Hitching ( autostop ) is fairly widespread in rural Bulgaria, where local drivers are used to giving lifts to villagers in the absence of buses, but motorists are less accommodating on busier routes, where bus and train services are better. In addition, now that robberies and rapes are far more common, both drivers and hitch-hikers are a lot more cautious than they used to be. Women are strongly advised not to hitch, and even male travellers should exercise caution about which lifts to accept.

It's best to carry a sign in Cyrillic if you're heading for somewhere distant.