USEFUL INFORMATION
PASSPORTS & VISAS
Only valid passports are required from non-EU nationals. Participants from countries where visa is normally required for entry to Bulgaria are reminded that they will need to obtain one from the appropriate Bulgarian Embassy/Consulate.
Please check at the nearest Bulgarian Embassy/Consulate all the documents required for your country or visit http://www.mfa.bg/en/
CLIMATE
Moderate climate: mild spring and autumn, hot summer, cold snowy winters. The weather at the end of June is sunny and hot. Daily temperatures range from 25 to 31 C°.
SOFIA PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Main transportation vehicles in the city are public buses, trams, trolleybuses, and underground.
Tickets for buses, trams, and trolleybuses can be purchased from all ticket outlets and newspaper kiosks. After getting into the vehicle the ticket is to be validated by means of punching machine. Tickets for trams and trolleybuses can be purchased also from a vending machine inside. Metro tickets can be purchased from ticket machines and cashier desks at each underground station. A ticket for a single travel is worth 1.60 BGN and should be kept until getting off the vehicle. A daily card is 4 BGN and a three day travel card is 10 BGN. You can pay your single travel contactless by credit card in most of the public transportation vehicles.
For further information, you can check the web site of Sofia Urban Mobility centre http://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/121/marshrutna-mrezha.
TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT
TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT
There is a direct underground line from Sofia airport (Terminal 2) to the city centre – Line 4. A free shuttle bus between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is available.
You can find and download various maps about the underground (Metro) transportation in Sofia on https://www.metrosofia.com/en/maps or use Google Maps application on your smart phone.
Public electric bus line No E84 connects Sofia airport with the city centre. It follows the route: Terminal 2 - Terminal 1 - Tsarigradsko shose Blvd. – Orlov Most (Eagles' Bridge) Sq. – General Gurko St. - Sofia University.
Public electric bus line No E184 also connects Sofia airport with the city centre by the route: Terminal 1 - Terminal 2 - Tsarigradsko shose Blvd. – Orlov Most (Eagles' Bridge) Sq. – General Gurko St. - Sofia University.
How to reach Park Hotel Moskva
From Sofia airport (Terminal 2): Metro line No 4 and get off on Joliot-Currie station (18 min). From there the hotel is about 5 minutes walking distance.
From Sofia University: Metro lines No 1 and No 4.
From Central railway station and Central bus station:
(i) Metro line No 2 and change at Serdika station to line No 1 or line No 4
How to reach conference venue (University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy)
From Sofia airport (Terminal 2):
Metro line No 4 and get off on Musagenitsa station (about 10 minutes walking distance)
From Sofia University:
(i) Metro lines No 1 and No 4
(ii) Public bus line No 280
From Central railway station and Central bus station:
(i) Metro line No 2 and change at Serdika station to line No 1 or line No 4
(ii) Public bus line No 413.
MONETARY SYSTEM
MONETARY SYSTEM
The national currency is the Bulgarian Lev (BGN). There are five denominations of banknotes in circulation: 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 BGN (1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN). There are numerous ATMs around the city centre and foreign exchange offices and bank offices, the latter being preferable.
It is always prudent to carry a little foreign cash, however, in case you cannot find an ATM or bank office nearby. You can always change cash at the hotel, though the commission will be high.
Make sure you have enough of the national currency when you plan to visit local markets and shops.
TIPPING
When a gratuity is not included in your bill, which is usually the case, 10% is customary. If service is outstanding, you could go as high as 15%. With taxi drivers, you usually just round up the sum if you have been happy with the ride or for the sake of convenience.
TIME
Summer time: GMT + 3 h (end of March through end of October).
ELECTRICITY
220 Volts, 50 Hz, two pin plug-in system