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Brief information about Bulgaria
Connectivity and communication
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Brief information about Bulgaria
Bulgaria is one of the oldest European States with over 1300 years old history and traditions. Bulgaria lays in the North-eastern part of Balkan Peninsula. During the centuries the country has been an important crossroad between Europe and Asia. For centuries, the roads passing through the territory of the country have been connecting Europe with Asia and Africa. Four common European transport corridors, connecting West and North Europe with the eastern and southern part of the continent, cross their roads here.
Bulgaria is also known for its picturesque nature and rich cultural heritage. According to the statistics, the country ranks third in Europe only after Greece and Italy for the number of its valuable archeological monuments.
Territory – 110 993,6 km2
Population – 5 267 480, women – 2 725 948 (2015 )
Capital – Sofia (1 256 667 inhabitants)
Official language – Bulgarian
Political system – Parliamentary Republic
Administrative regions – Sofia – city, Sofia district, Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Haskovo, Lovech, Montana, Sliven, Yambol, Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, Gabrovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Razgrad,
Targovishte, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Kardzali, Stara Zagora
Official holidays – March 3rd – National Holiday (National Liberation from the Ottoman domination) and September 22nd – Independence Day
National currency – Lev
Measures and scales – Metric system
Time zone – GMT +2
Religion – Eastern Orthodox
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How to find us
Banya village enjoys good transport links by road. We are accessible via public transport, car, motorbike or bicycle. Here is a brief summary of the transportation options available, along with some useful links about travel. You can also use an online journey planner which will offer the best advice on how to get from where you live to our Centre, using the most suitable forms of transport. Our team offers an a irport pick-up service for international visitors who arrive at either Burgas Airport or Varna Airport costing 50€ each way.
Air
The nearest airports to Banya village are Varna Airport (75km) and Burgas Airport (65km) which offer both domestic and international flights.
Car
Banya village is located north of Burgas, Nesebar and Sunny B each and south of Varna on Highway E87 (between Burgas and Varna.) If you are traveling from the north, when you get to the village you will need to turn right at the second street after the Banya sign. We are 50m from the main road. If you are arriving from the south, once you see the village centre with its cafe , shop s and restaurant, counting four streets on your left, at approximately 450m you will need to turn left. We have no car parking, but you are free to use our street space on a first-come, first-served basis.
Route planners
The following organisations also provide route planning services. To get driving directions to the Centre, enter our postcode 8239 in the search box.
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For ‘Sat-Nav’ users
To help ensure that your satellite navigation system gets you to the Centre correctly, use the postcode 8239 when setting your destination.
GPS: N42.775984, Е27.823688
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Distance and estimated drive time
| Town | Distance (km) | Estimated time (hours) |
| Burgas | 65 | 1,00 |
| Varna | 75 | 1,20 |
| Nesebar, Sunny beach | 30 | 0,25 |
| Kiten, Balchik | 110 | 1,30 |
| Primorsko, Albena | 100 | 1,25 |
| Sozopol | 90 | 1,15 |
| Sofia | 433 | 4,15 |
| Plovdiv | 300 | 3,00 |
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Bus
The bus routes Varna – Burgas, Burgas – Varna and Sofia – Varna via Burgas pass by Banya village. Banya is not served by a bus station, so bus stops only when there are passengers from/to there. Please check with the bus service providers for fares and more information.
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Train – Bus
The nearest railway stations are in Varna (75km) and Burgas (65km), so after arriving by train at Varna or Burgas, you will need to travel by bus to Banya. The Burgas bus station is next to the railway station, whereas the Varna railway station is about 4km from the bus station. There is a regular hourly bus from both stations to Banya during the day (from 8h a.m. to 6h p.m.)
For further information call Burgas railway station: +35956845022; Burgas bus station: +35956842692 and +359884981220; Varna railway station: +35952632348 – for international travel and +35952630414 and +35952630444 – in country travel; Varna bus station: +35952757044.
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Taxi
Alternatively, and especially if you have luggage, you can take a taxi, costing about 0,80BGN per kilometer.
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Safety
We want your visit to be safe and worry-free. Here are the basics you need to know:
Animals
Venomous snakes exist everywhere in this low elevation region. The horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) can be seen in abandoned gardens near the Centre and in the fields and forests. Pseudoscorpions can be also found occasionally in the region. Badgers, foxes, and jackals are often seen around our place and on the roads. Drive slowly, especially at night, to avoid hitting one of these animals.
Ticks are most active in spring and early summer. They are out in April, May and June in the Centre vicinity. Ticks are rare in our yard because of the regular grass-cutting. Before hiking in forested or grassy areas during tick season, apply tick repellant to your clothing, and wear long pants with cuffs tucked into your socks to help prevent tick bites. If a tick bite occurs, you can consult a physician in Obzor, 15km. from Banya village.
The region has a 5-month mosquito season in an average year. Mosquitoes emerge with warm ing weather in the second week of June. Move away from vegetation to avoid them, as they prefer to be near shady bushes and trees.
Black widow spiders and the Megarian banded centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) do exist throughout Bulgaria woodlands and grasslands, and are common in our area. Be careful when reach ing under logs, rocks, or into hidden crevices.
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Connectivity and communication
Consider your Tortoise Centre vacation a technology detox. Take an opportunity to unplug and enjoy your natural surroundings.
Will I have cell phone service?
There is no phone service in the Centre, but you may use your own cell phone service. Public pay phones are not available in the village.
Is there wi-fi?
Wireless internet is available for overnight guests in all of our rooms. Our internet connection support s social networking sites, uploading or downloading documents or photos, and streaming videos.