Bulgaria travel details
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Bulgaria has a population of 7M with main currency as Bulgarian Lev. The languages spoken are Bulgarian. Bulgaria travel safety advice is Exercise normal safety precautions. Automatic teller machines are very common in Bulgaria. Tipping is expected in Bulgaria since staff depend on tips to supplement their often minimum wages. Internet speed in Bulgaria is on average 13.3 Mbps.In Bulgaria you drive on the right side.
Bulgaria travel advice
⬤ Exercise normal safety precautions
Bulgaria partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March. Border checks will cease for air and sea arrivals from other Schengen countries. Checks continue to be undertaken at land borders (see 'Travel'). For Australian tourists in Bulgaria, your stay now counts towards your maximum 90 days in the Schengen Area in a 180-day period.
We advise:
Exercise normal safety precautions in Bulgaria.
Issue Date : Apr 2, 2024
Bulgaria weather
Bulgaria essential details
Plugs
Bulgaria uses 230V, 50Hz with sockets and plugs Type C and Type F.
Languages
The languages that are typically spoken are Bulgarian
Money in Bulgaria
Currencies
Bulgaria uses the Bulgarian lev (symbol: ??), code BGN.Banknotes come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 leva. Lev is subdivided into 100 stotinkas. Coins come in denominations of 2 and 1 leva and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 stotinkas.
Cards
Widely accepted Credit cards are widely accepted within Bulgaria (at hotels, shops, and restaurants, travel agencies, car-rental agencies etc.). Visa, MasterCard and Maestro are the most widely accepted. American Express is less common. Diners Club is pretty rare. Discover, JCB, UnionPay and RuPay are unknown.
ATM
Automatic teller machines are very common in Bulgaria. You can find them in both large & small cities, tourist areas etc.You do not need a chip & PIN card to use an ATM — your standard magnetic card will work fine.
Tipping
Expected to tip Tipping is expected in Bulgaria since staff depend on tips to supplement their often minimum wages.
Internet in Bulgaria
Internet
Internet speed in Bulgaria is on average 13.3 Mbps. WiFi coverage in Bulgaria is high. Many hotels, hostels, cafes, restaurants and bars have it.
Phones
You can buy a SIM card for about 11.19 BGN, which includes 1 GB of data plan. You can choose from 4 telecoms: Max Telecom, Mtel, Telenor or Vivacom. Bulgaria uses GSM mobile networks GSM 900 and GSM 1800. If you don't want to buy SIM card in Bulgaria upon arrival, make sure to check the roaming charges with your telecom provider before your departure so there are no surprises when you return home.
Calling
To call Bulgaria, dial +, then 359 (the country code for Bulgaria), then the area code (without the initial 0) and the local number. For local calls within Bulgaria, start with the area code (with the initial 0). In the case above area code is 2 .
Bulgaria travel details
Driving in Bulgaria
Road rules
In Bulgaria you drive on the right side. Most cars have manual transmission (stick). Unless otherwise posted, the speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows: 140 km/h (86 mph) on motorways, 140 km/h (86 mph) on expressways, 50 km/h (31 mph) in all built-up areas and 90 km/h (55 mph) on undivided highways. Right turn on red lights is strictly forbidden unless an additional green semaphore arrow allows it. It is illegal to drive with blood alcohol content higher than 0.05%.
On the road
Road assistance is available at 146 (Union Des Automobilistes Bulgares (UAB)) or 089 437 4385 (NiradBG). For general news on Bulgaria's traffic use Lima. For news on Bulgaria’s motorways and tolls use API. Most popular petrol stations in Bulgaria are Shell, Lukoil, eko, OMV, Petrol and VM Petroleum. Petrol (unleaded) gas options are called A98, ?????? or A95. Petrol costs about 2.00 BGN per liter.Diesel options are called ????? or dizel.
Emergecy
Universal
999
Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire department
999
Bulgaria map
Bulgaria visa advice
If you're considering exploring Bulgaria beyond the usual transit spots, our comprehensive guide on Bulgaria transit visa offers deeper insights and broader options for travelers of different nationalities. For those transiting through other countries en route to Bulgaria, understanding Bulgaria Transit Visa requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth journey.