Bulgaria travel guide

Getting there

Sofia Airport is the main gateway, with Varna, Burgas and Plovdiv airports serving many seasonal routes. Bulgaria has land borders with Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Turkey, with buses and some trains crossing them.

Best time to visit: May–Sep for beaches and hiking; Dec–Mar for skiing.

Tougher months: No bad time - winter is great for skiing, though November and March can be grey and slushy, and July-August beaches are crowded.

Weather by month in Sofia

• 3°J●
• 6°F●
• 11°M●
• 16°A●
• 21°M●●
• 25°J●●
• 28°J●
• 28°A●
• 23°S●
• 17°O●
• 10°N●
• 4°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Sofia. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Bulgaria without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-10-09). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Bulgaria travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Bulgaria are based around Sofia, Plovdiv or Veliko Tarnovo. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$30–45 for a backpacker and US$70–130 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Bulgaria page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +359.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Sofia (Capital · history & mountains): A compact capital mixing churches, mosques, Roman remains and leafy parks beneath Vitosha Mountain.
• Plovdiv (Thracian Plain · old town): One of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a Roman theatre, a creative quarter and a lovely old town.
• Veliko Tarnovo (Central · medieval capital): A dramatic town of houses stacked above river bends, crowned by Tsarevets Fortress.
• Rila Monastery (Rila Mountains · UNESCO): The spiritual heart of Bulgaria, famous for its frescoes and mountain setting.
• Bansko (Pirin Mountains · ski & hiking): A popular winter ski resort and summer hiking base with a characterful old quarter.
• Sozopol (Black Sea · old town): A charming coastal town of wooden houses on a rocky peninsula with sandy beaches nearby.
• Varna (Black Sea · coastal city): The 'sea capital', with a long seaside garden, Roman baths and a museum showing ancient gold.
• Koprivshtitsa (Sredna Gora · Revival town): A preserved village of colourful 19th-century houses linked to the April Uprising.

Things to do

• Visit Rila Monastery. Gaze at the striped arches and vivid frescoes of Bulgaria's most famous monastery, tucked into forested mountains.
• Roam Plovdiv's Old Town. Walk cobbled lanes past painted Revival mansions to a Roman theatre still used for summer concerts.
• Hike the Seven Rila Lakes. Follow a high trail past a staircase of glacial lakes with views across the Rila range.
• Storm Tsarevets Fortress. Explore the hilltop stronghold of medieval tsars in Veliko Tarnovo and catch the evening sound-and-light show.
• Ski in Bansko. Hit the slopes of the Pirin Mountains, then warm up in old-town taverns with live folk music.
• Relax on the Black Sea. Swim and stroll along beaches near Varna, Burgas and the old peninsula town of Sozopol.
• Smell the Rose Valley. Visit the Kazanlak area in late spring when roses are picked for precious rose oil.
• Explore Thracian tombs. See painted Thracian burial chambers in the Valley of the Thracian Rulers near Kazanlak.

Source: full Bulgaria guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Banitsa – flaky pastry with egg and white cheese
• Shopska salad – tomato, cucumber and grated white cheese
• Kavarma – meat and vegetable stew in a clay pot
• Tarator – cold cucumber and yogurt soup

Source: RoamSun Bulgaria guide

Money and safety

Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants is customary..

Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.

• Bulgaria adopted the euro at the start of 2026, replacing the lev; check current details before you travel.
• Cards are accepted widely in cities, but carry cash for villages, small guesthouses and markets.
• Bulgaria is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowds and on busy public transport.
• Use official taxis or ride apps, as unofficial taxis may overcharge, especially at airports and stations.

Source: RoamSun Bulgaria facts