PASSPORT AND FUNDS
You will not need a visa to travel to Bulgaria if you have a valid American passport.
Make sure to bring Visa and Master cards which are accepted everywhere in Europe. Check if your credit cards get charged an international fee before you use them abroad. American Express has no international fees, however, most places won’t accept it for payment.
We prefer to use cash when we are in Europe. The best way to get it is at a local exchange bureau or an ATM machine. We don’t recommend airport and hotel exchange places unless you really need to use them.
Exchange Rate USD: Sat, 26 Apr.
Bulgaria is ahead of New York Eastern Standard time by 7 hours. This is the current time in Sofia right now.
TRANSPORTATION
There are two terminals at Sofia International Airport. Most international flights land at Terminal 2. This is the main terminal where you can get a taxi, catch the subway (metro), or pick-up your rental car. There isn’t an Uber in Bulgaria, but the taxis are very affordable and easy to spot.
If you decide to travel in Bulgaria, we suggest you rent a car. Most rental car companies offer a manual car first. Make sure to select an automatic over manual car when booking. Also it is required to have an international drivers license when renting a car in Europe. We got ours at a local AAA office and it cost around $40.
USEFUL APPS
There are some apps that are essential for traveling. Here are a few we found to be very useful:
- Google Translate (download the Bulgarian language)
- Google Maps (download offline maps so you can use them with or without data)
- Airbnb (book rooms in Europe)
- Booking.com (book hotels)
- Triposo (travel guides)
CELLULAR AND DATA PLANS
Check with your service provider to find out the international data rates before you leave for Bulgaria.
If you have an iphone you can still send and receive text messages and phone calls when you are connected to wifi. Most cafes, restaurants, hotels, and city centers in Bulgaria have free wifi.
You can also purchase a prepaid SIM card if your phone is unlocked. We recommend SIM cards from these two Bulgarian companies:
THE LAYOVER
There isn’t a direct flight to Bulgaria, so you will have to stop once before you get there. We suggest to make a layover for a day or two in Turkey, Denmark, Greece.
Some sites we use to book flights to Europe are:
- Momondo.com (check luggage requirements)
- Lufthansa.com
- Turkishairlines.com
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is one of our favorite layover destinations. If you like to shop at a buzzing bazaar, eat delicious oriental food, and visit some of the most ancient places in the world, then Istanbul is the city for you.
The best shopping experience is at the Grand Bazaar where you can bargain great deals and fill up a suitcase of high-quality clothes, shoes, and souvenirs. Look for our friend Dervish who can get you the biggest bang for your buck!
Do you LOVE baklava?!? We met the King of baklava himself – Nadir Güllü. Don’t miss the opportunity to try his delicious baklava and desserts at Karaköy Güllüoğlu shop. You won’t regret it!
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nyhavn (New Harbour) is the 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district lined by brightly colored townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants.
Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest operating amusement park in Denmark and the world. It opened in 1843 and it was a major inspiration for Walt Disney.
The Little Mermaid statue is literally little! It was inspired by the fairy tale of the same name by the author Hans Christian Andersen.
Kavala, Greece
Kavala is a small summer getaway city in Greece, a 2 hour drive south of Bulgaria.
Greece has the most delicious and fresh food. Some of our favorite dishes are: grilled octopus, saganaki (grilled cheese), and panacotta (type of flan).
Grilled octopus in olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, olives, and hot green peppers. Yummy!