Travel information

IMPORTANT NOTE: LABAT'2020 is rescheduled to June 8-11, 2021 >>

LABAT'2021 is moving to a VIRTUAL platform. Updates will be published in due course.

  

Travel, Visa, Insurance and Weather Information

All LABAT ’2020 delegates shall make their own travel arrangements for outbound, internal and return flights/trips.

 

Reaching GOLDEN SANDS RESORT from VARNA Airport

Golden Sands resort is just 25 km north from Varna Airport from where you can take a taxi or a public bus to reach the venue.

Reaching VARNA

By plane: Varna Airport is the nearest airport to Golden Sands resort. It is well connected with Sofia and other European international airports.

Direct flights to Varna. Please, ask your travel agent to check for regular or charter flights to Varna Airport from major cities in Europe.

Via Sofia: The Bulgarian airline company Bulgaria Air (https://www.air.bg/en) offers 3 flights daily between Sofia and Varna.

In Sofia: 
SOFIA Call Center: Telephone: +359 (0)2 4020400, e-mail: callFB@air.bg
SOFIA Ticket Center 1: Telephone: +359 (0)2 4020340, e-mail: tickets1@air.bg

In Varna:

VARNA Airport Office: Telephone: +359 (0)52 573321 Fax: +359 (0)52 501039 e-mail: varna@air.bg

There are also daily flights Sofia-Varna available from Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe and in Bulgaria.

When making your flight itinerary and the respective reservations, make sure that the flights Sofia-Varna and Varna-Sofia are also included.

Please, be advised that at the beginning of the active tourist season this is a rather busy line, so you better book a seat well in advance.

By public bus transport from Sofia: A deluxe bus connection Sofia-Varna is also available but the trip takes about 6-7 hours. Several public bus lines connect Sofia and Varna. For more information and to arrange your direct bus transport Sofia-Varna and backward you can contact one of the following companies: UNION-IVKONIBIOMET, Etap-Adress & Group Plus, Sofia Central Bus Station.

Also, Etap-Adress & Group Plus company has a daily direct bus line connecting Sofia and Golden Sands resort (Zlatni pyasaci – in Latin transliteration from Cyrillic script ‘Златни пясъци’). This trip takes about 8 hours. If you need assistance with your travel arrangements for the route Sofia-Golden Sands, please contact the Secretariat in due time and we will try to help you.

By car: To drive in Bulgaria you will have to buy a vignette. Weekly vignette costs 15 BGN for a whole week (30 BGN for a whole month). You can reach Varna from Sofia using Haemus Motorway E83/A2. The distance is around 470 km long and usually takes about 6 hours. From Burgas, you should take E87/A5 motorway, the distance is approximately 120 km. From Bucarest - take the European route E70, you will need to drive for about 300 km. Coming from Istanbul or Costanca, use the coast route E87, which leads you directly to Golden Sands resort.

 

VISAS

Some delegates will need a visa to enter Bulgaria. It is their own responsibility to apply for visas in due time. No visas are required for the citizens of the European Union member states, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA to enter Bulgaria. Citizens of other countries should check the current requirements with their nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate at least a month before the date of their departure. Visas cannot be obtained at border check points.

For details on entry visa requirements, please visit the website of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria

Please contact the LABAT'2020 Secretariat if you require a special invitation letter.

Note: Please note that currently Bulgaria issues national visas only. Those visas do not give their holders the right to enter the Schengen area.

 

HEALTH AND TRAVEL INSURANCE

Conference participants are advised to make their own insurance arrangements. The Organizers can in no way be held responsible for accidents to Conference delegates nor for loss of or damage to their personal property howsoever caused.

 

WEATHER

June is the month when summer season starts in Golden Sands resort. Most days are sunny. The maximum day-time temperatures are about 24-26°C. Minimum night-time temperatures are about 14-16°C. Occasional rains and thunderstorms are possible.