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Bulgaria
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|pop = 7,322,856
|currency = Lev (BGN)
|hitch = <rating country='bg' />{{very good}}
}}
'''Bulgaria''' is a country in [[Eastern Europe]] bordering [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Republic of Macedonia|North Macedonia]], [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]], a member of the [[European Union]] but not yet the Schengen zone. It's a good country for hitchhikers since this was a common way of traveling in socialist times when few people had cars. There are hardly any roads where hitchhiking would be prohibited. Except for a few stretches of true motorway, it is possible to thumb directly on the road and stop passing cars.
[[File:Bulgaria-donkey-hitch.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[User:Guaka|guaka]] and his donkey hitching towards [[Istanbul]]]]
== Cities ==
* [[Balchik]]
* [[Burgas]]
* [[Hisarya]]
* [[Pavlikeni]]
* [[Plovdiv]]
* [[Ruse]]
* [[Sevlievo]]
* [[Sofia]]
* [[Varna]]
* [[Veliko Tarnovo]]
== Safety ==
Be wary of thieves - particularly in rural areas, there are many people who see a lone hitchhiker as an opportunity to gain by foul means.
== [[Border crossing]] == Bulgaria is probably the most corrupt country in the EU, and you are most likely to notice this at the border crossings. However, if you own an EU carry a Western passport it is quite unlikely they will bother you. === [[Turkey]] === * When going towards Turkey , the most used border checkpoint is the [[Kapitan Andreevo-Kapıkule border crossing]]. * The checkpoint near [[Malko Tarnovo]] can also be used if you're coming from [[Burgas]], although there is significantly less traffic there, either on the Turkish and on the Bulgarian side. The border checkpoint lies in a mountainous area so be sure you either have a direct ride to a city on the other side of the border or arrive early, because it could also be hard to find a spot to put up a tent. Traffic is very scarse, but when the border police goes to or from their shift at the border they might take you. It is recommended to cross the border in a personal car, since the truck queue is usually slow, and the Turks might not like you walking around looking for another ride - especially if you do it [[hitchhiking at night|at night]]. When coming from the Turkish side however, it is very easy and accepted to walk across this border - show your passport to the Turkish guards, they stamp it and you're allowed to walk into Bulgaria. On the Bulgarian side the passport controls tend to be very quickly if you're from a EU-country - they just take a look at your passport and you can go. '''Tip:''' when taking this bordercrossing when entering Bulgaria, it might be a good idea to start walking after you've crossed it, because many people won't stop for you when you're standing just behind the border office buildings. Even a few hundred meters will enlarge your changes of getting a ride to at least the next town, which is [[Malko Tarnovo]].There are enough options to set up a tent near this village, and there is a cheap but good hotel too, in the north-western part of the town. === [[Romania]] ===* [[Ruse-Giurgiu border crossing]], the main border crossing and the route used by trucks.* [[Calafat-Vidin border crossing]], a lesser-used border crossing .* [[Durankulak-Vama Veche border crossing|Durankulak-Vama Veche]], along the Black Sea, the least-used border crossing where waiting times can be long. === [[Serbia]] === * [[Kalotina-Dimitrovgrad border crossing]], the main border crossing. === [[North Macedonia]] ===* [[Kriva Palanka-Kyustendil border crossing|Kriva Palanka-Kyustendil]], in the north* [[Delchevo-Blagoevgrad border crossing|Delchevo-Blagoevgrad]], in the south.
== Phrasebook ==
* Русе - Russe
== License plates External links ==Car license plates can help you to figure out where the driver might be heading to* [http://stopbg. com/ The registration code consists site of two letters followed by four digits and then two more letters. The first two letters indicate the region where the car is registered. By recent regulationsBG hitch-hikers] (forum, tips, the letters have been limited only to those that are found both within Cyrillic and Latin alphabet - this should make it easier for foreigners who have troubles of reading and understanding Cyrillicetc.)
== External links Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==* [http://stopbg.com/ The site of BG hitch-hikers] (forum, tips, etc.)
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[[Category:Bulgaria| ]]
[[pl:Bułgaria]]
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[[ru:Болгария]]