Currency Exchange
Banks and change bureaus exchange most foreign currencies generally free of commission or fees; travelers checks and credit card cash advances for a reasonable fee; rates vary so check around. Recently, the number of bank ATMs has increased dramatically and finding one in a major city or resort is not a problem. Change bureaus are the best place to change money as long as you do not accidentally use one that is going to charge you a fat commission on your transaction (6-8%, normally). There are a few ways you can spot the gougers and avoid them: (1) If there are three columns of numbers on the change bureau sign, you will get the worst rate - the third column, with low rates for transactions under $10,000. Avoid bureaus with three columns of numbers. (2) If there is a sentence of fine print on the bottom of the table of exchange rates, be assured that the fine print does NOT say come on in, and you will be treated fairly without being ripped off. (3) Look for change bureaus with a sign which says NO COMMISSION

Credit Cards
Credit cards are not widely accepted.Major credit cards such as Eurocard, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa and Access can be used only in the best hotels and restaurants and in very few shops. Bulgaria is still largely a cash economy.

Working Hours

Offices
Mon-Fri 9am-5:30 pm
Government-related offices are closed 30 minutes for mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks as well as an hour, or longer, for lunch. The best approach is to avoid the Post Office, for example, around lunchtime, as they enjoy very generous lunch, coffee and cigarette breaks.

Banks
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm

Shops
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm; half-day Saturday.
The more entrepreneurial shop owners stay open until 8pm on weekdays, 5pm on Saturdays. Very few shops (except for grocery stores) are open on Sunday. Vitosha Boulevard is Sofia`s major shopping area. There is also a variety of shops along Graf Ignatiev and Rakovski Street.

Transport
Taxis in general are inexpensive in Bulgaria with an average rate of 0,2 Euro/km. The exception here is the taxis in Sunny Beach and in Ski resorts. The fare (especially for longer distances) is negotiable. Foreign currency is accepted at the day’s or a negotiable exchange rate.

Public transport in the capital and big cities consists of busses, trams and trolley busses. Tickets can be bought from drivers or in advance from public kiosks at most stops. Season tickets for 1 or 5 days or 1 month are recommended when more travel is expected.

Fast and express trains link the capital with big towns countrywide. First-class and seat reservation is preferable.

Private bus companies offer connections to all main cities and towns and work out cheaper and faster than the corresponding train journey.

Big towns, resorts and airports have subsidiaries of the big international rent-a-car companies. You can get the respective information at the hotels or from the tourist agencies. There are petrol stations with all types of fuels in all towns and along the motorways.

Driving
Cars are allowed to cross any of the many border points to enter Bugaria. Any national drivers license is valid. Insurance coverage for Bulgaria is required, and can be arranged from home or purchased at the border.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left, and give right of way to vehicles approaching from the right at crossroads and to busses in urban areas.
Speed limits: built-up areas 60km/h for motor cars, 50km/h for coaches, caravans and minibuses, motorways 120 km/h for motor cars, 100 km/h for coaches, caravans and minibuses.

Communications
Country code for Bulgaria: +359 City codes: (only use preceding 0 if inside the country) Sofia 02, Plovdiv 032, Varna 052, Bourgas 056, Rousse 082, Blagoevgrad 073
Post offices and major hotels in most cities and towns have international postal, telephone, telegraph, and fax services. In the larger towns and cities, Internet cafes and pay-for-use services are springing up.

Emergencies:
Police 166; Auto accidents 165; Ambulance 150; Fire 160

Electricity
220 volt; 50 hertz (Western-style appliances need adapters for the country twin-prong plugs, as well as voltage converters)

Time Difference
GMT+2 hrs; CET+1 hr.Daylight savings is observed with clocks advanced one hour in the spring, back one hour in the fall

Medical Service
Free first aid and consultation in emergencies

Official holidays/non-working days/
January 1 - New Year
March 3 - Bulgaria Liberation from Ottoman rule - the National Day
Easter - one week after the Catholic Easter
May 1 - Labour Day
May 6 - Bulgarian Army Day
May 24 - Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and the Slav Script
September 6 - Bulgaria Unification
September 22 - Independance Day
December 25-26 - Christmas