How to travel to Bulgaria on your own. To Bulgaria on your own. How to go by yourself? Prices Holidays in Bulgaria on your own

How to relax in Bulgaria on your own? We talk about obtaining a visa, ticket prices and accommodation. Which resorts to spend time at? What to see on your own or with a guided tour? Tips for tourists and a traveler's review.

Travels that we organize entirely ourselves leave strong impressions and change our lives. Bulgaria has been and remains one of the popular destinations for independent travelers. Today we will talk about how to independently prepare for a holiday in Bulgaria and not forget anything, what to see and when is the best time to go.

You can also go to Bulgaria on a tour package - often a vacation on a tour costs less than an independent trip. Look at the prices and decide which is more profitable and convenient for you. Last minute tours search on the services and - they will find the best offers among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

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Visa to Bulgaria on your own

Contrary to popular belief, Bulgaria is not a visa-free country for Russians. There are several ways to enter the territory.

1. The Schengen agreement has been partially in force in Bulgaria since 2007. This means that with a multiple-entry Schengen visa (also called multi-Schengen), you can enter the country for up to 90 days within six months.
2. You can enter Bulgaria with a visa, and Romania.
3. The third option is a national visa.

Documents for a Schengen or national visa to Bulgaria:

• A passport valid for at least 3 months after the end of the trip.
• A copy of the first page of your passport (the page with your personal data).
• One color photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm - there are also certain requirements for the size of the face and the background of the photograph.
• A questionnaire filled out by you personally. It is issued at the consulate or visa center. You can also download the application form for obtaining a visa to Bulgaria yourself, fill it out and print it on A4 sheets.
• A certificate from work on company letterhead indicating your position, length of service and your salary - it is certified by the seal and signature of the manager.
• Insurance.

(Photo © vic_burton / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

When to go?

The swimming season in Bulgaria is from May to September, however, both May and September are not too hot. Our independent trip to Bulgaria took place at the end of August, we visited several cities - we experienced rain, wind, and cool nights. From December to March is the ski season.

Flights

You can fly to Bulgarian resorts from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and several other large cities.

On average, the price of round-trip air tickets in summer starts from 7,000 rubles. But this expense item may be quite small. Prices for one-way tickets from Moscow start from 1,500 rubles. And sometimes one-way tickets to Bulgarian resorts can be bought - attention - for less than 2,000 rubles! These are usually charter flights, most often from Moscow and St. Petersburg, for which you can catch a ticket even at the height of the season. Such prices are also found at Pobeda, Rossiya Airlines and some others.

(photo © passer8 / flickr.com)

Where to book a hotel in Bulgaria on your own

Housing prices in Bulgaria will pleasantly surprise you. In large popular resorts (Sunny Beach and Golden Sands), prices for apartments and small hotels start from 13 euros per night per room. In other cities (Varna, Burgas, Sofia) you can find housing for even 10 euros per day, especially if you live further from the sea. As a rule, these are hostels, apartments or mini-hotels. Hotels on the first line even here offer rooms from 20 euros per night.

There are also many interesting accommodation options on the Airbnb website. In addition to standard apartments, rooms and hotels, you will find private villas surrounded by greenery, authentic accommodation and modern equipped campsites. Prices start from 10 euros per night. Of course, tourists visiting Bulgaria on their own will like it more here.

During our trip to Bulgaria, we independently booked a studio apartment in an unremarkable high-rise building, a tent on a wild beach, a room in a small hostel and a room in a small hotel in a mountain village.

(Photo © Traveling Pooh / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Where to relax on your own in Bulgaria

The most important thing in Bulgaria is the sea and golden sand, stretching for many kilometers. Along the Black Sea there are resort villages, port cities, popular and secluded beaches. People also come here for health reasons: there are plenty of sanatoriums, mud clinics and boarding houses here.

The most famous resorts Bulgaria:

• Pomorie;
• Sunny Beach;
• Golden Sands;
• Nessebar;
• Balchik.

In addition, there are large cities, for example, Varna and Burgas. Here you can relax and swim (and save on housing).

Rentals on the beach:

• sun lounger - 6-8 leva;
• umbrella - 6-8 leva;
• bedspread - 3 leva.

Each resort is a place with a varied infrastructure and plenty of entertainment for vacationers of all ages. Depending on the location of the beach, you can find a suitable type of active recreation: surfing on the “Golden Fish” and “Dunes” beaches, fishing and sailing on a yacht on the beaches of the Primorsko resort, paragliding on Albena beach.

You can simply sunbathe on the sand - Golden Sands and Sunny Beach are perfect for this. And if you get tired, outside the beach area there are amusement parks, shops, cathedrals and museums. In the evening you can go to a club or restaurant - there are a huge number of them at each resort.

(Photo © Złota Bułgaria / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Food prices in Bulgaria

Compared to other resort countries, you can eat in Bulgaria quite inexpensively.

Approximate prices in leva:

• simple budget breakfast in a cafe - 6 leva;
• lunch - 10 leva;
• lunch in an inexpensive cafe - 15 leva;
• lunch in a good restaurant - 40 leva;
• have lunch at McDonald's - 8 leva;
• 0.5 liters of homemade beer - 2 leva;
• a standard size cup of cappuccino 2-2.5 leva;
• bottle of water 0.33 l - 1 lev.

(Photo © Damien Smith / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Transport and car rental

In cities and towns in Bulgaria you can use regular buses. They are quite inexpensive - about 1.5 leva. A tangible advantage of local buses is that almost all of them have open Wi-Fi.

Another good option is to rent a car if you don't want to spend your entire vacation in one place. We rented a car in Varna for two days. We looked for a company via the Internet, and the best price was 26 euros per day. Typically cars cost 40 euros per day or more.

Our review and advice for car rentals:

• habitual right-hand traffic;
• very good roads;
• strict speed limit: on the highway - up to 60 km/h, very rarely - up to 90;
• There are enough cameras on the roads;
• never saw the police;
• To rent a car, a Russian license is enough.

Rent a car- this is the best way to travel! - reliable and convenient car rental service in Bulgaria. Choose a car to suit your taste and budget - there is a wide choice. The cost of renting a car is from 8 euros per day. Do you have any questions? The Russian-speaking support service will help you with everything.

(Photo © deense / flickr.com / License CC BY 2.0)

Excursions in Bulgaria

Since Bulgaria is a country with a rich culture and history, popular excursions here are walks through ancient quarters, visits to museums and Orthodox shrines. Such excursions are available in Varna, Nessebar, Sofia and other cities. But the drive to Sofia is almost 400 km from the sea, so tourists often do not have time to visit here.

There is a large selection of sea excursions and cruises - for one evening or several days. For those who like an unusual program, there is jeeping, a safari park, diving and visits to Bulgarian villages and villages with national music and dinners.

In summer, the Balkan National Park is attractive in Bulgaria. If you want to see Bulgaria from different angles on your own, be sure to visit the ecological trails and take a walk in the mountains. To live in small cozy villages, to taste real national food, to practically not hear Russian speech - that’s exactly how we rested and we were delighted!

(Photo © Luca Mauri / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Bulgarian the language is not so simple, as it seems. Even though they use the Cyrillic alphabet, many words are incomprehensible in writing and even more so in hearing.

It's practically don't drink tea and coffee. When it comes to coffee, Bulgarians recognize only espresso (cappuccino is also found, but much less frequently; you can completely forget the words “mocha” and “glaze”). Tea is drunk only in winter, and teapots are rarely found in homes and hotels.

Don't be surprised by nudists, if you see them on the beach. This is a common phenomenon in Bulgaria, and there are many nudist beaches here!

Bulgaria is an uncomplicated and friendly country. A holiday in Bulgaria, organized independently or packaged by a travel agency, will definitely be remembered by you for its warmth, simplicity and affordable prices. Have a nice trip!

Introductory image source: © mgoraciaz0 / pixabay.com.

Many tourists are interested in: do Russians need a visa to Bulgaria? The answer is clear - it is necessary. You will need any Schengen visa, or a national Bulgarian one.

Please pay attention! Currently, mandatory submission of biometric data has been introduced for all those applying for Schengen visas. It is necessary to undergo fingerprinting (fingerprinting) and photography at the consulate (or official visa center). The received data will be valid for 5 years (59 months). In this regard, the initial visa application implies the mandatory personal presence of the applicant when submitting documents. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from fingerprinting (but not photography).
Otherwise, the issuance procedure remains the same, which is discussed further in this material.

The news spread on the Internet that it is planned to cancel visas to Bulgaria for the entire summer season. It started with the fact that Bulgarian Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov gave an interview to one of the most influential Russian tabloids, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, in which he said that in order to attract tourists, Bulgaria would work according to the Turkish visa system, that is, issue them directly upon arrival to country. It is not known how Dyankov wanted to implement this idea, because, as is known, Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007, and visa-free entry into EU countries is not possible for Russians. Moreover, Bulgaria strives to get into the Schengen zone, and Schengen, as you know, does not allow issuing visas at the border. Therefore, Russians will have to obtain visas to Bulgaria in the same way as before.

Self-application of a visa to Bulgaria

Obtaining a Bulgarian visa by an applicant is conditionally divided into 2 stages:

Stage 1. Collection and execution of a package of personal documents

For each specific applicant, including children, it is necessary to collect a package of documents:

1. Application form.

Applying for a visa to Bulgaria begins with filling out an application form. The source of the questionnaire can be downloaded, instructions for filling out -.

The Bulgarian side has the following requirements for paperwork:

On the first page of the application form you need to paste a photograph 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. The photo must be in color, without white corners or other frames. The background should be light, preferably white, and the applicant's face should be free of glasses and straightened strands of hair. The photo must accurately correspond to the real appearance of the person, that is, be relevant.

2. Foreign (external) passport. The validity period of the passport is at least 90 days after completion of the trip. for which a visa is issued. The passport must be free of dirt or mechanical damage. You also need a photocopy of the page with the applicant’s personal data. On the first page of the application form you need to paste a photograph 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. The photo must be in color, without white corners or other frames. The background should be light, preferably white, and the applicant's face should be free of glasses and straightened strands of hair. The photo must accurately correspond to the real appearance of the person, that is, be relevant.

3. A valid internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and a photocopy of pages with registration and personal data.

4. Insurance policy with confirmation of medical coverage in the amount of at least 30,000 euros. An insurance policy can be obtained from any accredited insurance organization. To select the optimal insurance program, the agent must be informed that the policy is needed for a trip to Bulgaria and the purpose of the trip itself.

5. Tickets for travel (air, rail, other ground transport) or reservations for them. When applying for a visa, the visa center employee will be guided by the travel dates from the tickets. If the applicant is driving a car, then you need to provide documents for it (registration certificate and international insurance), as well as a driver’s license. If the applicant is traveling as a passenger, the visa center employee may request a letter of authorization from the driver-owner of the car, stating that he undertakes to take the applicant as a passenger. It is best to find out about the need for such a letter and its contents by calling the consulate in advance.

Golden Sands in Bulgaria for Soviet citizens there were practically the only option abroad resort vacation, and for modern Russians it’s something of a rare and exotic idea - to fly to where our grandparents went. Moreover do it stands on its own: in difference from Egypt, Thailand and Turkey, the help of a tour operator in arranging a trip will only get in the way; it is best to plan the trip yourself.

Instead of a charter tied to the dates purchase inexpensive ticket to Varna, and from the international airport get to the resort area by regular by bus - it will be cheaper and more convenient. And all other organizational issues independent travel can be resolved quickly and without problems.

The easiest way to book a hotel is through the online booking system, filtering the necessary parameters to suit your taste and budget. The online booking site will offer a huge selection of inexpensive hotels, taking into account a lot of personal wishes, such as distance from the sea, hotel style, star rating, availability of a tour desk, etc. You can pay for your reservation on the spot, without bothering yourself with a transfer via the Internet.

You can get a visa at embassy Bulgaria in Moscow or through a specialized visa center, if getting to the capital is problematic. A list of documents can be found on the embassy website. Important Remember that to obtain a visa it is necessary must be provided and ticket reservations and insurance for each day of your planned stay in the country.

It is also worth knowing that for the period registration confirmation of the reservation is usually not required, so you can safely print out the reservation sheet flight and go to the embassy with him. Available for purchase and the ticket to Bulgaria is paid for after the visa is approved and received. Price such a trip will be much lower than the price of a ready-made tour.

If you have already concluded a preliminary agreement purchase and sale of real estate in Bulgaria and you need to go to conclude the main agreement(receiving a notarial deed property for real estate) - why is it needed, in this case, hotel, if you, in fact, are already going to your home and in a couple of days you will officially become the owner of the treasured square meters on the Black Sea coast?

After numerous requests from our clients to us for help in obtaining visas, purchasing air tickets, insurance, etc., we decided to create a special page and explain how to do everything yourself and who to turn to for help?

Bulgaria- a wonderful country for recreation with children: no sharp climate change, long flights and at reasonable prices.

There is something to see in Bulgaria: attractions. beautiful mountain nature. landscapes. It is best to rent a car and ourselves go around everything. It is also worth noting that Bulgaria quite an interesting country in terms of history, traditions, culture and kitchens.

Insurance (without which impossible apply for a visa) with pleasure will issue for the duration of your trip at any travel agency. And if you want to save, then contact directly to your local insurance company. True, it is better to know the nuances of insurance for those traveling abroad.

If you need a document confirming the rental of residential premises in Bulgaria for the duration of your trip or a document confirming the reservation of a hotel room (to obtain a visa), you can find a suitable hotel in the search engine on the website (left column) and book a room for free. Canceling a reservation is almost free, too.

Bulgaria is one of those countries, where when applying for a visa, the consulate does not require payment for hotels or faxes of invitations, as, say, Slovenia requires. That is, formal requirement exists, but in practice, a simple, unpaid reservation from www.booking.com is quite enough. But it’s best, before applying for a visa, to call the consulate and clarify, since the rules are always are changing.

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Is it possible to travel to Bulgaria on your own? How to organize a trip to not only save money, but also enjoy your vacation.

Many people today are thinking about organizing a trip abroad on their own. They shovel, ask friends, count expenses, etc. Is it possible to travel to Bulgaria on your own? Is it worth organizing such a trip yourself in order to not only save money, but also get maximum pleasure from your vacation? – it is possible and necessary!

Meet Bulgaria!

Bulgaria is a country of roses, soap and bell peppers. One of the largest countries on the Balkan Peninsula, which occupies almost a quarter of its territory. On the Black Sea coast, the Mediterranean climate prevails in summer, and the beach season lasts from late May to late September. Since 2007, Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union, and its currency is the Lev. In tourist regions, people communicate freely in English, Russian and other languages.

Visa

To visit Bulgaria you will need a visa. It costs 35 euros if you apply for it yourself, and from 50 euros if the application is handled by a visa center or travel agency. It is worth noting that the Bulgarian visa provides for the possibility of transit through the territory of Romania for 5 days, so if you are planning to travel by car, you do not need to open a separate Romanian visa.

Resting-place

Now we need to think about where to go on vacation. There are many Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria, and the choice depends on the company and vacation plans. Here you will find the private resort of Albena, on the territory of which there is a huge children’s camp “Brigantina”, calm St. Vlas and Elenite, noisy youth Golden Sands. If you are attracted by historical sights, ancient Nessebar is suitable. If you're looking for an active nightlife, choose Sunny Beach..

Choosing housing

Having decided on a resort, you can begin choosing housing. Usually, for this, people run to travel agencies, or use well-known online hotel booking portals. In addition, there is another option - accommodation in apartments, separate housing equipped with its own kitchen. This type of accommodation is very common in Bulgaria. You can rent good apartments on large housing booking portals, from Russian operators, one of them is www.evilla.ru, or directly on the websites of Bulgarian agencies or hosts. Experienced tourists know that there is no need to waste time searching, because almost every resort on the Bulgarian coast has available apartments or a hotel room. Good apartments in a complex near the sea for 3-4 people cost about 400-500 euros per week.

Until recently, resorts in Bulgaria did not meet European standards. Now the situation has changed significantly, and the resorts of the Black Sea coast differ little from the resorts of other European countries. Although in modern apartment complexes built according to Western standards, prices are much lower. For just 10 euros in Bulgaria you can have lunch with good wine.

As you can see, organizing your own holiday in Bulgaria is not such a difficult thing. The main thing is desire and enthusiasm, and a trip to this hospitable country, even on your own, will not disappoint you.

Do Russians need a visa to Bulgaria in 2019? Russian citizens require a visa to visit Bulgaria, for which they must apply to Bulgarian visa centers or to the visa departments of the embassy.

A visa to Bulgaria is issued independently in the same way as when applying through a travel agency, the difference is that in the first case, documents must be submitted to the visa center yourself. In general, obtaining visas to Bulgaria is practically not associated with any difficulties, so Russian tourists travel to the country quite steadily.

Holders of valid Schengen visas types C and D can freely enter the territory of Bulgaria and stay there within the framework provided by the Schengen visa. The maximum period is 90 days within six months.

Types of visas to Bulgaria

Visas to Bulgaria for Russians in 2019 are obtained in the same order. This needs to be separately stated, since there was a lot of information that the Bulgarian side plans to issue visas to Russian tourists directly upon arrival in the country, but such a practice would be contrary to the rules of the European Union, of which Bulgaria is a member.

Documents for a visa to Bulgaria

Standard and mandatory package of documents

• A completed application form for a visa to Bulgaria (all fields of the application form must be filled out. The application form must be signed by the person traveling with his own hand);
• A valid international passport with a validity period of at least 3 months after the end of the intended trip (+ a copy of its first page). The owner's signature is required in the passport;
• Color photograph 3.5x4.5 on a light background (including for the child included in the passport);
• Health insurance policy valid in European countries for the entire duration of the trip. The amount of coverage must be at least 30 thousand euros;

Medical travel insurance for a visa to Bulgaria. Specify the country and travel dates, then select the appropriate option and issue a policy.

• Air tickets (copy) or confirmation of ticket booking or documents for the car (copy of registration certificate, copy of driver's license, copy of Green card, free form itinerary).

Tourist trip

• Confirmation of hotel reservation (fax copy/electronic reservation). The confirmation must include the names of all travelers, length of stay, and hotel details. It is also necessary that the invitation confirms that the applicant has paid for the hotel;
• Certificate from the place of employment on company letterhead with a stamp indicating the address, work telephone number, position and salary of the applicant. Pensioners have the right to provide a pension certificate instead of an income certificate;
• Evidence of sufficient funds for the trip (certificate of currency purchase, traveler's checks or current bank account statement, etc.) at the rate of 50 euros per night per person (but not less than 500 euros for the entire duration of the trip).

Important information! Take part in the joint Tourist campaign. Ru and Booking.com. You will get 4% back of your hotel booking price on Booking.com. More details at.

Private visit

Transit

• Photocopy of the visa of the point (country) of destination;
• If the applicant has a visa-free regime, it is necessary to provide documents confirming the purpose of the trip (invitation, hotel reservation, real estate documents, etc.).

Business trip

• An invitation from a Bulgarian legal entity of the established form (original and photocopy);
• A letter of recommendation issued by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry or the Bulgarian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Moscow, or a copy of the contract, certifying joint business activities and intentions related to upcoming trips;
• Certificate from the place of employment on company letterhead with a stamp, indicating the address, work telephone number, position and salary.

Traveling with children

For children, regardless of whether they are included in the parents’ passport or not, a separate form is filled out, to which

A complete set of documents is attached. In addition to the general list, you must provide the following documents:

• a copy of the child’s birth certificate (it is advisable to have the original with you);
• if a child is traveling accompanied by one of the parents or third parties, a notarized power of attorney for the removal of the child from the remaining parent and its copy, as well as a copy of the first page of the principal’s passport, is required.

If one of the parents is deceased or absent, it is necessary to provide the relevant documents (death certificate, original police certificate, copy of a single mother’s book, etc.).

Children over 6 years of age who are included in their parents' passport must have a photograph attached. Children over 14 years old must have their own passport.

Photo requirements

• The photo must be in color, size 3.5x4.5, on a light background (including for the child included in the passport).
• The face in the photo should be clear, large, only from the front and occupy 70-80% of the photo. The eyes should not be red.
• Photos with glasses with tinted lenses, photos taken in a homemade way or cut out from amateur photographs are not accepted.

Submission requirements

To speed up the application process, the documents attached to it must be folded in the following order:

• A completed application form for a visa to Bulgaria with a pasted photograph;
• International passport;
• Photocopy of the main page of the passport;
• Documents confirming the purpose of the trip;
• Insurance policy;
• Air ticket reservation;
• Certificate from place of work;
• Documents confirming the availability of sufficient funds;
• For minors traveling unaccompanied by parents or guardians: a copy of the birth certificate and a notarized copy of the exit permit from the parents;
• Additional documents.

Visa validity periods

Validity of short-term (entry) visas

• A single entry visa gives the right to a single entry and stay in the country for up to 90 days within 6 months from the date of entry. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker;
• A double entry visa gives the right to two entries and stay in the country for up to 90 days within 6 months from the date
  first entry. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker. However, double-entry visa holders cannot enter the country twice through the same border crossing;
• A three-month multiple entry visa is valid for three months. The visa gives the right to multiple entries and a total stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker;
• A six-month multiple entry visa is valid for six months. The visa gives the right to multiple entries and a total stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker;
• A multiple-entry annual entry visa is valid for twelve months. The visa gives the right to multiple entries and a total stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days within six months from the date of first entry. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker.

A transit visa (single, double or multiple) gives the right to travel through the territory of Bulgaria to third countries with the possibility of staying in the country for up to five days for each entry.

Cost of a visa to Bulgaria in 2019

The following categories of citizens are exempt from paying the consular fee::

In case of visa refusal, the consular fee and service fee are not refunded.

Duration of obtaining a visa to Bulgaria

Short-stay visas and transit visas are issued within 4-6 working days (depending on the place of application), and urgent single-entry short-stay visas and urgent single-entry transit visas are issued within 48 hours. You can find out about the status of processing visa documents on the page.

Who doesn't need a visa

Citizens of a number of countries do not need a visa to Bulgaria. These are the countries of the European Union, USA, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and some others.

A visa is not required for a short-term stay in the territory of the republic for holders of valid double and multiple-entry Schengen visas, long-term visas, as well as residence permits issued by the Schengen countries. The only condition for holders of such visas is that the number of entries and the visa corridor of the Schengen visa must not be exhausted.