country has been a major crossroad between Europe, Asia and Africa. Five of the ten Trans-European corridors run through its territory.

The total length of the roads is 102,016 km of which 93,855 km are paved and 416 km are motorways. Several motorways are planned, under construction or partially built: Trakiya motorway, Hemus motorway, Cherno More motorway, Struma motorway, Maritza motorway and Lyulin motorway. Other motorways are planned but their final track is yet to be decided. They include a link between the capital Sofia and Vidin, a link between the Struma and Trakiya motorways south of Rila Mountain, a link between Rousse and Veliko Tarnovo, and the Sofia ringroad. Many roads have been recently reconstructed.

The length of railways is 6,500 km of which more than 60% are electrified. There is a €360,000,000 project for the modernization and electrification of the Plovdiv-Kapitan Andreevo railway.

Air transportation is relatively well developed. There are four international airports at Sofia, Burgas, Varna and Plovdiv. Massive investment is planned for the first three. There are important domestic airports in Vidin, Pleven, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Rousse, Silistra, Targovishte, Stara Zagora, Kardzhali, Haskovo and Sliven. After the fall of communism in 1989, most of them are not used as the importance of domestic flights declined. There are many military airports and agricultural airfields. 128 of the 213 airports in Bulgaria are paved.

The ports of Varna and Burgas are by far the most important and have the largest turnover. Other than Burgas, Sozopol, Nesebar and Pomorie are big fishing ports. The largest ports on the Danube River are Rousse and Lom which serves the capital.

There is well organised public transport in the cities and in many smaller towns. There are buses, trolleys (in about 20 cities) and trams (in Sofia). The Sofia Metro in the capital is to have 3 lines with total length of about 48 km and 52 stations, but only a section is currently completed.

Bulgaria is a 3 hour flight from the UK and Ireland. Once in Bulgaria, it is easy to get around. Burgas is best for Sunny Beach and resorts further south (Sozopol, Primorsko, Kiten, Pomorie) Varna is best for Golden Sands and resorts further north (Balchik, Albena) The distance between Burgas and Varna is approx 150km/ 2 hour taxi journey. Pamporovo, Borovets and Bansko are within 1 to 2 hours drive from Sofia.

Sofia Airport - The international airport connects Bulgaria woth major world cities. The wesite offers filghts schedule with the arrivals and departures of all planes.

Varna Airport - The Varna International  Airport maintains most of the flights on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

Bourgas Airport - Bourgas Airport works mainly in the summer and maintains many charter flights for the tourist season.

Companies with Regular Flights from US, UK and Continental Europe to Bulgaria

Bulgaria Air - Bulgaria Air provides international direct flights from Western Europe to Bulgaria as well as quick domestic flights to various destinations in Bulgaria all year! There are frequent flights from London Gatwick and Manchester airports.

Malev Hungarian Airline - Malev flyes from multiple locations around Europe, most notably London Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick as well as from American locations such as New York's JFK. Flights to Sofia and Varna are available from Malev in all seasons!

British Airways - British Airways has direct flights from London to Sofia.

Wizz Air - Wizz Air provides flights from many locations in the UK and Ireland to Sofia and Bourgas in Bulgaria.

Hemus Air - Hemus Air has flights from Continental Europe to Bulgaria. Flights are available to Varna, Sofia, and Bourgas from Austria, Germany and the UK among other locations.

Lufthansa - Lufthansa has connecting flights from the UK and Continental Europe to Sofia and seasonally to Varna.

Alitalia - Alitalia has flights from UK, Italy and other European locations to Sofia.

Air France - Air France connects Sofia and Paris with seasonal flights to Bulgaria.

Sky Europe - Sky Europe offers low cost travels from multiple locations throughout Europe as well as flights to major Bulgarian cities - Varna, Bourgas and Sofia.

www.cheapflights.co.uk - Cheap Flights to Bulgaria.

Driving in Bulgaria

The Speed limits are:

• 50 km/h in populated areas
• 90 km/h outside populated areas
• 120 km/h on highways.

To drive in Bulgaria you can use your national license accompanied by an international Driving Permit. Road signs follow international standards. On-the-spot fines are in operation for speeding, drink driving and not having the correct documents.