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Republic of Bulgaria
Population
7,517,973 (2003), where of 1.189.043 (2003) in Sofia (estimated)
Capital city
Sofia
Initials
BG
Area
110.994 sq. km
Bordering countries
Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey,
Serbia and Montenegro
Ethnic:
Bulgarian 83.9 percent, Turk 9.4 percent, Roma 4.7 percent, other 2 percent (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001)
Religion:
Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6 percent, Muslim 12.2 percent, Roman Catholic 1.7 percent, Jewish 0.1 percent, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 3.4 percent (1998)
Foreign Visitors:
2208016 (2001); 2996518 (2002); 3320314 (2003); 3500000 (January till August 2004)
GDP per CAPITA:
USD 7600 (2003 est.)
Daylight Saving Time:
Last Sunday of March till last Sunday of October
Electricity
220 Volts, round two-pin or three-pin plugs are in use.
Video system
PAL/SECAM
International Access Code
00
International Country Code
+359,
Sofia
+3592, mobile phone codes: 088 (M), 089 (Globul)
Language
Bulgarian
Further facts:
CIA Factbook Bulgaria
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Climate: continental, hot summers, cold winters. Bulgaria has a continental climate, which means that summers are generally hot, winters are cold. It is the coldest in January (average -2 degrees Celsius; between -5 to 5), warmest in July (average 22 degrees Celsius; 26 to 30 degrees Celsius). Annual rainfall 645mm (25.4 inches).
Weather forecast for today and the next few days.
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Central European Time (CET). Normally GMT + 2 hours except from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October (summer time counting) GMT + 3 hours.
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Bulgarian Leva BGN; One Lev is made up of 100 stotinki. Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50 stotinki & 1 Lev; Banknotes: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 BGN
The currency was redenominated in 1999. It is tied to the Euro and the exchange rate is fixed at EURO 1 = BGN 1,95583. Some of the exchange offices located in the center charge commission. Ask first how much you will get. Bulgaria will join the European Union in 2007, but that does NOT mean that the Euro will be used. It will take a few years until there will be a referendum about the Euro in Bulgaria and only if the majority vote for the Euro will the Euro be used. The United Kingdom and Sweden are EU members, but voted against the Euro and will keep their local currency.
If you come from abroad, we advise you to change money after your arrival in Sofia, but not at the airport. Exchange rates are sometimes a lot more favorable in Sofia than outside the country. We advise not taking the risk of changing money in the street; you may receive counterfeit money and such transactions are illegal. Keep the receipt you are given when exchanging money until you leave the country.
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Credit cards
Visa and Mastercard is widely accepted; a few places also accept American Express and Diners Club.
ATM
You will find a lot ATM in the center, at the airport, at the central rail station. Most accept credit cards: MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, Visa, Visa Electron. The maximum amount depends on the issuing ATM provider. Please contact your bank.
Bank accounts for foreign currencies
Several banks offer accounts for foreign currencies. One of them is Bulbank,
the main branch is opposite to the Sheraton Hotel (7 Sveta Nedelya Square,
1000 Sofia, Phone 923 2111, Web page). Foreigners can have bank accounts.
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Listed below are the public holidays, but Bulgaria has a lot of religious holidays too. The public holidays are the non working holidays.
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3rd of March Signing of the San Stefano peace treaty in 1878, which secured the liberation of Bulgaria from the Turks
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Orthodox Easter (Sunday and Monday), date depends on the year.
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1st of May Labour Day
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24th of May Day of the Cyrillic alphabet, created by Saints Cyril and Methodius
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6th of September Union Day, when the Ottoman protectorate of Eastern Rumelia was freed to join the independent Bulgarian Principality (in 1885)
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22nd of September Bulgarian Independence Day (Independence from influence by European countries 1908)
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24th, 25th of December Christmas holidays
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31st of December & 1st of January New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
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Country Facts
Travel to Bulgaria
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