Roads in Bulgaria tend to be poorly surfaced and inconsistently numbered, but things are improving slowly thanks to EU funding. European roads are prefixed by the letter ‘E', while internal motorways and main roads are indicated by numbers only. Place names, signposted along main roads, are in both Cyrillic and Latin script (on minor roads they may be in Cyrillic only) but road signs are international. While petrol stations are found on the main road exits from most large towns and every 30-40km (18-25 miles) along the motorways, on minor roads they can be few and far between. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Traffic drives on the right. Speed limits are 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) on country roads and 50kph (31mph) in urban areas. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%.

Driving throughout the country can be slow, as traffic is frequently held up by heavy goods vehicles. The police are known to stop motorists at random and check their documents - it is best to remain calm and polite. Fines for speeding and other driving offences are on the spot and can be heavy. A Green Card and Motor Insurance certificate are obligatory. All driving licences from EU countries are valid for Bulgaria. Seatbelts always should be worn, although few locals adhere to this rule. All accidents should be reported to the traffic police, KAT (tel: 165), and a report filed. The process is lengthy but necessary for any insurance claims. If heading into the mountains during winter, it is advisable for drivers to carry snow chains.

The Bulgarian Automobile Touring Association (SBA) (tel: (02) 980 3308), provides information and deals with breakdowns.

Emergency breakdown service:
SBA (tel: 146).

Routes to the city: The A1 and A2 are the major roads out of Sofia. The A1 heads east toward Plovdiv, while the A2 heads northeast to connect with the E772 toward Veliko Tarnovo, continuing northeast to where it becomes the A2 again, reaching Varna on the Black Sea. The E79 goes to Sofia from Greece, crossing the border at Kulata. The E80 from Turkey crosses the border at Kapitan Andreevo, while the E79 travels from Romania, crossing the border at Vidin-Kalafat. In addition, the E80 motorway runs to Sofia from the Yugoslav border at Kalotina and the E871 from the Russian border at Gyueshevo.

Driving time to the city: From Plovdiv - 2 hours; Veliko Tarnovo - 3 hours; Varna - 6 hours.

Coach services: Nearly all the long-distance domestic and international buses leave from the newly refurbished Tsentralna Avtogara (Central Bus Station), bulvard Maria Luiza 100 (tel: 0900 21000; website: www.centralnaavtogara.bg), near the train station. Facilities include left-luggage, ATMs, restaurant, cafés, disabled toilets and baby-changing area. The interior has over 50 counters of private companies with destinations clearly marked, with an information point at the entrance to guide you to the right counter. Screens clearly display departing services and bay numbers. International destinations include Istanbul, Athens, Belgrade, Bucharest, Vienna, Munich and Prague. Buses to all major Bulgarian cities, as well as 90% of towns and villages, also leave from here, including those to Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse, Bourgas, Veliko Ternovo and Sandanski.

In addition, buses to closer destinations in the southeast (including Samakov and Borovets) leave from the Yug terminal (avtogara Yug), bulvard Dragan Tsankov and Ovcha kupel (including Rila Monastery), bulvard Ovcha kupel 1.

Eurolines (tel: (01582) 404 511, UK number; website: www.eurolines.com) runs international coaches, connecting Sofia to cities throughout Europe. These terminate in front of the train station.