WELCOME KIT
Interregional workshop on stimulating innovative product development
Stara Zagora – 6th -7th of June, 2017
Useful info
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
The city of Stara Zagora is one of the oldest cities in Europe with an eight thousand-year history. More than 100 prehistoric mounds from the 6th to 3rd millennium BC were found in the vicinity of Stara Zagora. Located at the cross-roads of multiple civilizations, Stara Zagora is an important piece in the European cultural routes mosaic. Inhabited by Thracians, ancient Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Bulgarians and Ottomans, this unique city bears the historical imprint of those past civilizations along with many of their historical treasures.
Stara Zagora is located very close to the Valey of Roses (20 min by car) which lies between the two mountains - the Balkan range (giving the name of the peninsula) and Sredna Gora Mountain.
The area is rich of mineral springs, and Stara Zagora Mineral Baths - a resort near the city (less than 10 min by car) is a favorite place for rest of the local people. Many esoteric scientists, including Deepak Chopra consider the place as one of the energy centers of the planet.
The city of Stara Zagora is the sixth largest in the country. It ranks second by Gross Domestic Product. It is the heart of the power industry of Bulgaria, and leader in many industrial and agriculture branches most tasty of which is the national favourite beer
Situated almost in the geographical center of Bulgaria, Stara Zagora is linked with major roads and railroads to the rest of the country and the neighboring Turkey, Greece and Romania. In less than 4 hours drive, you can reach all these three countries by very decent roads.
Stara Zagora is the city of linden trees, poets and straight streets, and the Center of the Universe, proven by a billboard placed on one of the entrances of the city
We shall tell you more about when you come.
More information about Stara Zagora is available on www.tour.starazagora.bg/en.
2. HOTELS
Hotels in Stara Zagora - on www.tour.starazagora.bg/en/hotels/stara-zagora-city.html
We recommend these hotels situated in the city centre:
FORUM (www.hotelforum.bg) and Uniqato Hotel (In Booking.com)– the hotels are only 10 minutes away from our office and are the most convenient places for your stay for this project meeting.
3. TRANSPORT FROM THE SOFIA AIRPORT TO STARA ZAGORA
If some of you arrive in Varna, Burgas, or Plovdiv, we shall send additional information.
3.1 From the airport to bus/train station
We recommend you to take a TAXI OK SUPERTRANS www.oktaxi.net waiting in front of the airport.
Maximum price for the taxi to the bus/train station is 15-20 BGN (leva) which is 8-10 EUR.
Attention!!!! Please, see the cost/km - it is announced on the window of the car. Do not follow taxi drivers proposing their service in the waiting area in front of the arrival hall.
3.2 From Sofia to Stara Zagora
By bus (recommended) - takes around 3 hours
Departure time of buses Sofia - Stara Zagora from the Central Bus Station:
AM: 07:00; 08:00; 08:30; 09:30; 10:00; 10:30; 11:00; 12:00; 12:30
PM: 13:00; 14:00; 14:30; 15:30; 16:00; 17:00; 18:00; 18:30; 19:00; 21:30; 00:00
For the trip back to the airport we shall inform you when you arrive.
Prices for the bus are between 18 and 22 BGN (leva) which is about 9-11 EUR.
By train
Not recommended, there are currently many reparation works on the line Sofia-Stara Zagora-Varna and the travel duration is longer.
Information is available on www.bdz.bg/index-en.php. Don’t be misled by the nice picture on the website . It has nothing to do with the reality. The majority of the trains is Bulgaria are old and the trip takes between 4 and 6 hours depending on the type of the train.
Rent-a-car
The fastest way - two and a half hours on the highway. If you choose this option, let us know and we shall send recommendations if needed.
3.3 From Stara Zagora bus station to the hotel
Take a taxi from the bus station. There are taxis located in the parking area on the east side of the bus station. Taxis are branded with the respective taxi company telephone number - 6 106 or 6 123. The prices are announced on the window of the car (front and side windows) and shall not exceed 0.99 BGN/km
The price for the taxi would be no more than 5 BGN (leva) which is about 2,5 EUR.
4. MONEY EXCHANGE
At the airport there is a Bank office and exchange offices, so you can exchange some money needed for your travelling.
Do not exchange a lot of money as the rate on the airport is not very favourable. The most common one is 1 EUR for 1,94/1,95 BGN which you can find in many places in Stara Zagora.
5. WEATHER FORECAST
http://weather.sinoptik.bg/stara-zagora-bulgaria-100726848?search