Bulgaria is a country located on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. A member country of the European Union. Known for the excellent weather for tourism, the country is visited year-round by millions of tourists.
It is important for all tourists to visit a country where they feel safe. Therefore, we will answer the most important question if you are going to travel to Bulgaria:
Is Bulgaria safe?
As a member of the European Union, the country has reduced crime to low levels. The most common crimes are petty theft and pickpocketing. One of the most severe crimes is breaking. There are almost no kidnappings. You can safely visit Bulgaria, indulge in entertainment and simultaneously be calm about your safety. It is in the peculiarities of their culture to help when needed.
Types of travel crimes
Crime rates are not high. Violent crime is kept to a minimum. However, this does not mean that you should not take care of yourself and not take measures for your security everywhere. Beware of bag thieves in large shopping malls, crowded tourist resorts, and public transport in big cities. At night, as in any other European country, be vigilant, and if possible, do not move on foot. The telephone number to report a crime, accident, or other problem is 112.
If you have decided to travel and rest in the seaside resorts of this country, do not bring valuables to the beach. At night, watch out for unlit roads and streets outside the resorts. When you travel by intercity bus, be careful with your bag of money and documents. In the big resorts, it is rare to receive signals for entering the hotel rooms. So when you leave your hotel room, lock the door. For greater security, if you stay on a low floor, close the balcony doors when you are not in your room. To have peace of mind about your valuables, it is better to trust the hotel to store them in a safe. The official currency in Bulgaria is the lev. Somewhere you may be able to pay in euros or dollars, but it is best to exchange your money for leva before the travel. For this purpose, use a bank or licensed exchange office. Both are available in many places. Never exchange currency on the street, regardless of the favorable exchange rates they will offer you. If you do, there’s a real chance you’ll be pushed counterfeit money and get in trouble with law enforcement.
If you go to restaurants, nightclubs, and strip bars, be careful with your documents and money.
Travel and transport in Bulgaria
We will introduce you to the essential rules and will provide you with advice you must follow to protect yourself from fines and accidents.
1. You are traveling by a car. You should know the two major highways, Hemus and Trakia. Hemus connects the capital of the country – Sofia, with the maritime capital Varna. This highway runs through the whole of northern Bulgaria. The other road connecting Sofia with the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Burgas-Thrace. It crosses the whole of southern Bulgaria. If you travel by car, you must comply with the Bulgarian road law. Here you drive on the right side of the road, with the car’s steering wheel on the left. You rarely see a car with right-hand drive, but it must drive in the right-hand lane.
When you travel, obey all speed limits, road markings and road signs so that you don’t get ticketed for violations or, even more unpleasantly, have your license taken or your car’s license plates taken down. You can be stopped for a routine check anywhere. If your documents do not meet the local requirements or you do not have some of the mandatory attributes in the car – first aid kit, fire extinguisher, reflective vest, emergency sign, you may be fined. In Bulgaria, when you travel, if you are transporting a child, the child must be in a child’s car seat, suitably secured to the seat. The child himself must be buckled into the seat. Do not allow yourself to drive a child without a seat or an unsecured one. Thus, you risk not only a fine but, above all, the safety of the small passenger. Seat belts are mandatory for both front and rear passengers. When checking, you must present an identity document, a driver’s license valid within the borders of Bulgaria if you are on a main road or highway – vignette, and insurance and vehicle registration. If you have a car with a Bulgarian registration, you must have paid tax and a technical inspection coupon.
2. You are traveling by taxi. There are taxis two or three meters away at every taxi stand, there are free ones, and you can catch one, the other option is to order by phone from a company you trust or one recommended to you, if you take a taxi from a taxi stand or catch one on the move, there is a chance that you will end up on a fake taxi with high taxes. The usual taxi fares are acceptable and affordable.
3. Railway transport. Since the country became a member of the European Union, railway transport has undergone significant modernization. Managers strive to minimize delays. Carriages are better maintained, and hygiene is improved in high-speed trains. In some of the carriages, there is a free Wi-Fi network and charging contacts. The plus point of rail transport is that you can enjoy the beautiful views that the train passes through. A unique pristine nature surrounds the mountains and passes by train. You will enjoy the beauty of the natural pictures and the fresh air.
After everything listed here, we can summarise that Bulgaria is a safe country and the chance of something wrong happening to you is minimal if you follow the tips described above.
To avoid committing to an organization when traveling and staying in Bulgaria, we advise you to trust the travel agency Boiana MG. Known for her professionalism and many years of experience, they will make your trip as easy as possible.