Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to Bulgaria

Planning a trip to Bulgaria and wondering what to expect from the country? Let me help you! I compiled this list of travel tips for first-time visitors to Bulgaria to prepare you for your trip and help you make the most of your time in my home country.

So here’s everything that you should know and expect before visiting Bulgaria:

Visa & Entries

Freedom of movement for all citizens of the EU (only valid ID card is required). Holders of Schengen visa and citizens from Canada, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Japan, Israel, Georgia, and more can enter Bulgaria for a short-term stay without a visa (less than 90 days).

Citizens of all other countries that are not visa-exempt must apply for a visa prior to their trip to Bulgaria. All children under the age of six are exempt from holding a visa when entering Bulgaria – that applies to children under the age of six from the visa-required countries, too.

For more information, make sure to check in which list is your country of residence before booking your trip. Check here for visa application details. Also, make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months after the intended date of departure.

If you need a visa to travel to Bulgaria, I recommend my partners from iVisa – they will sort your Bulgarian visa quickly and efficiently.

Is Bulgaria a safe destination?

As a first-time visitor to Bulgaria, you might wonder if the country is safe to travel to. It is. Bulgaria is a very safe country – crime is low, we avoid military and political conflicts, and generally, you don’t have to worry about planning a trip here.

However, as in pretty much any other country, there are scams and some other things regarding your safety that you better know about before landing on Bulgarian land. Here are a few travel tips for Bulgaria to keep you away from troubles:

Taxi scams

This is one of the most common scams that travelers face in Bulgaria. A number of taxi drivers tend to overcharge tourists (but sometimes locals too). This can happen in every city, but you should be extra careful when getting a cab at the airport or at the Central Railway station in Sofia, as well as on the seaside resorts.

By law every taxi company in the country should be painted yellow, should have a clearly stated pricelist as a sticker to all windows of the car and in front of the front passenger seat, a registered car company car number, and a working meter. Fake taxis are usually using fake stickers, logos, and phone number on the cars, resembling those of known companies.

To avoid such scams as a tourist, I recommend using public transportation whenever possible or ordering a taxi from a taxi booking app such as TaxiMe, Maxim, and Yellow Taxi.

Fake exchange rates

Always exchange money in the banks and avoid the shady exchange offices that tend to add an extra digit to the rate.

Gypsies

I might have not even thought of mentioning this, but recently one of my followers on Instagram asked me what I think about the gypsies in Bulgaria. There are lots of gypsies in Bulgaria, but I hate when people say that all gypsies are bad and you should stay away from them. They are not. Many gypsies are far more intelligent and educated than many Bulgarians.

However, there is also a big amount of them that are causing troubles, they steal and use a variety of scams to fool you. One of the most common things that gypsies do and that you can encounter is begging or trying to sell you something. In both cases just say no, don’t start a conversation, and keep on walking. Eventually, they’ll give up. In crowded areas, don’t forget to keep an eye on your belongings.

Bulgaria is home to the largest gypsy ghetto in Europe. Credit

LGBTQ

Bulgaria is not the most LGBTQ friendly destination. In recent years, people have become more and more socially open-minded and many people won’t mind or care or judge couples of the same sex, but there are also others that will have a negative reaction and might become a bit aggressive.

With this in mind, it might be better when traveling around Bulgaria to keep your affection private and don’t display it in public. But that shouldn’t discourage LGBTQ travelers from coming to Bulgaria. In cities such as Sofia, Varna, and Plovdiv there are gay bars and clubs, as well as gay-friendly hotels.

Language

Let me start by telling you that the Cyrillic alphabet does not come from Russia, but in fact was invented by the two Bulgarian brothers Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century. I am mentioning this for two reasons:

It is a fact.

Bulgarians get offended if you tell them that they use the Russian alphabet.

Now let’s move on.

The Cyrillic alphabet is used by over 300 million people in Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

The majority of the young population in Bulgaria, all speak English. Some even speak 2 or 3 foreign languages with German, French, and Spanish being among the most popular languages. However, some older people also know a word or two in English, but most of them speak Russian (it was mandatory during communist times).

People in the tourism industry also speak English and most of the time, you won’t have any issues getting along with the locals, ordering food, etc. But it would be very nice of you and highly appreciated if you prepare yourself and learn a couple of words and phrases in Bulgarian. Here are some to start off with:

Hello – Здравей – Zdravei

Good morning – Добро утро – Dobro utro
Good afternoon – Добър ден – Dobar den
Good evening – Добър вечер – Dobar vecher

Good night – Лека нощ – Leka nosht
Goodbye – Довиждане – Dovizhdane
Thank you – Благодаря – Blagodarya

Excuse me – Извинете ме – Izvinete me
I’m sorry – Съжалявам – Suzhalyavam
Please / welcome – Моля – Molya

Cheers – Наздраве – Nazdrave
Yes – Да – Da
No – Не – Ne

How are you? – Как си? – Kak si?
What is your name? – Как се казваш? – Kak se kazvash?
Nice to meet you – Приятно ми е да се запознаем – Priyatno mi e da se zapoznaem

Have a nice day – Приятен ден – Priyaten den
How much does it cost? – Колко струва? – Kolko struva?
What time is it? – Колко е часа? – Kolko e chasa?

Do you speak English? – Говорите ли английски? – Govorite li anglijski?
I don’t speak Bulgarian – Не говоря български – Ne govorya bulgarski
I don’t understand – Не разбирам – Ne razbiram

Help! – Помощ – Pomosht

Weather and the best time to visit Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a great destination all year round as there is something to do in any season. Here’s a brief introduction to all four seasons:

Spring

Spring starts around Mid-March when the temperatures gradually increase and the sun begins to shine ever brighter. The snow is melting making the rivers and waterfalls increase their water levels, trees and flowers are blooming, and everything is starting to become greener and greener. Temperatures are between 10°C to 25°C.

At the beginning of Spring, it is still possible to visit the winter resorts and enjoy some skiing or snowboarding. Mountains above 2, 000 meters remain snowy until the beginning of Summer.

Summer

Summer is the best time to visit the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Temperatures are between 25°C to 35°C and the sea temperature reaches 25°C. Generally, the peak summer season starts at Mid-July and lasts until the end of August. August is the hottest month and the month when usually locals use their vacation time so they can visit the coast. Expect the seaside resorts to be more crowded at that part of the summer.

Summer is also the favorite season for many people to visit the mountains and go out hiking.

Fall

In Fall the weather is still warm and sunny with temperatures between 10°C to 25°C gradually decreasing as winter approaches.

September is probably the best time to visit Bulgaria. The beginning of September is still great to visit the coast, the days are still long enough so you can explore even more of the country without getting a heat stroke, and the scenery becomes stunning!

I love hiking during September and October as the weather in the mountains is usually perfect – it’s neither hot, neither cold, it’s just perfect!

Winter

Winter in Bulgaria starts at the beginning / Mid-December and lasts until the beginning / Mid-March. Temperatures are usually between 10°C to -10°C, but it isn’t unheard of for temperatures to drop down to -20°C. There’s almost no rainfall during the winter season and most days are quite sunny.

Some of the best things to do in Bulgaria in winter include skiing and snowboarding, winter hiking, and enjoying the abundance of hot thermal springs that the country has to offer.

Bulgaria is a budget-friendly destination

Visiting Bulgaria won’t break the bank. Compared to the rest of Europe, Bulgaria is far cheaper than most destinations that would first come to one’s mind. Actually, I believe that it’s safe to say that Bulgaria is perhaps one of the most budget-friendly destinations in the world.

In my opinion, Bulgaria is absolute heaven for backpackers who travel on a budget. However, all types of travelers will enjoy an affordable holiday here.

The official Bulgarian currency is lev. 1 (one) lev is divided into 100 (hundred) stotinki.

1 EUR=1.95583 BGN
$1=1.61 BGN

So how much does it cost to visit Bulgaria?

Accommodation

When in Bulgaria, you can stay at a hotel, hostel, b&b guest house, villa, or camping. Hostels are available in Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, and some cities on the Black Sea coast, and a one night stay costs between 15-30 BGN. A hotel will cost you anywhere from 20 to 200+ BGN per night depending on the type of hotel. Guesthouses and villas might be as cheap as a hostel or expensive as a hotel, also depending on their type, location, etc. Guesthouses are my preferred mean of accommodation in Bulgaria when I’m not in the mountains or camping.

Levana guesthouse, one of my favorites!

Food

You can have a three-course dinner in a nice restaurant for as little as 25-35 BGN (main dishes usually cost around 10-15 BGN). Lunch menus are very popular in Bulgaria and you can have a very filling lunch for as little as 5-10 BGN. Street food starts at less than 1 BGN. Beer in a bar/restaurant costs around 3-5 BGN.

Tasty and fulfilling lunch for only 7 BGN.

Activities

While the organized tours might be a little pricy, there are many natural sights, monuments and things to do in Bulgaria for free. Museums entry fees are between 3-10 BGN. The ticket to visit the Ancient Roman Theater in Plovdiv is only 5 BGN, and the admission to the Roman Baths in Varna is only 4 BGN, for example. That being said and depending on your interests, you can expect to spend between 0-20 BGN a day on activities.

Kayaking near Sofia costs only 10 BGN per hour.

Transportation

For more information on transportation, transportation prices, and getting around Bulgaria, read the following section.

The cost of living in Bulgaria is not high either. You can easily rent a good apartment in Sofia for about 250-300 EUR per month and even less in other cities. That fact made Bulgaria very appealing to international ex-pats. The country is now home to many of them and the ex-pat community grows and grows constantly.

If you have any questions about living in Bulgaria, don’t hesitate to contact me!

How to get around Bulgaria

Getting around Bulgaria is relatively easy and stress-free. Public transportation is inexpensive, but sometimes quite slow. Here are the main ways to get around Bulgaria:

Train

All trains in Bulgaria are run by the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ). Traveling by train around the country is an experience on its own. Trains are the most affordable public transportation option, but also the slowest one. While on the train, you can encounter many interesting locals.

If you’re not in a hurry to reach your final destination, enjoy slow traveling, and want to save some money on transportation then exploring the country by train might be the best option for you.

The main train routes are Sofia – Plovdiv – Burgas, Sofia – Varna, Sofia – Ruse, Sofia – Vidin, and Sofia – Blagoevgrad. Express services (restricted to main routes), rapid trains, and passenger trains are available. You should buy a ticket from the ticket office prior to boarding the train. Some small train stations don’t have ticket offices, and in that case, you can buy a ticket from the ticket inspector on the train.

Some of the most scenic train journeys in Bulgaria are the Rhodpe Narrow Gauge railway and the route from Sofia to Vratsa that passes through the River Iskar Gorge.

Keep in mind that most of the trains in Bulgaria are old and not very punctual always.

Bus

Traveling by bus in Bulgaria is more expensive than traveling by train, but is also faster and more reliable. You can reach almost every big city and small village by bus (of course, sometimes transfer would be necessary).

In Sofia, there are a few bus stations: Central bus station, bus station Запад (West), and bus station Юг (South). Make sure to check to which one you should go to reach your final destination.

From the bus station South, you can get to Samokov and Velingrad for example. From bus station West, you can get to Bansko, Blagoevgrad, and Rila monastery.

Share a car

Car sharing is a very popular way to get from one big city to another. It is faster than trains and buses, and it’s also a budget option as you usually share the cost of the fuel with the other travelers. There are many groups on Facebook where you can find such options. Some of the most popular ones are traveling between Sofia to Plovdiv, Sofia to Burgas, Sofia to Varna, Sofia to Veliko Turnovo, Sofia to Bansko.

To find a shared car, simply join the group and post an announcement that you’re looking to travel to place X on day X.

If you want to search for a car sharing option in any other place search ”пътуващи” and the name of the place that you’re looking for in Bulgarian (example: пътуващи Велинград / Velingrad).

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Bulgaria is easy and safe. Usually, it is easier to hitchhike in summer and on busier roads. However, it is manageable to do it on your way to the mountains, between villages, and in more remote areas.

To make it easier for you to decide how to travel between places, I made this table with information about how long does it takes and how much does it coast to travel these popular routes:

ROUTE	TRAIN	BUS	CAR SHARING
Sofia – Plovdiv	2:30 h / 9.15 BGN	2:20 h / 9-10 BGN	1:30 h / 10 BGN
Sofia – Burgas	6-7 h / 19.20 BGN	6-7 h / 25-30 BGN	4 h / 20 BGN
Sofia – Varna	8 h / 24 BGN	6-7 h / 30-35 BGN	4-5 h / 20 BGN
Sofia – Bansko	7-8 h / 6.60 BGN	3 h / 16 BGN	2 h / 10 BGN
Sofia – Veliko Tarnovo	4:30-6 h / 16.50 BGN	3 h / 20 BGN	2:30 h / 10 BGN

*There are no direct trains to Bansko and Veliko Tarnovo, thus is taking that much longer.

**Sleepers available on the trains to Varna & Burgas. In summer, make sure to book tickets in advance.

Driving in Bulgaria

Bulgaria can be easily traversed by car from end to end. Traveling around the country by car is the best option because you can quickly move around checking out the history, the landscapes and whatever you’re interested in. Also, if want to explore more of the country, to visit remote villages, national parks, or monuments, the most convenient option for you, for a comfortable and pleasant trip, is to rent a car and make your own travel schedule.

And it’s not just because of comfort and convenience, but mainly because there is no public transportation available to many places worth visiting.

Of course, those who decide to rent a car should know a thing or two before they hit the road. For first-time visitors to Bulgaria who want to explore the country by car, I already wrote a separate article where I go more in-depth about driving in the country.

READ NEXT: Traveling Bulgaria by Car: Driving Tips & Where to go

Bulgaria can offer a lot

Bulgaria has an area of 110,994 sq km. The land borders have a total length of 1, 808 km and the coastline has a total length of 354 km. It is the 16th largest country in Europe. Getting from one end of the country to the other typically takes about 5 to 6 hours. This means that you can cover a lot of area and visit lots of places in a shorter period of time.

From high mountain peaks and a stunning coastline to some of the best spa and winter resorts on the continent, and beautifully preserved historic towns, Bulgaria truly has a lot to offer. Whether your interest lies in history, culture, nature, food and wine, or extreme sports, I guarantee you that there are many places within the country that will keep you entertained.

Because this article focuses on travel tips for first-time visitors to Bulgaria, I don’t want to saturate it with ideas of where to go. Of course, you shouldn’t miss the capital Sofia, Europe’s oldest city Plovdiv, the beautiful Seven Rila Lakes, and the scenic Rhodopes Mountain, but for more suggestions go and read my article that is dedicated to places to visit in the country.

There are 52 recommendations, enough to fill your itinerary.

READ NEXT: 52 Incredible Places to Visit in Bulgaria

Plovdiv (Ancient Roman Amphitheater), Buzludzha, Pirin Mountain (view from Sinanitsa peak), Sinemorets (Veleka beach)

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There are 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria – 7 cultural and 3 natural:

Rila Monastery – Founded in the 10th century, the monastery is the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The monastery is nestled on the sloped of Rila Mountain at an elevation of 1, 147 meters above sea level and is one of the most important cultural, historical, and architectural monuments in the country.
Nessebar – One of the declared museum towns and architectural, and archeological reserves of national significance. The biggest wealth of Nessebar is the 60 preserved houses from the Revival period.

Boyana Church – A medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia. 240 human images are depicted on the walls of the church.
Madara rider – An early medieval large rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau east of the city of Shumen dating back to the late 7th century.
Thracian tomb of Kazanlak – Dating back to the end of the 4th century, the Thracian tomb of Kazanlak is a masonry round domed tomb, which is located in Kazanlak and is part of a large necropolis located near the ancient capital of the Odrysian kingdom Seuthopolis. It is famous for its unique frescoes in the corridor and the dome – one of the best-preserved frescoes of ancient painting from the early Hellenistic era.

Thracian tomb of Seveshtari -The architectural decor of the tomb is considered to be unique. It consists of polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids, and painted murals. The tomb dates back to the 3rd century BC.
Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo – Group of monolithic churches, chapels, and monasteries hewn out of solid rock in the valley of the Roussenski Lom River at an elevation of 32 meters above sea level.
Pirin National Park – In the area of Pirin National Park, there are more than 1, 300 plants – rare, endemic, glacial relicts, and endangered. The oldest tree in Bulgaria Baikushev’s pine, (1, 300 years old) is also located in Pirin, and on its territory, you can come across wild goats, falcons, and eagles. Pirin is famous for its 118 glacier lakes.

Srebarna Nature Reserve – This natural reserve encompasses Lake Srebarna and its surroundings and is located on the Via Pontica, a bird migration route between Europe and Africa.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe – This transboundary property stretches over 12 countries including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Ukraine.

Communist Remnants

I decided to include a section of communist remnants in this article on travel tips for first-time visitors to Bulgaria because communism played a big role in the county’s history and that’s why I think it’s important to be mentioned.

The communism period in Bulgaria lasted from 1944 until 1989. Controversial to what many people assume, Bulgaria has never been part of the Soviet Union. Along with a few other countries that formed the Eastern Bloc, Bulgaria was one of the closest allies of the Soviet Union and was viewed as a Soviet satellite state – a country that is independent, but under heavy political, economic, and military influence.

During this period the Bulgarian Communist Party (БКП) ruled the country. If you spend more time in Bulgaria and have a conversation about communist times with locals, you will most likely notice that while some people loved it and believe that it was better than what is like Bulgaria today, most of the population has already moved on.

While the communist regime lasted in Bulgaria over 100 large stone, steal, and concreate monuments were built to celebrate the country’s relationship with Russia. Most of these monuments can be still seen today, so if you’re interested in that part of the history, here’s what not to miss:

Buzludzha in Stara Planina Mountain

When one thinks or speaks about communist monuments in Bulgaria, the Buzludzha monument is always the first one to come to mind. It was erected in 1981 as a home to the Bulgarian Communist Party. Buzludzha monument is located on the top of Buzludzha peak in Stara Planina Mountain and is the biggest ideological monument of the totalitarian regime in the country.

Since the fall of communism, the monument was nationalized and sealed. Going on a day trip to Buzludzha is one of the most popular ways to see the monument.

Founders of the Bulgarian State in Shumen

The monument was built in 1981 to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of the First Bulgarian Empire. It is situated on the plateau above the city, the highest point of the Danubian Plain. It stands at an elevation of 450 meters above sea level and can be seen from 30 km.

Monument to the Soviet Army in Sofia

Among all the best free things to do in Sofia is checking out the monument to the Soviet army which is part of a large park where many youngsters are gathering. The portrait was built in 1954 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the liberation by the Soviet Army and portraits a soldier from the Soviet Army surrounder by a Bulgarian woman with her baby and a Bulgarian man.

There are other secondary sculptures beneath which in 2011 were ”dressed” by anonymous artists as the popular American culture characters. The caption that was painted underneath ”в крак с времето” translates to as ”in pace with time”.

Defenders of Stara Zagora in Stara Zagora

Whether you have a day, a week, or just a weekend in Stara Zagora, the memorial complex ”The Defenders of Stara Zagora” must be seen. Built in 1977, the monument commemorates the fights of the Bulgarians against the Ottoman Empire. It represents the Samara flag, which is one of the most important military symbols.

Park – Monument of the Bulgarian – Soviet Friendship in Varna

A staircase of 301 steps leads to the biggest monument in the area of Varna, a monument that was built on the site where the Russian army made their camp while fighting for the liberation of Bulgarian against the Ottoman Empire. The monument portraits Russian soldiers coming to the rescue of Bulgaria’s women. So, if you’re visiting Varna on your trip to Bulgaria, don’t forget to pay a visit to the monument.

National holidays in Bulgaria

While restaurants and supermarkets would work on most of these days, some museums or other tourist attractions might not. Make sure to check ahead if you’re planning to visit Bulgaria around any of these times:

1 January – New Year’s Day

3 March – National Liberation Day
1 May – Labour Day – Solidarity Day
6 May – St. George’s Day – Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Armed Forces

24 May – Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and the Slavic Letters
6 September – Bulgarian Unification Day
22 September – Bulgarian Independence Day

1 November – National Awakeners Day – a day-off for educational establishments
24 December – Christmas Eve
25 and 26 December – Christmas

Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter (Easter Sunday and Monday) as determined for Easter celebrations in the relevant year.

Bulgarian cuisine and what foods to try

I always say that Bulgarian cuisine is mouth-watering. It is very similar to other Balkan cuisines and some say that it is a blend of Greek and Turkish cuisines. It characterizes by fresh and quality vegetables and dairy products, a variety of spices, and lots of meat.

The most common meats used in Bulgarian cuisine are pork and chicken. Veal and lamb meat, as well as seafood and fish, are also very popular. The most common spices used when cooking traditional Bulgarian dishes are garlic, pepper, oregano, parsley, and thyme.

Here’s what traditional Bulgarian food to try when visiting:

Shopska salad (шопска салата) – A very basic salad made of tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, peppers, and white Bulgarian cheese.
Banitsa (баница) – Dough dish filled with traditional Bulgarian white cheese whisked with eggs. This is the most common and traditional variation of banitsa, but you can also find banitsa with spinach, onion, cabbage, or pumpkin.

Tarator (таратор) – The best summer soup made of yogurt and cucumbers, plus garlic, oil, walnuts, and dill
Traditional bread (хляб)
Yogurt (кисело мляко) – In Bulgaria when we talk about yogurt, we refer to anything foreigner. Here, the Bulgarian ”yogurt” is called sour milk (kiselo mlyako). We, Bulgarians are very proud of our yogurt and except in the kitchen, we also use it as a sunburn remedy and a hangover cure.

Dairy products (сирене и кашкавал) – Apart from the Bulgarian yogurt, you shouldn’t miss trying sirene (white cheese) and kashkaval (yellow cheese), too. Most of the dairy products in Bulgaria are made of cow milk.
Mixed grill (мешана скара) – Includes the class kyufte (meatball) and kebapche, plus steaks, sausages, and lots of more meat.
Tripe soup (шкембе чорба) – Considered to be a hangover remedy, the tripe soup is made of cow or lamb stomach and milk. Usually, you are expected to add garlic, vinegar, and spicy pepper to your taste.
Mousaka (мусака) – This potato and minced meat dish found its way to Bulgaria from the Middle East. You probably have had its eggplant variation that is very famous in Greece. It is usually consumed with yogurt.
Sarmi (сарми) – This meal has two variations: sarmi made of grape leaves and sarmi made of sour cabbage leaves. Either way, the leaves are stuffed with rice and minced meat. The sour cabbage sarmi are typical for the winter season.
Patatnik (пататник) – This dish is very typical for the Rhodopes region of Bulgaria and is being prepared with potatoes, white cheese, onion, egg, and spices.
Lutenitsa (лютеница) – Very beloved Bulgarian spread. Lyutenitsa includes the following ingredients: peppers, tomatoes, aubergine, carrots, oil, garlic, salt, and sugar. It is usually eaten with a mixed grill or as a spread on bread topped with white cheese – yummy!

Nod for NO

One of my top travel tips for first-time visitors to Bulgaria is in regards to head nodding. Just so you don’t get confused remember that Bulgarians shake their heads to say ”yes” and nod for ”no”.

Power in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the power plugs and sockets are of type F (this socket also works with plug C and plug E). The standard voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

If you’re traveling from a country in which the power plugs and sockets are of a different type, make sure to bring a travel adapter with you for your own convenience.

Internet connection and Wi-Fi

Bulgaria has one of the fastest internet connections in the world. Internet here is cheap, reliable, and very widespread. There are many free access areas, and you’ll be given a Wi-Fi password everywhere you go.

Mobile phone packages are also cheap. For about 20 BGN you can get hundreds of minutes for calls to all networks + about 10, 000 to 15, 000 MB of internet.

And those were my best travel tips for first-time visitors to Bulgaria, the most important things that you should know before visiting- hopefully, they’ll help you plan your trip easier and make the most of it! If I have missed something that you want to know, please don’t hesitate to contact me, I would love to help.

Thanks for reading,

Bilyana

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PLAN YOUR TRIP TO BULGARIA

If you’re already decided to visit Bulgaria, you can see my top travel recommendations here:

🛏 Accommodation in Bulgaria:

When I travel around my home country, I always prefer staying in guest houses rather than hotels. Especially, in the villages and small towns, that can help local families keep their business and feed their family. I either book them on Booking.com or directly over the phone.

🤸‍♀️ Top-rated tours and experiences in Bulgaria:

🗺 Need a Visa for Bulgaria?

I recommend iVisa, they will sort your Bulgarian visa quickly and efficiently.

👌 Travel Insurance (Better Safe Than Sorry):

You better not have to use it, but it’s always good to be insured when traveling abroad, as well as in your own country. If you decide to get insurance, check for coverage and rate with my recommended provider World Nomads.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission if you make a booking after clicking. It comes at no extra cost to you but it helps me with the running of this site! As always, opinions are my own. Thank you!

Photo credits: Taxi scams, Founders of Bulgaria, Soviet Army monument, Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship monument, Buzludzha, Food