Documents – Before booking your trip, first check if you need a Visa for Bulgaria or for countries of stop-overs. This step is a must, especially for non-EU travellers who visit or pass through Schengen countries.

Also make sure to have your travel document valid for at least 3 months after the planned return from your trip.

 When travelling abroad always arrange an insurance covering the full duration of your travel. It’s best to include a day or two after your return just to make sure even in the case of delayed flights you are still covered!

High and low season

We all love those last moment adventures, but if you are looking to get the best deal for your trip, make sure to plan in advance.

If you want to save money from accommodations, airfare, train tickets and tours, just plan your visit in  the low season.

Low season: January, February, March, October, November December – book at least 1 month in advance

High season: April, May, June, July, August, September – book at least 2-3 months in advance

March & October are the months of the low season when you can enjoy relatively nice and warm weather but still avoid the big crowds.

 

Plan your day according to season:

Month	Hours with daylight	Sunrise hour	Sunset hour
January	9 – 10 hours	07:57	17:39
February	10 – 11 hours	07:41	18:15
March	11 -12.30 hours	07:02	19:52
April	12.30 – 14 hours	07:09	20:26
May	14 -15 hours	06:21	21:05
June	15 hours	05:51	21:09
July	15 hours	05:53	20:48
August	13 – 14 hours	06:18	20:03
September	12 – 13 hours	06:51	19:10
October	11 – 12 hours	07:24	17:21
November	10 hours	07:01	16:54
December	9 hours	07:37	17:03

Working hours and holidays

Average working time of main sights and attractions:

Museums – Mon-Fri – 09:00 – 17:30h;

Galleries & exhibition studios – Mon-Fri – 11:00 – 19:00h (check for available exhibitions here);

 

Public holidays in Bulgaria 

 January 1:  New Year’s Day (closures)

March 3:  Liberation (from Ottoman rule) Day (closures)

May 1:  Labor Day (closures)

May 6:  St. George’s Day (Gergiovden, closures)

May 24:  Sts. Cyril and Methodius Day (celebrating Bulgarian culture and the Cyrillic alphabet; closures)

September 6:  Unification Day (closures, celebrations in Plovdiv)

September 22:  Independence day (closures)

November 1:  Revival Leaders’ Day (observances)

December 24–25:  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (closures)

December 26:  Second Day of Christmas (closures)

December 31:  New Year’s Eve (festivities, especially in Sofia)

*During public holidays attractions may be closed or with reduced working hours

 

Famous Festivals in Bulgaria

February 1:  Day of Remembrance and Respect to Victims of the Communist Regime

May 10–20:  Balkan Folklore Festival, Veliko Tarnovo

Late May–mid-June (3 weeks):  Sofia Music Weeks

June:  Rose Festival, Kazanlak

June:  International Chamber Music Festival, Plovdiv

Mid-June–mid-July:  Varna Summer International Music Festival (classical music)

August (First weekend): International Bagpipe Contest in Gela

August 15:  Varna Day

August:  International Folklore Festival, Burgas (dancing and music)

August: Beglika fest

Early September:  Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol

September 17: Sofia Day

September (Fridays and Saturdays):  Puppet Theater Festival, Sofia

September 21–October 21 (likely):  One Dance Week, Plovdiv

Late September–October:  Balabanov’s House Music Days, Plovdiv

 

For more festival dates please visit – http://www.eventsinbulgaria.com/