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Embassies
  • Albania 10, Krakra Str. Phone 946 12 22
  • Algeria 16, Slavyanska Str. Phone 980 22 50 www.amb-bulgarie.fr
  • Argentina 36, Dragan Tsankov Blvd. Phone 971 25 39
  • Australian Consulate 37, Trakia Str. Phone 946 13 34 Fax: 946 17 04
  • Austria 4, Shipka Str. Phone 981 17 21, 980 35 72
  • Belgium 1, Velchova Zavera Square Phone 963 36 22
  • Brazil 19, Frederic Joliot-Curie Str. Phone 971 98 19
  • Canadian Honorary Consulate 11, Assen Zlatarov Str. Phone 943 37 04, 988 72 76 Fax: 946 19 13
  • China 7, Al. von Humboldt Str. Phone 973 38 73
  • Croatia 18, Krakra Str. Phone 943 32 25 Cuba 1, Mladezhka Str. Phone 72 20 14
  • Cyprus Iztok area, Urii Gagarin Str., bldg. 154A, ap. 2 Phone 971 22 41, 971 92 70 Fax: 971 37 70
  • Czech Republic 9, Yanko Sakazov Blvd. Phone 946 11 11 www.czechembassy.org
  • Denmark 54, Dondukov Blvd. Phone 980 08 30
  • Egypt 5, Shesti (6-ti) Septemvri Str. Phone 987 02 15
  • Finland 16, Krakra Str. Phone 942 49 10
  • France 29, Oborishte Str. Phone 946 15 79 www.ambafrance.bg
  • Germany 25, Frederic Joliot-Curie Str. Phone 91 83 80, visas: 963 41 01 www.german-embassy.bg
  • Ghana 48, Gorski Patnik Str. Phone 963 09 61
  • Greece 33, San Stefano Str. Phone 946 10 27 www.greekembassy.bg
  • Hungary 57 Shesti (6-ti) Septemvri Str. Phone 963 04 60
  • India 31, Patriarch Evtimii Blvd. Phone 986 76 72, 986 77 72 Fax: 980 12 89
  • Indonesia 53, Simeonovsko Shosse, Res. 4 Phone 962 52 50, 68 32 20 Israel 1, Bulgaria Blvd., 7th floor Phone 951 50 44
  • Italy 2, Shipka Str. Phone 980 77 47
  • Japan 14, Lyulyakova Gradina Str. Phone 971 27 08 www.bg.emb-japan.go.jp
  • Kuwait Simeonovsko Shosse, Res. 15 Phone 962 52 09
  • Lebanon Frederic Joliot-Curie Str., bl. 155, app. 13 Phone 971 34 97
  • Morocco 129, Evlogi Georgiev Blvd. Phone 44 27 94, 943 30 90
  • Netherlands 38, Galichitsa Str. Phone 962 57 85, 962 57 90 www.netherlandsembassy.bg
  • Norway 4, Narodno Sabranie Sq. (Radisson SAS Hotel), Hall 2 Phone 933 47 72, 933 47 73
  • Peru 17, Frederic Joliot-Curie Str. Phone 973 34 69
  • Poland 46, Han Krum Str. Phone 987 26 10 www.brhplsofia.bsbg.net
  • Portugal 6, Ivats Voivoda Str. Phone 943 36 83
  • Romania 4, Sitnyakovo Blvd.Phone 971 28 58
  • Russia 28, Dragan Tsankov Blvd. Phone 963 09 12 www.bulgaria.mid.ru
  • Slovak Republic Yanko Sakazov Blvd. Phone 943 32 81
  • South Africa Al. Gendov Str., bl. 1, 1st floor Phone 971 34 25, 971 21 38
  • South Korea 36, Dragan Tsankov Blvd. Interpred, floor 8A Phone 971 21 81, 971 25 36, 971 29 31
  • Spain 27, Sheinovo Str. Phone 943 30 34, 943 30 32
  • Sweden 4, Alfred Nobel Str. Phone 971 24 31
  • Switzerland 33, Shipka Str. Phone 943 30 68
  • Turkey 80, Vassil Levski Blvd. Phone 980 22 70
  • Ukraine 29, Boriana Str. Phone 955 94 78 www.ukramb.bol.bg
  • United Kingdom 9, Moskovska Str. Phone 933 92 22 www.british-embassy.bg
  • United States of America 1, Saborna Str. Phone 937 51 00 www.usembassy.bg
  • Venezuela 1, Tulovo Str. Phone 943 30 61
  • Yugoslavia 3, Veliko Turnovo Str. Phone 946 16 33
 
Health
The Bulgarian Health Security does not have a contract with similar foreign institutions about covering the costs of medical services provided for non-Bulgarian citizens. This means that in most cases it is recommended to arrange some kind of travel/health insurance for yourself before visiting Bulgaria. First aid is free for everyone including tourists.

Pharmacies
It is not very difficult to get certain medicines without a prescription. Prescriptions brought from abroad are not accepted ????. Below pharmacies which are open 24 hours, but you must ring the doorbell after opening hours.

  • Call 178 for information about pharmacies (in Bulgarian)
  • No. 7 - 5Sveta Nedelya Square, Phone 987 50 89
  • First Private Pharmacy - 42 Tsar Assen I Street Phone 46 54 35
  • 24 Hour Pharmacy Center Dr. G. M. Dimitrov Boulevard (near Studentski Grad) Farmatel Phone 962 22 22 Delivery service.
 
Shopping
Opening hours
In the case of supermarkets, food and grocery shops regular opening hours are: Mondays until Saturdays 9 am until 7 pm. You can find 24 hours supermarkets and restauyrants that operate 24 hours.
The main shopping areas are on Vitosha Blvd., Graf Ignatiev St., Rakovski St. and all the streets leading off from them. The Central Department Store (TsUM), has recently re-opened as a shopping centre on three floors where you will find everything from souvenirs to household goods. The area around Shipka Street, Oborishte and San Stefano has all sorts of small private shops, boutiques, furniture etc., where service is friendly even if choice is limited. Market stalls around town, often lumped together under one roof, hide the occasional bargain if you look carefully (slight seconds from western fashion houses etc.)
To find what you are looking for your best bet is still to wander around the central and back streets and see what you come across. If you find something you like buying it straight away. It might be gone by the time you get back.
The Central Halls (Halite) on Maria Luiza Blvd once again specialize as a Food Hall with over 100 different pavilion shops offering all kinds of fresh foods. On three levels; shops also offer household goods and fashion boutiques. There is also a food court and create facilities. Nearby, Pirotska Street has been transformed into a continental style pedestrian area with a variety of shops and street cafes.
Most popular with tourists is the arts and crafts market around the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Here you can find all kinds of typical Bulgarian souvenir items. Embroidered table clothes, jewelry, lace, Russian dolls, handmade toys, ceramics, wooden items, imitation icons and paintings, as well as so called antiques. There are also plenty of serious Antique shops around which may hide a treasure or two. Never pay more than what it is worth to you, and check whether you require an export certificate when buying genuine antiques.
Our recommendations for souvenirs include: Bulgarian wine, Rakia (the schnapps) sealed in ceramic urns, Bulgarian carpets, icons and also some of the famous Troyan pottery especially the earthenware casserole dishes, which make great inexpensive oven to table wear.
There are several specialized shops for Bulgarian souvenirs: 14 Vitosha Blvd., 11 Knyaz Al. Dondukov Blvd., Shishman St. near the 'Tsar Osvoboditel' monument, within TsUM, and in the underpass near the President's office on Dondukov Blvd.
There are no shopping malls in the center, but a few in suburban areas. One is called Metro, Mr Bricolage, Billa, Como.

Tax-free Shopping
VAT in Bulgaria is 20%. Tax free shopping is possible for EU citizens only until 2007 when Bulgaria will join the EU. Obtain information on Tax-free Shopping at:

  • Tax free Information
  • ?

 
Postal Service
The central post office is at 6 Gen. Gurko Street. A normal size letter up to 20 grams to other countries costs 0.85 BGN; inside Bulgaria 0.22 BGN. To send postcards to other countries 0.32 BGL, inside Bulgaria 0.11 BGN. Public post boxes do not have a partucular color and their size is varying.
 
Laundry
  • We hope to find one to list here.
 
Museums & Galleries
Museums
  • National Museum
    2, Vitosha Blvd., phone: 884 160)
    The museum covers the whole period from prehistory to the present day. The ground floor houses relics from the earliest period up to the Middle Ages and includes gold and silver treasures (the Panagyurishte treasure), ceramics and archaeological remains. The first floor concentrates on ecclesiastical art, the 19th century Bulgarian National Revival including folk costumes, carpets and typically furnished rooms from that period.
    Opening hours: 09.30 am - 06.30 pm; No day off
  • Archaeological Museum
    2, Saborna St., phone: 882 406
    Remains of Thracian, Greek and Roman settlements in the ivy-clad 15th century 'Buyuk(Big)Mosque'. Opening hours: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm; Closed on Mondays.
  • The Earth and Man Museum
    2, CherniVrah Blvd., phone: 656 639
    Founded in 1986. Over 20,000 exhibits are on display, divided into six sections: Giant Crystals, Minerals of the Earth, Industrial Minerals, Raw Material Sources of Bulgaria, Gems, New Materials. The museum also holds art exhibitions and classical music evenings, which are noted in our cultural supplement.
    Opening hours: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm; Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
  • Natural History Museum
    1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., phone:885 215)
    The museum was founded in 1889 and opened to visitors in 1907. Nowadays the museum has three major sections: Geology, Zoology and Botany. Apart from several meteorites, the 'Earth and Space' exhibition features unique lunar samples and an impressive dinosaur skeleton. A special exhibition shows live pythons, crocodiles, and iguanas.
    Opening hours: 10.00 am - 7.00 pm; No day off.
  • Ethnographic Museum
    6A, Moskovska St., phone: 874 191
    The museum displays folk costumes, fabrics, jeweler, woodcuttings, hammered ironwork, etc. A small craft shop sells crafts, costumes and musical instruments from all over Bulgaria. In the former Royal Palace on Tsar Osvohoditel Blvd., along with the National Art Gallery.
    Opening hours: 10.30 am - 5.30 pm; Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • The Alexander Nevski Crypt
    1, St. Alexander Navsky, Sq, phone: 877 697
    The crypt museum was founded in 1965 and contains items from the very beginnings of Bulgarian iconography (the end of the 9th century) until the end of the 19th century. All stages of the Bulgarian iconography school are represented in a collection of 1500 items.
    Opening hours: 10.30 am - 6.30 pm; Closed on Tuesdays.
Galleries
  • National Art Gallery (Retrospective exhibition of Bulgarian and foreign art)
    1, Knyaz Battenberg Sq., Opening hours: 10.30 am - 6.30 pm; phone: 980 33 20
  • National Gallery for Foreign Art
    1 Sveti Alexander Nevski Sq., Opening hours: 10.30 am - 6.30 pm; phone: 877 697
  • Art Gallery of the Union of Bulgarian Artists
    6, Shipka St., Opening hours: 10.00 am - 5.30 pm; phone: 43 351
  • Sofia City Art Gallery 1
    Gourko St., Opening hours: 10.00 am - 5.30 pm; phone: 872 181


Antiques, Second Hand Book Shops
You will find the best antique shops on Rakovski Street. Saveikov Square is the place where a lot of bookstalls are during the summer.
 
Tourist Information
Besides GayGuide.Net Sofia you can contact the state operated National Tourism Promotion and Information Agency (1 Sveta Nedelia Square, 1000 Sofia, Phone +359/2 987 97 78; +359/2 987 11 52).
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