PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS Currency: EUR (Euro)Language: Bulgarian (Cyrillic alphabet)Time zone: GMT+2 (summer GMT+3)Electricity: 220V, 50Hz, plug type FSafety: Bulgaria is generally safe; normal precautions advisedTransport: Good networks of buses, trains; taxis are inexpensive; Sofia has metroCuisine: Typical dishes include: tarator (cold yogurt and cucumber soup), Shopska salad (an EU-protected designation of origin product), banitsa, yogurt, grilled meats, kavarma, and bean soup; wines and rakia (a traditional brandy) are also customary.Tipping: 5-10% is customaryEntry: EU citizens - ID; non-EU - passport, visa depending on nationality

OFFICIAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: January 1st : New YearMarch 3rd : Day of the Liberation from the Ottoman dominationEaster: Two days - Sunday and Mondays as determined for the respective year for celebrating Pascha (East-Orthodox Easter is usually one week after the Catholic one)May 1st : International Labor DayMay 6th : St. George’s Day | Day of the Bulgarian ArmyMay 24th : Day of the Bulgarian Culture and Slavonic LettersSeptember 6th : Bulgaria’s unification - National HolidaySeptember 22nd : Bulgaria’s independenceDecember 25th and 26th : Nativity of Christ

GEOGRAPHY OF BULGARIA: TERRITORY: 111 000 square km.GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: South-eastern Europe in the north-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the North it borders with Rumania; to the West, with North Macedonia and Serbia; to the East, with the Black Sea and to the South, with Greece and TurkeyCLIMATE: Temperate continental climate with four seasons. In the south an impact of the Mediterranean climate is felt. The average annual air temperature is 10.5°C (51°F). In January the average temperature is 0°C. In summer seldom is over 30°C.RELIEF: With variety of natural forms: the mountains occupy half of this country’s territory. Mountains and valleys reach the level of the Black Sea Coast.