Bulgaria is one of the oldest nations to preserve its name since its formation in the 7th century. It is famous for its rose oil production delivering over 80% of it to the world market and lately making a vast portion of its lavender equivalent. Bulgaria is a very popular spot and well known for its sunny beach. The black sea coast attracts millions of tourists yearly. Although Bulgaria has a lot to offer, it also has a lot of hazards and risks to beware of.

Traveling info

Bulgaria as a member of the EU and the Schengen convention allows all citizens of the EU to move freely to Bulgaria for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purpose without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Visitors who consider driving in Bulgaria should know that to drive a national driving permit, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration documents must be carried whilst driving at all times. Citizens of the EU can drive using their national driving permits as long as these were issued in the EU. Citizens who hold non-EU driving permits must have an International driving permit with it. Such a document may only be issued by the national driving department in which the driving permit was issued. Beware that an IDP does not substitute for the original driving license and is only a translation of it. Both documents must be carried whilst driving.

Traveling hazards

Driving in Bulgaria is extremely dangerous. Aggressive driving habits, the lack of safe infrastructure, and a mixture of late model and old model cars on the country’s highways contribute to a high fatality rate for road accidents. Motorists should avoid confrontations with aggressive drivers in Bulgaria. In particular, drivers of late-model sedans are known to speed and drive dangerously. Motorists should exercise caution and avoid altercations with the drivers of such vehicles, which may be driven by armed organized crime figures.

Environmental hazards

Bulgaria is a medium sized country in Europe. Its wildlife is diverse however there are only two species of mammals which can pose a direct danger to humans. Wolves and bears, although few in numbers can be a threat for people. Although attacks are very rare and there have been none in the past decades, livestock, however, is attacked very often. Luckily for people, these animals usually retreat upon hearing humans and do not approach areas of human activity. However, if surprised or approached they may attack with deadly consequences. There are two species of viper which is capable of delivering fatal venom. Deaths, however, are almost unheard of due to the response of emergency services. There are no dangerous fish in the waters of the black sea.
Bulgaria suffers from a few natural hazards. These are mainly floods and extreme temperatures. Once floods occur however they can deal a great deal of damage to the economy. Both extreme temperatures and floods are responsible for most deaths.

Health hazards

There are no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to visit Bulgaria. There are however several vaccines which are recommended for safe travel. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines. With Bulgaria being part of the European Union, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) holders are entitled to some medical services within Bulgaria. The EHIC grants the holder emergency medical treatment that is necessary on the same terms as Bulgarian nationals. While Bulgaria’s public sector does have over 1,600 medical facilities, 262 of which are hospitals, the level of care is lacking. Most hospitals are only able to provide basic care and are old-fashioned when compared to western standards. Bulgaria has over 60 private facilities, mainly situated within bigger cities and towns, such as Sofia. Private hospitals do contain better facilities, equipment and more access to medical supplies.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Both violent and petty crime exists however violent crime is much rarer. Tourists are generally affected by petty crime such as theft of unattended goods, ATM scams, car theft or vehicle break-ins. Violent crime usually involves intoxicated individuals during night hours in popular nightlife districts. Tourists are not targeted out of proportion. Crime generally affects locals more often than it does tourists. Visitors should stay cautious especially after dusk and avoid solo travel. There is no risk of terrorism in Bulgaria. Possession, distribution or cultivation of any narcotics is illegal and a criminal offense.

Summary

Bulgaria is an increasingly popular and relatively cheap destination for European tourists. Every summer millions flock to enjoy Bulgarian countryside as well as the warm black sea coast. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria
(EHIC)
https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/bulgaria