Money, Safety & eSIM in Bulgaria
Bulgaria adopted the euro on January 1, 2026, retiring the Bulgarian lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583 lev per euro — prices are now quoted in EUR everywhere, and leftover lev cash can still be exchanged free at Bulgarian banks. Bulgaria is rated a safe, low-risk destination overall; the main real issue for tourists is taxi overcharging and occasional pickpocketing in busy areas, not serious crime. eSIM and local SIM options both work well and are cheap.
The practical stuff that actually matters once you land: Bulgaria just switched its entire currency (as of January 2026, so this is genuinely fresh), what the real safety risks are versus the ones people worry about for no reason, and how to get connected without overpaying.
Money — Bulgaria now uses the euro
As of January 1, 2026, Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency, retiring the Bulgarian lev (BGN) after 146 years, at a fixed conversion rate of 1.95583 lev per euro. A short dual-circulation period (cash accepted in both currencies) ran through January 2026; since February 1, 2026, the euro has been the sole legal tender. If you're handed lev change or find old lev notes, Bulgarian banks will exchange them for euros free of charge for a transition period — check the current cutoff date before you travel, since it's a limited window.
| Payment method | Where it works best |
|---|---|
| Cash (euros) | Small towns, markets, some taxis, tips |
| Credit/debit card | Hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, most shops in cities |
| Contactless / mobile pay | Increasingly standard in Sofia, Plovdiv, and the coastal resorts |
As of mid-2026: the free bank-exchange window for leftover lev closed on June 30, 2026 — commercial banks and post offices may now charge a fee to exchange old lev banknotes (through at least December 31, 2026, after which rules may tighten further). The Bulgarian National Bank itself, however, exchanges lev for euro at the fixed 1.95583 rate free of charge with no time limit at all — if you're holding onto old lev bills from a past trip, that's your guaranteed-free fallback.
Dual pricing — you'll still see both currencies for a while
By law, Bulgarian retailers must display both euro and lev prices side by side, in matching font size and style, on price tags, receipts, and menus through August 8, 2026 — so don't be alarmed if a menu or supermarket shelf still shows a lev figure next to the euro one. It's a legally mandated transition measure, not a leftover error, and it phases out entirely after that date.
Is Bulgaria safe?
Bulgaria is rated a safe, low-risk destination overall, with violent crime against tourists rare. The real, statistically relevant issues are petty theft (pickpocketing on crowded trams and around busy sites like Sofia's Vitosha Boulevard or the Black Sea resort strips) and taxi overcharging — not serious crime.
The one scam worth actively avoiding: unmetered taxis, especially at airports, train stations, and tourist-heavy coastal resorts, quoting inflated flat fares to visitors who don't know better. The fix is simple — use a ride-hailing app (Bolt and Yango both operate widely in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna) or confirm the meter is running and ask for an approximate fare before getting in.
Money
ATMs are widely available in every city and resort town and generally offer a fair exchange rate; avoid the private currency-exchange kiosks in heavy tourist areas, which sometimes post a misleadingly good headline rate with a large hidden commission. As with any European destination, a card with no foreign-transaction fee saves a meaningful amount over a longer trip.
eSIM and staying connected
eSIM is the easiest option if your phone supports it — Airalo and Holafly both sell Bulgaria-specific or wider Balkan/European regional data plans from around €5–15 for a week or two, activated before you land. A physical local SIM (A1, Vivacom, or Yettel, sold at the airport or any city-center shop) is just as easy to set up on arrival and similarly priced for a short trip.
Getting around
- Sofia has a clean, cheap metro — the best way to get from the airport to the city center for under €1.
- Intercity trains and buses connect Sofia, Plovdiv, and the Black Sea coast frequently and cheaply — no need to rent a car unless you plan to explore villages or the Rhodope Mountains independently.
- See our Bulgarian food guide for how to eat well without overspending — it's one of the best-value parts of the whole trip.