How to get to Bulgaria

You can fly to Sofia airport using international airlines, or taking a Charter flight to Varna or Bourgas (Black Sea). You can come by train as well - Bulgaria is one of the routes used by the main international trains and there are train services from most European cities.

How to get to the region

You may reach the region by car or by bus. Travel by train is possible until Plovdiv. You can travel by bus to Chepelare, Pamporovo or Smolyan from Sofia (6 times per day from bus station close to main train station), or from Plovdiv (bus station "Rhodopes"). To reach villages in the region take a bus from the bus station in Smolyan.

Communication

The international dialing code for Bulgaria is ++359. You can use mobile phone in Bulgaria without problems; in Smolyan you will find some internet centres (app. 2 Leva per hour).

Money

The unit of currency is the Bulgarian Lev, which is pegged to the German Deutschmark.
Healthcare
Although Bulgarian doctors are trained to a very high standard, many hospitals and clinics are generally not equipped and maintained at Western European standards. Basic medical supplies are widely available, but specialized treatment may not be obtainable out of the big towns. Visitors must pay cash for medical and health services.

Prices

Most of the prices in the region are moderate.
Some examples:
1 beer (0,5 l) 0,60 - 1,20 Leva
1 Coca-Cola (0,3 l) 0,50 - 1,00 Leva
1 mineral water (1.5 l) 0,40 - 0,80 Leva
Coffee/tea 0,20 - 0,50 Leva
Main course 5,00 - 8,00 Leva
Salad 1,20 - 2,00 Leva

The price level in Pamporovo may be a bit higher.

The tourist information centres offer useful information, friendly advice, reservations and other tourist services. Tourist maps and souvenirs are also available.

Smolyan
Tourist Information Center Smolyan
Mladejki dom, tel./fax: +359 301/ 6 25 30
e-mail: mati_dil@yahoo.com

Regional Tourist Information Center
80 Bulgaria blvd., tel./fax: +359 301/ 3 80 85
e-mail: rhra@rodopi-bg.com

Moghilitsa
Tourist Information Center
tel.: +359 3036/ 315, 113, +359 87/ 383 495
e-mail: mogilitza@abv.bg

Momtchilovtsi
Tourist Information Center
tel.: +359 87 256 407; fax: +359 3023/ 28 03;
e-mail: cpst@abv.bg

Shiroka Luka
Tourist Information Center
tel.: +359 3030/ 233; 087/ 52 28 43
e-mail: sh.luka@infotel.bg

Chepelare
Tourist Information Center
44B Belomorska st., tel./fax: +359 3051/ 21 10
e-mail: tic@infotel.bg

Orehovo
Tourist Information Center
tel.: +359 3053/ 34 90, +359 48 931 702

Devin
Tourist Information Center
tel./fax: +359 3041/ 41 60; 48 56

Zlatograd
Tourist Information Center
tel.: +359 3071/ 21 69
e-mail: tic_zlatograd@hotmail.com

Banite
Tourist Information Center
tel.: +359 3025/ 20 87

up