This is
the main gateway to Bulgaria and handles more than half of the international
air traffic to Bulgaria. The flight from the UK takes 2.5 hours. The
two main international ports are Varna and Bourgas.
Bulgaria
Air and British Airways provide daily flights to London. While low cost
airlines do not operate flights to Sofia yet, the round trip is unlikely
to cost more than J250.
The Czech,
Austrian and Hungarian airlines may be a good alternative if you do
not mind a short stopover in the respective capital.
Car
Hire
Once in
Sofia, various means of transportation are available. You can rent a
car from the airport should you need flexible transportation arrangements.
Taxi
The highest
taxi fare you can expect to pay is just 4gbp, for the longest one way
trip within Sofia, but usually it would be just 1 to 2 gbp. Regular
bus services can take you anywhere in the country in comfortable environment.
The longest
one way trip imaginable, Sofia - Varna, is about 5.5 hours and costs
just 10gbp. The winter resorts, Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo are from
one to three hours drive from Sofia, respectively, and In general the
transportation services are of good quality and reliability.
Varna
International Airport and Bourgas International Airport
The importance
of these seaside airports sharply increases during the summer months.
They handle significant traffic of incoming tourists from Western Europe
and Russia going for their summer vacation.
Numerous
charter flights operate to and from the airports and can go as low as
J80 one way. They cover the main markets of the UK, Germany, Scandinavia
and Russia.
Out of
season the demand drops sharply and arranging a direct flight to the
seaside can become more difficult, but it is still possible, especially
to Varna. Shuttles and regular bus services are readily available between
Bourgas and Varna and the resorts in between.
Services
are also at your disposal should you want to visit the resorts south
of Bourgas or north of Varna. Again, transportation is reliable and
one cannot expect to remain stranded.
Bulgaria
is about two and a half hour flight from the United Kingdom direct.
There are a number of Bulgarian and foreign airlines fly to Bulgarian
airports from most capitals of Europe, Africa, Middle East and North
America. Two scheduled airlines currently fly direct to Sofia once a
day, most other major European carriers fly indirectly.
Bulgarian
International airports are at Sofia and on the Black Sea Coast
at Bourgas and Varna with some chartered flights also
landing at Plovdiv and Gorna Oryahovitsa. Direct international fly to
the capital, Sofia, all year round.
Direct
charter flights to the Black Sea (Varna/Bourgas) are available during
the spring and summer months and can be booked through local travel
agents in the United Kingdom
Varna
Airport is approximately 9km from the city of Varna and Bourgas
Airport is 13km from the city, with bus services to Varna city centre
departing every twenty minutes.
There are
also several international Bus stations where all international buses
arrive and you can use the rail transport too. Although there are no
direct rail services between Bulgaria and Western Europe there are frequent
services between Sofia and Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessalonica and Istanbul.
Reaching
Bulgaria by car is also convenient. Travelling by car you must enter
at an official border point, those with Romania, Vidin, Oryahovo, Rousse
are probably the most convenient. When entering you must have a document
of ownership over your car, if not explicitly shown on the documents
of registration.
You must
also declare your exit crossing and pay the corresponding tax. Speed
limits in Bulgaria apply on all public roads, 50 km/h in populated areas,
90 km/h outside towns and villages, and 120 km/h on motorways.
There are
also sea and river connections through the Black Sea and the Danube
River, however most of these are cruises rather than regular services.
The official crossing point into Romania by ferry is from Vidin to Calafat.
