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Travel - International
AIR: Bulgaria’s national airline is Balkan-Bulgarian Airlines (LZ). Other airlines serving Bulgaria include Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, Olympic Airlines and Swiss.
Approximate flight times: From Sofia to London is 3 hours and to New York is 14 hours.
International airports: Sofia (SOF) (website: www.sofia-airport.bg) is 10km (6 miles) east of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Buses run approximately every 10 minutes to the city centre during the day and every 20 minutes between 2100-0030. Coaches are available by arrangement through tour operators. Taxis are also available, although taxi drivers may not use their meters and travellers are advised to agree the fare beforehand. Airport facilities include banks and currency exchange (24 hours), post office, duty-free shop, nursery, restaurant, 24-hour bar and car hire (Hertz, Avis, Budget and Europcar).
Varna (VAR) is 9km (5.5 miles) from the city. A bus service to Varna city centre departs every 20 minutes. A coach service is available by arrangement with various tour operators. A taxi service is also available. Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, banking and currency exchange (24 hours), a restaurant, 24-hour bar and car hire by prior arrangement with travel agents.
Bourgas (BOJ) is 13km (8 miles) from the city. A bus service departs every 20 minutes to the city centre. A coach service is available by prior arrangement with tour operators. A taxi service is also available. Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, banking and currency exchange (24 hours), a restaurant (0600-2230), 24-hour bar and car hire (by prior arrangement).
Departure tax: None except for US nationals who will be charged US$20.
SEA: The main international ports are Varna and Bourgas on the Black Sea.
RIVER: The official crossing points into Romania are by ferry from Vidin to Calafat and by road bridge from Ruse to Giurgiu.
RAIL: There are no direct rail services between Bulgaria and Western Europe although there are frequent services between Sofia and Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessaloniki and Istanbul. Sofia is also directly connected with Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin. Dining car facilities are available on all routes.
ROAD: Main entry points include Koulata and Novo Selo (from Greece); Ruse, Kardom, Durankulak and Silistra (from Romania); Svilengrad and Kapitan Andrikeevo (from Turkey); Kalotina, Zlatarevo and Vrashkachuka (from Serbia and Montenegro) and Guyeshevo (from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Foreign citizens entering Bulgaria in a motor vehicle must have documentation to prove their ownership of the vehicle. There are daily bus connections from other cities including Istanbul, Athens and Thessaloniki to Sofia. Eurolines, departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in Bulgaria. For further information, contact Eurolines (4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, L41 1PP; tel: (0990) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694; e-mail: welcome@eurolinesuk.com; website: www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com).
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