Travel Information Bulgaria

So that you are perfectly prepared, here you will find the most important information on entry requirements, currency, driving as well as safety and health in Bulgaria.

• Pay attention to the toll regulations. If necessary, purchase a digital vignette.

• Inform yourself about the applicable traffic rules.

• The country's own currency applies (Bulgarian Lev).

• Check your vaccination status before your trip. No special vaccinations are required for Bulgaria. However, certain vaccinations are recommended depending on the length of stay.

• Keep an eye on your luggage! In Bulgaria, pickpockets are especially active in busy places such as airports and train stations.

Entry requirements

To enter Bulgaria, EU citizens only need a valid identity card or a passport. For your children, you will need a child ID card or child passport. In addition, a temporary identity card or a temporary passport is also sufficient. There is no visa requirement for EU citizens, which makes entry easier. Nevertheless, travelers should inform themselves about the current entry requirements. Depending on the situation, short-term changes may occur, especially with regard to health regulations or security policy measures for the respective country.

Currency

In Bulgaria, you cannot pay with the euro. The country's own currency (Bulgarian Lev) is in use. You can either exchange your money before your trip or do so on-site. The exchange rate in Bulgaria is often lower, but you need to pay closer attention to the reliability of the exchange provider.

Driving in Bulgaria

Traffic rules

Bulgaria has certain traffic rules that you must observe during your vacation in Bulgaria. The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, while a limit of 0.0 applies to novice drivers. Further information on traffic rules, such as speed limits, the obligation to use lights, traffic light regulations, tire requirements, and how to behave in the event of an accident, can be found in our guide.

Toll: vignette, distance-based toll, and special toll

The toll can be collected in various forms. These include the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll, and the special toll routes.

Through the vignette requirement, toll fees are charged that are not calculated based on kilometers, but correspond to a flat rate that varies depending on the duration of travel. Accordingly, you purchase a vignette before your trip and choose between the various validity periods. Depending on the vehicle class, the price of a vignette may vary. The vignette requirement generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW (GVW: gross vehicle weight), although there are exceptions. Further information can be found in our article on the vignette requirement in Bulgaria.

Unlike the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll is not a flat rate, but is based on the kilometers driven, the vehicle class (number of axles), and the emission class (pollutant emissions). Accordingly, the amount of the toll fee can vary greatly. In Bulgaria, the distance-based toll applies to commercial vehicles such as trucks over 3.5 t GVW. Further information can be found in our article on the distance-based toll in Bulgaria.

The special toll is charged for certain routes that are subject neither to a vignette requirement nor a distance-based toll. Accordingly, you must pay an additional fee to use a special toll route, even if you have already purchased a vignette or are paying the distance-based toll. Further information can be found in our article on the special toll in Bulgaria.

Charging and refueling

• Refueling in Bulgaria is easy: the country has a well-developed network of gas stations covering both cities and rural areas.

• Electric cars in Bulgaria: the network of charging stations is not yet as dense as in other European countries, but it is being steadily expanded.

• Fuel prices in Bulgaria: fuel prices are relatively low by European standards, which makes traveling through Bulgaria particularly attractive.

• In Bulgaria, you pay with the Bulgarian Lev (BGN). Alternatively, you can use your credit card.

You can find more detailed information on the various gas stations and charging stations in our guide.

Safety and health

Crime

Just as in other countries, you should always keep an eye on your bags and your luggage. Especially in busy places such as airports or train stations, pickpocketing is not uncommon. In addition, car theft is widespread in Bulgaria. Therefore, you should not simply get out carelessly if you see a vehicle with a flat tire, but rather stay in your car and speak with the vehicle owner from there. Cars with foreign license plates in particular are preferred targets for car thieves.

Be aware that you should not pick up hitchhikers during your trip. This is due to the high number of refugees. Picking up hitchhikers can result in severe penalties if the offense of smuggling is involved.

Vaccinations

When traveling to Bulgaria, you do not need to worry about any special mandatory vaccinations. However, check in advance whether you and your children are covered by the standard vaccinations. In addition, various travel vaccinations are recommended, such as a vaccination against hepatitis A and, depending on the length of stay, a vaccination against hepatitis B, TBE, and rabies.

Medical care

Medical care in Bulgaria differs greatly from medical care in Germany. Often, modern medical equipment is lacking in Bulgaria, even though the doctors are well trained. However, it is worth noting that you should be able to find all common medications from Germany in Bulgarian pharmacies as well. Nevertheless, it is recommended that people who regularly take certain medications bring them along.

When visiting a doctor, you usually have to pay for treatment in cash. Costs can be relatively high, so you should definitely have a formal invoice issued. Also note that private doctors at the Golden Sands resort tend to charge particularly high fees. For this reason, it is often recommended to take out travel health insurance for the duration of your stay.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We hope you enjoy your exploration of this wonderful country. Order your digital vignette for Bulgaria from us now, quick and easy, so you can use the country's highways worry-free. We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and lots of fun exploring this diverse country. Further information on the toll in Bulgaria can be found in our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to optimally plan your trip and see the appropriate toll products displayed. If you have any further questions, please contact us via email.