• Sofia
• Plodiv
• Varna

Situated in south-eastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the central part of the Balkan Peninsula on both sides of the Balkan range. It has its own scenic beauty and extremely friendly people. This partly mountainous country with its beautiful landscapes and excellent beaches is quickly becoming a real resort paradise. The Republic of Bulgaria has changed dramatically over the last decade. It is valiantly struggling to adapt to modern times and this is part of its appeal; in small villages you may still see people who ride a donkey to work in the fields! The geography of Bulgaria is extremely varied. There is a landscape to suit all tastes; from large plains and lowlands to rolling hills, high rugged mountains and breath-taking valleys and gorges. Weather-wise, the seasons are clearly marked. The winter months can average 0¢ªC and in summer the temperature climbs into the high 20's. The land is rich in natural resources such as copper, lead, zinc and coal and these are important to the economy of this fairly poor country. There are more than five hundred natural springs dotted around Bulgaria and the water temperature in these springs can reach up to 60C. Bulgaria's language is as diverse as its geography. It is bordered by Romania, Turkey and Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro and has as its official languages Bulgarian, Turkish and Romany (with other languages spoken in the smaller, older villages. Although Bulgaria has only recently begun to market itself as a tourist destination and is only beginning to put in place the infrastructure to support it, this has become an advantage. It is still ridiculously cheap to holiday here and the Black Sea coast is famous for fine sand on its beaches and decent air and water temperatures, almost guaranteeing an enjoyable stay.

The minimum age for driving in Bulgaria is 18, and children must be at least 12 before they can sit in the front seat. The use of seat-belts is compulsory for all travellers. Speed limits are strictly followed: expressways 120km/h; other main roads 80km/h; built-up areas 60km/h. However, please note that if you have held your driving licence for less than two years then these limits are reduced to 100km/h, 70km/h and 50km/h respectively. The police can hand out on-the-spot fines, but must issue you with a receipt. Foreign-registered vehicles using the expressways or four-lane roads must pay tolls, and there is also a toll to cross the bridge over the Danube. Petrol stations are situated in large towns and every 35km along main roads. Most stations are open between 6am and 9,30pm, but there are some which open 24 hours. Note that fuel in the blue pumps is of much better quality. Some petrol stations accept credit cards. When in towns and cities which have trams, please remember that they also have priority. Trams even have priority over pedestrians! On one-way streets, you may park only on the right side.