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Getting Around By Air
Bulgaria Air (www.air.bg) operates some domestic services, connecting Sofia with the Black Sea coast. The journeys from Sofia to Bourgas and Varna take one hour. Air travel is comparatively cheap, and is only slightly more expensive than first-class rail travel.
Getting Around by Water
Private boats and yachts ply the Black Sea coast and the Danube.
Getting Around by Rail
Bulgarian State Railways (tel: (02) 932 4190; www.bdz.bg) connects Sofia with main towns. Reservations are essential during peak seasons and first-class travel is advised. A first-class sleeper is a wonderful way to travel long distances, especially at night.
Rail Passes
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Bulgaria. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Road quality is variable and driving standards are generally poor. Night driving can be dangerous owing to poor lighting. Tolls are charged on motorways and main roads out of town. Vignettes can be purchased at ports, border points, post offices and DZI bank offices. Car-theft and car-jacking are both on the increase in Bulgaria.
Bus: There is a good network of buses. The state-run buses in each town and city often run from a different location to private buses and minibuses. Private long-distance buses often have their offices gathered near each other, and offer good services on comfortable vehicles. Main coach operators include ETAP (tel: (02) 945 3939; http://etapgroup.com/etap) and Biomet (tel: (02) 963 1366; www.biomet-bg.com). Taxi: Available in all towns and also for intercity journeys. Vehicles are usually in good condition. All vehicles are metered, unless they are privately owned. Some drivers may try to drive without putting on the meter; ensure this is done before you leave. See on the chart on the outside of the vehicle what the starting price is, to check the meter is not rigged. A small tip is appreciated. Car hire: Available through hotel reception desks and at Sofia airport, and online in advance. Most of the major international car hire agencies are represented here. Regulations: Speed limits are strictly adhered to: 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Emergency breakdown service: 24-hour road assistance is available (tel: (02) 980 3308). Documentation: An International Driving Permit allows visitors to drive a private car when accompanied by a valid national driving licence. It is compulsory for old licences that do not have photo ID. A Green Card is compulsory. Getting Around Towns and Cities
Bus, tramway and trolleybus services operate in Sofia; in addition, a metro covers a small area of the city centre, with more lines planned, operating 0530-0000. Flat fares are charged on all transport and tickets must be pre-purchased.
Buses and taxis operate in all the main towns. There are also trolleybuses in Plovdiv and Varna. Outside Sofia, bus tickets are purchased on board from the conductor. Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Sofia (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Bulgaria.
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