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SOFIA TRADE FAIR WELCOME PACK
Welcome to Sofia
In a few days, student teams from eight countries will land in the same city with the same idea in common: that a business can make money and make life better for people at the same time. You have already done the hard part, turning that idea into something real. This weekend is your chance to show it, test it against tough questions and learn from teams who solved a different problem in a different way.
This pack is here to make the practical side easy: how to get here, where you will sleep, what happens when, and how to find your way around Sofia. Keep it on your phone. For everything about the competition itself, see the separate Team Guide.
See you soon,
The JA Bulgaria team
Students: start here. Five things to do before you leave 1. Get connected. Save our map on your phone and join the WhatsApp group. 2. Check your documents with your teacher. Passport or ID, any visa you need, and your signed consent forms. 3. Get your team ready. Finish and pack your stand materials, practise your presentation in English, and send your slides by Thursday, 12 November. 4. Pack for cold and rainy weather. Warm layers, a waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes, a water bottle and a charger. 5. Bring some money. Whether it’s for souvenirs, for meals outside of the trade fair, or for drinks other than water, some money always comes in handy. A bakery snack costs about €2–4 and a simple restaurant meal about €10. A contactless card helps, but keep some euro cash too. |
In this pack
At a glance
| When | Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026. |
| Main venue | Hotel Kitchen 59, 59 Tsar Boris III Blvd, 1612 Sofia. The Friday sessions and the fair take place on the hotel rooftop. |
| Second hotel | Hotel Geneva, 9 Balkandzhi Yovo St, 1612 Sofia |
| Who is here | Student teams, teachers, and JA staff from Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye |
| Language | The event runs in English. |
| Our map | Open our Sofia Trade Fair map. Save it on your phone before you travel. |
| Money | Bulgaria uses the euro. Contactless cards work almost everywhere. |
| Emergency | 112 (police, ambulance, fire) |
| Contact person | Stefani Roshcova +359 894 38 00 56 stefani.roshcova@jabulgaria.org Junior Achievement Bulgaria |
Stay connected
Find us
You won’t have to figure this weekend out alone. Our team speaks English and Bulgarian and is happy to help with any question, big or small. You will find us at the welcome desk opposite check-in at Hotel Kitchen 59 and at the registration desk at the rooftop on Friday.
Checking in at the event
Registration is at Hotel Kitchen 59 on Friday from 14:00 to 15:00. Come as a team, with your teacher. Please bring your signed photo and video consent forms: we will collect them at registration. We will send you the template.
Join the conversation
- Follow JA Bulgaria on Facebook (JABulgaria) and Instagram (@ja_bulgaria), and tag your photos with #YSBEnet and #JABulgaria.
Feel free to join our WhatsApp group (or scan the QR Code below) for live updates and if you want to connect with others. If a time or place changes, this is where we will say so first.
Before you travel
Documents
Entry rules depend on the passport you hold. If a team member holds a different nationality from the rest of the group, please check their rules separately.
| Passport from | What you need |
|---|---|
| Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania | A valid national ID card or passport. Flights from Cyprus still go through a document check, because Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. |
| Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia | No visa for a short stay if you hold a biometric passport. Serbian passports issued by the Coordination Directorate do require a visa. |
| Türkiye | A visa is required. Carry your passport, your visa and the invitation letter from JA Bulgaria. |
If you are arriving from outside the EU, plan for extra time at the border:
- Bulgaria is in the Schengen area and uses the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Queues can be long, at airports and at land crossings.
- Your passport should have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after you leave.
- Keep your invitation letter and return ticket within reach. Border officers can ask for them.
Students under 18: you are travelling without your parents, so please check with your home JA organisation which consent documents your country requires, and carry them with you, ideally with an English translation.
Teachers: if your group might stay out after 22:00, get parental declarations signed before you leave. See “Getting there on Saturday and Sunday”.
Insurance and health
- Every traveller should have valid travel and medical insurance for the whole trip. EU citizens should also bring their European Health Insurance Card.
- Teachers: please carry a list of your students’ emergency contacts, any allergies and any medication they need.
What to pack
- Warm layers and a waterproof jacket. Mid-November days in Sofia average about 13°C and nights about 2°C, and it is dark by about 17:30. Sunday’s tour is outdoors, some rain might be expected. Umbrellas are welcome.
- Comfortable waterproof shoes for the cultural tour, plus smart casual clothes for presenting on Saturday.
- Everything for your stand. The Team Guide lists what to prepare. Don’t count on printing anything on site, so finish your materials before you travel.
- A reusable water bottle, a phone charger and a power bank.
- A plug adapter if you are from Cyprus. Bulgaria uses the two-pin European plug (type C/F, 230 V).
Getting to your hotel
From Sofia Airport
Both hotels are in the Krasno Selo area, southwest of the centre. The airport is on the opposite side of the city, and the drive takes about 30 minutes in normal traffic.
| Option | How it works | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | At Terminal 2, turn left and walk to the end of the building. The metro entrance is just outside Departures. Tap your contactless card at the turnstile or buy a ticket from a machine. Take line M4 (yellow) to Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. Change to line M3 at Orlov Most, heading towards Gorna Banya, and get off at Krasno Selo, 5 stops later. Allow about an hour. A very large suitcase, or several bags per person, might need its own ticket: see sofiatraffic.bg. | About €0.80 per person | Light travellers arriving in the daytime |
| Taxi | Go to the official taxi stand just outside Arrivals, at either terminal. Show the driver the hotel name and address. A standard taxi usually takes up to 4 people with bags. | About €10–18 per car | Groups with luggage or large stand materials |
Landing at Terminal 1? There is no metro station there, and the terminals are not within walking distance of each other. Take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 2, which runs about every 30 minutes during the day.
Landing late? The metro runs from about 05:30 until midnight. Night bus N4 also serves both terminals, about once an hour, but with luggage or with students, a taxi might be the better choice.
Not sure which way to go? Google Maps gives accurate public transport directions in Sofia. Our map is a good place to start.
Taxis: how to get a fair ride
- At the airport: use the official stand just outside Arrivals. Ignore anyone who approaches you offering a ride, in the terminal or anywhere else.
- In the city: never hail a taxi on the street. Always order one, through the Yellow! or TaxiMe app, or by phone: Yellow (+359 2 91 119) or OK Supertrans (+359 2 973 2121). Uber does not operate in Bulgaria, and Bolt does not offer rides in Sofia.
- Check the company name and the rates on the window before you get in. Lookalike names such as “OK Autotrans” charge many times more.
- Make sure the meter is on, and ask for a receipt if your organisation needs one. Taxis accept euros or a contactless card.
- Most drivers understand a little English. Showing a map pin or Google Translate on your phone always helps.
By road or rail
Coming by coach or train: Sofia’s Central Bus Station and Central Railway Station are next to each other, and a taxi is the simplest way on to the hotel. Coming by van: please tell us in advance if you need parking at the main venue. Crossing a land border: allow extra time for EES registration, especially if you are travelling on a Friday morning.
If you are delayed on the day, message Stefani Roshcova so that we know when to expect you.
Where you will stay
| Hotel Kitchen 59 | Hotel Geneva | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 59 Tsar Boris III Blvd, 1612 Sofia | 9 Balkandzhi Yovo St, 1612 Sofia |
| Check-in / check-out | From 12:00 / by 12:00 | From 12:00 / by 12:00 |
| Breakfast (included) | 07:30 - 10:00, buffet 08:00 - 10:00 on Sundays | 07:00 - 10:00, buffet |
| Reception | Open 24 hours | Open 24 hours |
| Phone | +359 24 39 99 59 | +359 2 955 3435 |
| Getting around | Tram stop outside. Krasno Selo metro (M3) is about 500 m away. | Nearest metro: Krasno Selo (M3). Trams are available as well. |
Who stays where
| Delegation | JA staff and experts | Teachers and students |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Kitchen 59 | Kitchen 59 |
| Bulgaria | – | Geneva |
| Cyprus | Kitchen 59 | Kitchen 59 |
| Montenegro | Kitchen 59 | Geneva |
| North Macedonia | Kitchen 59 | Geneva |
| Romania | Kitchen 59 | Kitchen 59 |
| Serbia | Kitchen 59 | Geneva |
| Türkiye | Kitchen 59 | Kitchen 59 |
Good to know
- Finding the rooftop: take the lift or the stairs to the 9th floor. When you step out of the lift, the bar area is straight ahead, the stands are on your left, and the presentation space is on your right.
- Rooming lists: each hotel will have a list of names, and JA Staff will receive the room allocation in advance. Each person shows their passport or ID at check-in.
- Arriving before 12:00? Your room may not be ready yet, but you can leave your bags at reception.
- Staying at Hotel Geneva? The daytime programme on Friday and Saturday happens at Kitchen 59, so plan your walk. Check the route here. It’s less than 300 meters away and it takes 4 minutes at most to get to the main venue. Keep your stand materials in your room until Saturday morning. If carrying them is a problem, tell us and we will help.
- Your room and breakfast are covered. Anything extra, such as minibar, room service or laundry, is paid by the guest directly.
- Both hotels have other guests. Please keep corridors quiet at night. Both venues are smoke-free properties.
Sunday morning: it’s an early start, so pack on Saturday night. Breakfast opens at 08:00 at Kitchen 59 and at 07:00 at Geneva. If you travel on Sunday, make sure you eat early, check out, and leave your luggage at reception before the group sets off (both hotels can store it). After the cultural tour, take metro line M3 to Krasno Selo or a taxi back to collect your bags or simply bring them with you if your flight is too early.
Meals
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Your own | Your own | Included, 19:00 at Kitchen 59 – Talents Restaurant |
| Saturday | Included at your hotel | Included, 13:30 at Kitchen 59 – Talents Restaurant | Included, from 19:00 at Mamin Kolio Restaurant |
| Sunday | Included at your hotel | Your own | Your own |
- Water: Sofia’s tap water is safe to drink, so bring your bottle.
- Breaks: water, tea or coffee, and some snacks are provided during the breaks on Friday and Saturday.
- Drinks with meals: Water is provided during meals. Other drinks are not included with the lunch and dinner at Kitchen 59 or at Mamin Kolio. Soft drinks cost about €2 each. Everyone pays for their own drinks on the spot, by card or in cash, because we can’t arrange an invoice with deferred payment for them.
- Saturday’s dinner is at Mamin Kolio, a traditional Bulgarian restaurant (mehana) with folk décor, hearty food and sizzling dishes. It is a good way to spend our evening together.
The programme
Friday 13 November: Welcome and workshops
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00–15:00 | Check-in | Hotel Kitchen 59 Hotel Geneva |
| 14:00–15:00 | Registration for Sofia Trade Fair | Hotel Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 15:00–16:30 | Welcome and opening. Introduction. Meet everyone and find out what’s ahead. We’ll sets the scene for the whole programme together. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 16:30–17:00 | Break | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 17:00–18:00 | Workshop 2: Rethinking social business through innovation | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 18:00–19:00 | Networking Walk around, meet the other teams and find out what they’ve built. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 19:00–20:00 | Dinner | Hotel Kitchen 59 – Talents Restaurant |
Saturday 14 November: Exchange, visibility and skills building
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30–09:30 | Booth setup Set up your stand. It should be ready by 09:30. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 10:00–11:30 | Presentations of the trade fair participants and their projects Each team has 5 minutes to present, plus 3 minutes of jury questions. Cheer the others on. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 11:30–12:00 | Break | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 12:00–13:30 | Presentations II The second round of team presentations. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 13:30–14:30 | Lunch | Hotel Kitchen 59 – Talents Restaurant |
| 14:30–16:00 | Exhibition of the stands Show your product, answer questions from the jury and other teams, and take turns visiting the other stands. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
| 16:00–17:00 | Break Pack up your stand, while the jury adds up the scores. | Kitchen 59 rooftop |
Sunday 15 November: Study visit, reflection and closing
| Time | What |
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