Bulgaria
България
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, so cards and contactless work nearly everywhere in Sofia, Plovdiv, and the Black Sea resorts, though small shops and rural areas still favor cash. Uber and Bolt don't offer rides here, so locals book licensed yellow taxis through apps like TaxiMe (a normal App Store and Google Play download that accepts foreign numbers and cards) — Bolt in Sofia only runs e-scooters, e-bikes and Bolt Food delivery. Viber is the default messaging app and 4G/5G coverage is strong in cities, so an eSIM gets you online instantly.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.
No Bolt rides in Bulgaria, but in Sofia it rents e-scooters and e-bikes — unlock in-app and pay per minute; food delivery runs in the separate Bolt Food app.
💳Payments & Wallets
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Multi-currency wallet with great FX rates. Useful in Europe, UK, US.
Handy multi-currency card now that prices are in euros — good FX and widely accepted contactless.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Reliable for driving, walking, and Sofia tram/bus/metro routing — download an offline map of the country.
💬Translation
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The universal default. Camera mode translates signs and menus instantly.
Essential for reading Cyrillic — use camera mode on menus, signs, and supermarket labels.
📱Messaging
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Strong in Eastern Europe, Greece, and the Philippines.
Bulgaria's everyday messenger — locals, guesthouses, and small businesses coordinate over Viber far more than WhatsApp.
🍱Food Delivery
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Spanish food + parcel delivery, big in Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
The dominant food and grocery delivery app after absorbing foodpanda in Bulgaria; widest restaurant coverage in cities.
✈️Travel Planning
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Largest hotel inventory globally with free-cancellation default filter.
Largest accommodation inventory for Sofia, Plovdiv, Bansko ski resorts, and Black Sea coast towns.
📶eSIM & Data
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eSIMs for 200+ countries, instant install. Avoid roaming charges entirely.
Drop in a Bulgaria or Europe eSIM on arrival to skip roaming; coverage is strong across cities and main roads.
Is Bulgaria one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- C / F
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type C: Two round pins. Used across most of Europe, South America, parts of Asia and Africa.
- Type F: Two round pins + grounding clips on top and bottom (Schuko). Standard across most of Europe.
Same sockets as most of continental Europe; US and UK devices need an adapter.
Tipping
Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants if service was good; tipping is appreciated but not obligatory.
CurrencyEUR
Bulgarian you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Bulgarians nod the head to mean 'no' and shake it side-to-side to mean 'yes' — the reverse of most countries.
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Zdravey' and a smile; a little Bulgarian goes a long way.
✕Don't
- Assuming everyone speaks English — older generations and rural areas often do not.
- Discussing the country's communist past dismissively; opinions are personal and mixed.
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Unmetered or rigged taxis at Sofia airport and tourist spots — use TaxiMe or insist on the meter (copycat cabs imitate reputable firms but post outrageous rates).
- ATMs offering 'dynamic currency conversion' — always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency.
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.