About Bulgaria
Bulgaria has existed for more than 13 centuries in Europe, linking East and West. Bulgaria remembers ancient civilisations and great people that wrote its turbulent history. Situated in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. Territory: 110,993,6 km2 Population: 7,973,671 Capital: Sofia Official language: Bulgarian Religion: Orthodox Political system: Parliamentary Republic International Telephone Dialing Codes Country code for Bulgaria: +359 City codes: (only use preceding 0 if inside the country) Sofia 02, Plovdiv 032, Varna 052, Bourgas 056, Rousse 082, Blagoevgrad 073 Time zone: GMT +2 (2 hours ahead of UK) Currency National currency: Bulgarian Leva Approximate conversions are shown below. £1.00 UK Pound = 2.85 Bulgarian Leva 1.00 Euro = 1.96 Bulgarian Leva $1.00 US Dollar = 1.61 Bulgarian Leva
Bulgaria Map
Why Invest in Bulgarian Property
Bulgaria is located on the Back Sea coast in Eastern Europe and has been a traditional holiday destination for tourists throughout Europe for many years. The mountainous towns in the West of the country are endowed with substantial snowfall during the winter months affording a long ski season, while the Black Sea coast enjoys bright sunshine and high temperatures during the summer months. There are three international airports in Bulgaria, one in Sofia and two on the Black Sea coast in Varna and Burgas. Clearly each country has an individual capacity to prosper based on its raw materials and traditional industries, and in Bulgaria’s case the driver is tourism. Since 1991, working with the IMF, and more recently in working towards 2007 entry to the European Union, Bulgaria has stabilised its macro economy and worked to develop an infrastructure and business environment to facilitate tourism and external investment. The budget airlines are expected to begin flights within the next 2-3 years. The Bulgarian government has developed a program for increasing tourism, especially in skiing and beach holiday resorts. The program includes support and development of infrastructure, services, cultural offerings, historical sites, green areas, and tourist information centres. The tourism industry in Bulgaria increased by 18% in 2003, the highest figure in Europe. This trend is also the same for the winter period. In December 2003 there were 28% more tourists in Bulgaria than in December 2002. This increasing popularity is particularly noticeable in the UK, with 130,000 Britons of visiting during the summer of 2004. Tourism from the UK increased by 60% between 2003 and 2004, with Britons now the seventh largest group of visitors. Despite this, the price of property on the Bulgarian coast is around a third of that in Spain, while the cost of living is also significantly lower. This represents a great investment opportunity for those interested in property. Prices in Bulgaria are already rising fast driven by the following key factors:
· Stable economy with currency pegged to the Euro
· Significantly cheaper prices than Spain and other Western resort destinations
· The low cost of living
· Joined the EU January 2007
· The booming tourist trade
· Impending arrival of the UK/Irish budget airlines
Bulgaria's Climate
The predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional continental. (2,000 to 2,400 hours of sunlight per year). There are four seasons, with a dry and hot summer. The average January temperature in Sofia (Bulgaria's capital city) ranges between -4° and 2°. The July temperature ranges between 16° and 27° C. Along the Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges between -1° and 6° C and the July temperature ranges between 19° and 30° C. Bulgaria offers pleasures for each one’s taste. Thinking of an active holiday? Bulgaria has it - swimming, skiing, riding, climbing, hunting, fishing... Thinking of relaxing - amazing nature, sunny beaches, healing spas, monasteries and churches, hospitable towns and villages... Administrative Regions: Sofia – Capital City, Sofia district, Bourgas, Varna, Plovdiv, Rousse, Haskovo, Lovetch, Montana, Sliven, Yambol, Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, Gabrovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratza, Veliko Turnovo, Pazardjik, Smolyan, Razgrad, Targovishte, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Kardjali, Stara Zagora.
Bulgaria's Tourist Resorts
Bulgaria is unique, in that it offers tourism throughout the year, with the beautiful Black Sea Coast resorts and the Western mountain areas offering excellent ski-ing facilities.
Bulgaria Beach Resorts
The Black Sea coasts offers a fantastic selection of resorts along this beautiful stretch of coastline from May to October... The main resorts include Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Nessebar and Burgas.
Bulgarian Ski Resorts
Bulgaria is blessed with a number of fantastic winter sports resorts offering everything from skiing to snowboarding to ice skating for the beginner to the winter sports expert. The most popular three Bulgarian ski resorts by far are Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo. The popularity of Bulgaria as a winter holiday and sport destination has boomed and as a direct result household expenses are similarly below those of EU states. A typical 4 person household will pay around 50 leva for their electricity & water during the summer. Fuel costs are also low, with Gasoline 98 Super costing between 1.30/1.40 leva per litre. A recent report by a Professor of geohazards suggests of all the Bulgarian ski resorts, Pamporovo may cope best with climate change, as it is 1600m above sea level. There is an intensification of interest and investment in Bulgaria ski properties for sale either off plan or resale.
Living Costs in Bulgaria
Life in Bulgaria is at least 3-4 times cheaper than any other European country. Bulgarians and their guests enjoy an enormous variety of fresh food, fish, vegetables and fruit at very affordable prices. Major European food chains have set up stores in Bulgaria, selling quality goods at very low prices. Here are some examples: Sliced bread - 0.70 leva Chicken - 2.60 leva per kg Tomatoes - 0.90 leva per kg Cucumbers - 0.50 leva per kg Apples - 0.50 leva per kg Beer BG - 0.50 leva per 500 ml Beer imported - 1.50 leva per 500 ml Vodka BG - 4.50 leva per 750 ml Vodka Finlandia -15.50 leva per 1 ltr Scotch Whisky -16.50 leva per 1 ltr Cigarettes BG - 1.30 leva per packet Cigarettes USA - 3.70 leva per packet Note: 2 levas to the Euro and roughly 3 levas to the GB pound £ Household expenses are similarly below those of EU states. A typical 4 persons household will pay around 50 leva for their electricity & water during the summer. Fuel costs are also low, with Gasoline 98 Super costing between 1.30/1.40 leva per litre. Last but not least – going out in Bulgaria is a great experience. And excellant value. Along sunny Black Sea coast you will find a colourful variety of restaurants, taverns, mehanas (Bulgarian’s version of a tavern), bars & pubs, discos & night clubs, casinos and cabarets. While there’s a place for every one’s taste and pocket, in general you will be amazed by the exceptional low cost of those warm, balmy, unforgettable evenings. In a contemporary, stylish disco a local beer is around 2 levas, whilst the international brands are about 3. A measure of spirits (the local brew) –will set you back for less than 35p (1/2 a Euro). The extravagant can satisfy their taste for imported brands of whisky/vodka etc for little more than a couple of Euro. And in restaurants that Paris would be proud to boast, you can accompany that five star meal with superb estate bottled wines for less than a third of the price. ‘All in all’, unbeatable value!
