About
Bulgaria has a lot to offer cyclists: The Danube Valley, a beautiful mountain region (south), sun and a friendly population. There are two middle mountain ridges running from east to west. The most northerly is the Balkan Mountains and consists largely of limestone with many caves and subterranean rivers. The Danube flows north of the Balkan Mountains, the border river with Romania. In the plain of the Danube and Balkan Mountains, there are gently undulating wheat fields and fields of sunflowers. The southern mountain region is formed by three densely forested mountain regions, the Rila, Pirin and Rhodope mountains. The latter mountain range is thinner forested towards the east. You will still find numerous monasteries, sometimes still in use. Sofia does not appeal to many cyclists: large gloomy buildings and few terraces. Plovdiv, the second largest city in size, has a beautiful old town. The Black Sea coast is frequented by tourists. (Source: Cycling in Europe, ENFB)
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
People
The population is very nice and hospitable. They just don't understand cycling and always send you to the main road towards the Black Sea. The population uses the Cyrillic script. So it is useful to learn the Cyrillic alphabet (see http://www.omniglot.com/writing/bulgarian.htm). Hardly anyone knows foreign languages, with the exception of young people, who often speak English. The people are generally very patient and are willing to explain it again with hands and feet. If you speak some Russian words, this is an advantage. Keep in mind that yes and no kinks have the opposite meaning.
When they invite you in the house you take off your shoes at the front door. You walk on socks or (guest) flip flops.
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Visa
Bulgaria is not yet part of the Schengen area, but are members of EU. However, they have a visa policy that is based on the Schengen policy.
Schengen Area visa lists.
Schengen Area
Other EU member states outside the Schengen Area but bound by the same visa policy and legally obliged to join the Area when they meet the criteria, and special territories of Schengen member states (freedom of movement in the Schengen Area)
Member of the EU with independent visa policy (freedom of movement in the Schengen Area)
Visa-free access to the Schengen states for short stays, usually 90 days in any 180-day period (EU 2018/1806 Annex II)
Visa required to enter the Schengen states, and to transit some Schengen states in some circumstances (EU 2018/1806 Annex I)
Visa required to transit any Schengen state (EC 810/2009 Annex IV)
Travel documents not accepted
Source: Wikipedia.
Last updated 20 Mar 2021 by Cycle PlanetEdit
Border crossings (1)
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See and do (1)
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Sleeping
Staying with locals
You are quickly invited to people's homes. Blanche (2007): "It is best to stay overnight with private individuals; best price / quality ratio. In 2007 we paid an average of 30 leva / 15 euros for two for a room with often a private bathroom. You can also ask the locals for a spot and they will almost always take you to a nice place to sleep by car, moped or donkey! "
(Formal) camping
- The number of campsites in Bulgaria is declining sharply. Only a few remain along the coast, most of which have been replaced by expensive resorts.
- Inland campsites can be found within cycling distance, but they are not always easy to find. There are large and luxurious campsites, but also small, simple ones. Unfortunately, the sanitary facilities often leave something to be desired, sometimes even dirty. The costs are low.
- An overview of campsites can be obtained from the tourist office.
- Most camping sites have wooden houses that you can rent.
Ho(s)tels
There are plenty of hotels, people want to help you on your way. There are about 50 youth hostels.
Wild camping
Wild camping is officially prohibited and not recommended because of wild dogs and malicious people. Rather, get permission from a landowner to stand in their property and they will be happy to provide any help you need.
Paules Dukker and Ilona Berkhof (2009) had no problems with wild camping. Usually we have pitched our tent in the woods or along a deserted road. Dorenda and Maciek (2017) have also had no problems with wild camping anywhere.
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Places to sleep (3)
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1. Large shelterWild campingWe guess it belongs to the local hunting club. Shelter is large enough for your tent and bikes, so everything stay dry. No water other than the little creek.- 2. ShelterWild campingPerfect shelter next to a chapel. Stunning views, potable water, well-stocked fire place.
- 3. Shelter with benches and fire placeWild campingAs the title says :) water tap nearby. Big enough to put a tent underneath the shelter (perfect for rainy days)
Safety
Bulgaria is a safe country for lonely cyclists. Take normal precautions. Bulgarians themselves complain about increasing theft, burglary and pickpocketing.
Traffic
The roads are generally pretty quiet, with little car traffic. Bulgarian drivers generally behave correctly: they drive calmly and do not keep honking. Sofia is an exception as the traffic is dangerous for cyclists. Trucks and taxis take you into account, others don't. Wear highly visible clothing.
The E-roads are usually well paved but busy and formally even prohibited for cyclists (inquire on the spot!). Sometimes, however, there is no alternative available. In that case, the police will not make a fuss about it.
The inland roads are of varying quality, sometimes frequently repaired asphalt, cobblestones or gravel, but quiet and usually reasonably easy to cycle. Note that not all shortcuts are on the maps. In the mountains you can encounter quite steep roads with gradients of over 15%.
Watch out for the deep, poorly visible pits on the sides of the roads.
Paules Dukker and Ilona Berkhof took the road from Smolyan via Mugla to Borino. The road to Mugla was ascending but very beautiful. Beyond Mugla the road turned out to be no longer in use (various landslides and all bridges no longer functional).
Criminality
There are a few dangerous routes, such as on the E80 / E85 near the Turkish border, where cars and trucks are sometimes robbed and robbed. Also some campsites and motels seem to be a popular victim of robbery, which are better to avoid (note from admin: please verify this information and which places are we talking about?).
Nature and animals
Sometimes you come across annoying dogs on small roads.
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Transport
Airplane
Taking the bicycle with you differs per company. Always wise to inquire about the conditions when booking. Tip: There are various low budget flights to Thessaloniki in Greece (especially cheap offers from Germany) from which it is 1 or 2 days by bike to the Bulgarian border.
Train
By train to Sofia: from Western Europe via Italy or Hungary to Belgrade. From Belgrade night train to Sofia.
It's very easy to take your bike on the train in Bulgaria, although you may have to take the panniers off to lift it up the steps into the rear carriage. When you buy your ticket, you need to buy a ticket for the bike too at a cost of 2 Lev. The trains on which bicycles are allowed are very slow!. https://www.bdz.bg/en/a/transportation-of-bicycles
Bus
Buses run frequently and are not expensive. However, there are hardly any large buses with which your bicycle can travel. Another problem is the lack of timetables. To be on the safe side, always ask the following: "Moga li da vzemam kolelo?" Can I bring the bicycle (Kolelo = bicycle).
Boat
You can come from Turkey with a passenger boat.
Regular boat services sail along the Danube and along the coast to larger towns, you can bring your bike.
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
Food and drink
Cooking fuel
- There is nowhere for sale butane gas, but unleaded petrol.
- Benzene is also very difficult to find (or maybe not at all).
Supermarkets
- The food is better and more varied in quality than in romania.
- What can be bought in food and drink depends on the season. The country shops generally have a limited number of vegetables and fruits. You have more choice at markets and in greengrocers in larger cities. In the villages you sometimes have to look for vegetables, but there is always something for sale.
- The corn white bread that is baked in the morning is delicious. However, breakfast is usually not a fun activity in bulgaria. Bad bread. So a nice picnic is also not possible.
- Jam, biscuits, (sheep) cheese, preserves and sweet pastries are for sale everywhere. You have to put in more effort for dairy products, chocolate, lemonade, baby products (diapers, milk powder) and film rolls.
Restaurants
- Along the way you can find eateries where the food is not expensive.
- In sofia you can eat extensively for little.
Drinkable water
- Drinking water is not a problem, there are wells and taps everywhere. The water tastes fine.
- Water: in the mountains you will find springs almost everywhere. Buying water is therefore not necessary.
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit
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Other
Best bike period
Seasons (dry / wet)
April, may, june and september are the best cycling months, when you avoid the greatest heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. In the summer it is wonderful cycling in the mountain area: now and then a cloud and not too hot. In the evening it can cool down considerably. It can get very hot in the valleys.
Spare parts
Bring spare parts. And certainly brake pads. If no bicycle repairer can be found, look for help in a garage (or a lock smit!) where they're happy to help a cyclist. Well-inflated tires are less likely to puncture. Taking a spare tire with you is no luxury given the road surface. Buy it when you arrive there. In cities with more than 50.000 people, you probably can find a bike shop.
Last updated 15 May 2021 by Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.beEdit