Each country has written laws, regulatory measures, and authorities. Apart from them, several unwritten rules must be followed to have a good (and safe) trips. Here are 15 surprising things not to do in Bulgaria.
Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers
You may have heard people mention that Bulgarians like to sit and talk for hours. Well, that’s right! It is possible that while you are waiting for the bus, a friendly old man will talk to you (they are especially interesting interlocutors).
If you do not prefer such experiences, try to answer briefly and restrainedly, but do not be rude. The person will understand that you do not want to continue the conversation and will leave you alone. If you are a social person and love new acquaintances, you can be sure that you will meet interesting people in Bulgaria.
Don’t be stingy!
Tourism in Bulgaria is affordable and in most cases, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the abounding traditional cuisine, colorful cafes, and many other places for entertainment.
Despite the price range, don’t be stingy! There are cases in which foreigners bargain for souvenirs, the price of which is only BGN 4, or ‘forget’ to buy a ticket for public transport, which is around BGN 1-3 (EUR 0.50-1.50). Don’t be one of them…
In case you need to stick to a certain budget, use some of these tips:
- When you shop in supermarkets, you can get a discount card
- Carry your plastic bag or canvas bag in which to put your purchases
- Instead of the supermarket, shop at a neighborhood store. There you will find the same things at a lower price
Choose the local pubs and turn on your taste buds with traditional dishes
Do not limit yourself to famous fast-food chains because they can be found almost everywhere. Instead, we suggest you explore the local pubs and restaurants! Bulgarian traditional cuisine is dotted with dozens of dishes, some of which can amaze you with their ingredients and appearance.
For example:
The most popular Bulgarian salad is the Shopska salad. It is a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, raw or roasted peppers (preferably roasted), and cheese. Shopska salad is offered as an appetizer together with the most popular Bulgarian alcoholic beverage – a rakia.
Do not forget to practice your Bulgarian language skills
You have already packed your luggage and there are only a few hours left before departure. You go to check if something is missing, but everything looks fine… right?
Not a big part of the Bulgarian population are fluent English speakers. You will often need to use gestures to get directions on where to find a monument or on which bus stop to get off to get to a particular neighborhood.
That is why you shouldn’t neglect the power of the basic Bulgarian words and expressions. If you aren’t proficient in the Bulgarian language, then get a dictionary, and don’t forget about Google Translate. It isn’t bad at all!
Here are some key phrases to help you:
- ‘Dobŭr den’, which means “Good day”
- ‘Blagodarya’ for “Thank you”
- ‘Molya te’ for “Please”
- ‘Da’ and ‘Ne’ for “Yes” and “No”
Don’t rely solely on public transportation. Plan your trip and be flexible!
When traveling by bus, two things can happen:
- The bus will be 5 minutes early and you will miss it
- The bus will be 10 minutes late and you will have to walk
Well, adherence to schedules is also possible, but heavy traffic often hinders such heroism. Most big cities have intercity buses which schedule you can find on Bgrazpisanie. We suggest you also check at the station as there are discrepancies.
With this information in mind, try to plan your trips in advance and always have a second option. A map of the city can be useful as well.
Don’t start on politics but also be very delicate with football
Two topics are discussed daily in the country – politics, and football. If you find yourself in such a conversation, try to take a neutral position. How? Pretend you don’t have the information you need, listen more than you talk, and end up saying ‘I don’t know, I don’t know!’. The last tactic is often used by Bulgarians to avoid unwanted conflicts.
The same rules apply when commenting on football teams. Here, however, you must beware of hooks, punches, and bear hugs.
There is one more thing you should not do in both cases. Do not make fun of the Bulgarian teams and the deputies! Bulgarians do it, you don’t.
Don’t always follow traffic rules
If you are not an experienced driver, it is better to stick to the wheel as a means of transportation. Drivers in Bulgaria can be quite aggressive, which can lead to accidents.
Be careful when driving, especially when you come across a stop sign. The rules say you must stop but in some places in Bulgaria, this rule is slightly ignored. The locals prefer to slow down, look around, and continue driving.
Try to follow the rules of the road at all costs! Just keep in mind that stopping at a stop sign can cost you a few angry curses.
Don’t get surprised by the food not served together to all the people on the table
If you’re at a restaurant with friends and/or family, don’t expect everyone to get their food at the same time. Even some of the top-rated food venues do this.
Don’t take it personally. Instead, you can wait for the others to receive their orders and enjoy the food together.
Don’t buy cheap alcohol and be mindful with consumption
We mentioned that most goods and services in Bulgaria are at low prices. Along with all souvenirs and groceries, cheap alcohol can also attract your attention. No matter how tempting the price tag looks, don’t buy these bottles of alcohol because it can cost you a lot.
Be careful and drink alcohol from reputable bars or larger supermarkets. Why risk drinking cheap and probably counterfeit alcohol?
What’s more, in most cities there is a ban on drinking in public places such as gardens, alleys, and parks. Don’t break the law so they don’t ruin your vacation with a hefty fine.
Hotel ratings do not tell the whole truth
The ratings that people give to hotels are not always completely correct. There are places that:
- promise luxury and delicious food, but in fact, the conditions correspond to a 2-star hotel
- look small and modest, but the service makes you feel like royalty
If you want to get a better idea of the real conditions of accommodation, check the verified reviews of tourists online, as well as in the social profiles of the hotel.
Don’t Pack Too Much
Everyone starts packing their luggage with the idea of taking only the essentials and ends up with three full suitcases. If you are traveling to Bulgaria, you need to limit your luggage, because on your return you will have to either buy a new suitcase or leave some of your luggage here.
The full markets and stalls will surely entice you to buy with all the clothes, toys, cosmetics, etc. There are amazing art galleries where you purchase paintings and various sculptures made by talented artists.
The service is up to standard, but don’t always expect to receive it
The service staff is trained and can serve all the needs of the client. Interesting, but not every time you come across such friendly teams. Some of them may be irritable and will not want to be bothered by requests from the client. We can’t say why… They may have had a bad day.
Despite these circumstances, don’t lose your temper and know that such things happen everywhere.
Don’t forget to learn more about the Bulgarian history
Bulgarian history is an integral part of the Bulgarians’ identity. They are proud of their country and folk traditions and there is a reason for that! Bulgaria is the oldest European country (681 AD) and has many historical and cultural monuments that are worth seeing.
You can read this article to learn about the main moments in Bulgarian history, and you will find more details in the various museums, exhibitions, and ruins. But really, put the goal to learn more about the country at the top of your to-do list.
Do not get distracted while walking the streets
On sidewalks and streets, it can be just as dangerous as on the roadway! From crazy kids to young ladies balancing on high heels, you can face many obstacles during your walks.
Watch out for passing cyclists, flying pigeons, running cats, and several other species of animals. Give way to mothers with babies and the elderly in the narrow streets. And take your friends with you to make things even more entertaining.
Have you encountered similar situations? Share your experience in the comments below! If you want to learn all the ins and outs of moving and living in Bulgaria check out our ‘Moving to Bulgaria: Survival Kit’.
