Capital: Sofia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey (slightly larger than Tennessee)
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
American citizens living in or visiting Bulgaria are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria and obtain updated information on travel and security within Bulgaria. The U.S. Embassy in Sofia is located at 1 Saborna St. (formerly 1 a. Stamboliyski boulevard); tel. (359)(2) 937-5100; fax: (359)(2) 981-8977. The Consular Section of the Embassy is located at 1 Kapitan Andreev St. In Sofia; tel. (359)(2) 963-2022; fax (359)(2) 963-2859. The Embassy's web site address is http://www.usembassy.bg. Questions regarding consular services may be directed via e-mail to niv@usconsulate.bg, iv-dv@usconsulate.bg and acs@usconsulate.bg.
Customs Regulations:
Travelers carrying cash equivalent to 5,000 Bulgarian Lev (about 2,200 dollars) or more must declare the amount they are carrying on a customs declaration upon arrival or departure. Travelers who have with them the equivalent of 20,000 Bulgarian lev or more upon departure must have a permit to export the money issued by the Bulgarian National Bank's headquarters, if they had less than the equivalent of 20,000 Bulgarian lev upon entry in the country. Travelers should also declare jewelry, cameras, computers and other valuables to avoid difficulties on departure. Contact the Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington or Bulgaria's Consulate General in New York for specific information regarding customs regulations.
Background:
Bulgaria earned its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, but having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multi-party election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000.
Ethnic Groups:
Bulgarian 83%, Turk 8.5%, Roma 2.6%, Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Gagauz, Circassian, others (1998)
Language:
Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Currency:
BGL
lev (BGL)
leva per US dollar - 1.4622 (March 2007), 2.0848 (January 2001), 2.1233 (2000), 1.8364 (1999), 1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996)
note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev
Climate:
Temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Population:
7,707,495 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Bulgarian Orthodox 83.5%, Muslim 13%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Jewish 0.8%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 1% (1998)
Medical:
Although Bulgarian physicians are trained to a very high standard, most hospitals and clinics are generally not equipped or maintained at U.S. or Western European levels. Basic medical supplies are widely available, but specialized treatment may not be obtainable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for services.
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Bulgaria is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of public transportation:
fair
Urban road conditions/maintenance:
fair
Rural road conditions/maintenance:
poor to fair
Availability of roadside assistance:
poor
The Bulgarian road system is underdeveloped. There are few sections of limited-access divided highway. Some rural roads are in poor repair and full of potholes. Rockslides and landslides may be encountered on roads in mountainous areas. Livestock and animal-drawn carts present road hazards throughout the country, especially during the active agricultural season. Travel conditions deteriorate during the winter as roads become icy and potholes proliferate. The U.S. embassy in Sofia advises against night driving because road conditions are more dangerous in the dark. Some roads lack pavement markings and lights, and motorists often drive with dim or missing headlights.
During the last few years there has been a distinct increase in the number of road accidents resulting in casualties. The total number of road accidents in 1997 was 6,018 with 7,922 persons killed or injured; for 1998 the figures were respectively 6,905 and 8,983.
Heavy truck traffic along the two-lane routes from the Greek border at Kulata to Sofia and from the Turkish border at Kapitan Andreevo to Plovdiv creates numerous hazards. Motorists should expect long delays at border crossings. A U.S. state driver's license is not considered valid for Bulgaria; only an international driving permit is accepted. Persons operating vehicles with foreign license plates frequently complain of being stopped by police and fined on the spot for offenses that are not clear.
Buses, trams, and trolleys are inexpensive but are often crowded and of widely varying quality. Passengers on the busiest lines have reported incidents of pick-pocketing, purse-slashing, and pinching.
The use of seat belts is mandatory in Bulgaria. Child car seats are allowed by law but only on the back seats. Speed limits are 50 km/h in the cities/towns, 90 km/h out of town, and 120 km/h on the highways. The same speed limits apply for motorcycles; motorcyclists must drive with helmets and with lights on at all times. At crossings that are not regulated, the right of way is for the driver who is on the right; however, this rule is frequently ignored. Drivers may be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood level as low as 0.05. Right turns on red lights are not permitted unless specifically authorized. The penalties for drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury or death range from twenty-five U.S. dollars up to life imprisonment.
The most generally encountered local traffic custom is a driver flashing high beams, which generally means that a traffic police post may be ahead.
Motorists should avoid confrontations with aggressive drivers in Bulgaria. Late model sedans (BMW, Mercedes) are known to speed and be driven dangerously. Motorists should exercise caution and not engage in altercations with the drivers of such vehicles as some are armed organized crime figures.
In case of emergency, drivers should contact the police at telephone number 166 and/or the roadside assistance at telephone number 146. For an ambulance, call 150.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Bulgaria driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Bulgarian Embassy via the Internet at http://www.bulgaria-embassy.org.
