Is Bulgaria Safe? 7 Essential Travel Tips for Visitors

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. Photo credit: Getty Images/valentinrussanov
5. Beware of stray animals

Bulgaria has made great strides toward curbing this problem. However, there’s still an alarming number of stray dogs and cats freely roaming the streets. Keep your distance to avoid diseases or getting bitten.

Try to overcome your desire to pet them. The last thing you want from your trip is a spell in hospital for rabies shots. Rabies is not considered a major risk to travelers in Bulgaria, but speak to your travel doctor about your plans in case they recommend a rabies shot before you leave home.

6. LGBTQ+ travel safety

While homosexuality is not illegal in Bulgaria, same-sex marriages don’t yet enjoy legal recognition. Similar to many other countries from Eastern Europe, Bulgaria tends to be socially conservative.

While discrimination against LGBTQ+ community has been illegal since 2004, many locals still have negative reactions to public displays of affection between gay couples. LGBTQ+ travelers might want to consider refraining from showing affection in public.

That said, attitudes are changing, and you can find a few gay bars and clubs in big cities like the capital Sofia, plus Plovdiv, and Varna.

Sofia hosts an annual Gay Pride, but it has faced protests and violence in the past.

7. Natural disasters and weather in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located in a seismically active zone. Multiple tremors are felt throughout the year, but most of these are minimal. Larger earthquakes have affected the country in the past, such as the 2012 Pernik earthquake, but there’s not much for travelers to worry about.

Beware during the rainy months (May and June) of flash flooding. Stay up to date with the weather and local news if you are traveling during this time.

During summer (June to August) and early autumn (September), wildfires are a threat in Bulgaria. If you are traveling to areas that are heavily forested, make sure you follow advice from local authorities if a fire is spreading.

Try visiting Bulgaria before the busy summer months, or travel to Bulgaria for the snow from December to March. My favorite time to visit is mid-April until the end of May when the temperatures are perfect for hiking, and landscapes are verdant.

Source link : https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/eastern-europe/bulgaria/how-to-stay-safe-in-bulgaria

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Publish date : 2020-01-30 08:00:00

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