Travel Information Bulgaria
To make sure you are well prepared, you will find the most important information here about entry requirements, currency, driving, as well as safety and health in Bulgaria.
Pay attention to the toll regulations. If necessary, purchase a digital vignette.
Find out about applicable traffic rules.
The local 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 your stay.
Keep an eye on your luggage! In Bulgaria, pickpockets are particularly active in busy places such as airports and train stations.
Entry requirements
To enter Bulgaria, EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or a passport. For your children, you will need a child’s passport. A temporary ID 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 current entry requirements, as short-notice changes may occur depending on the situation—especially with regard to health regulations or security measures in the respective country.
Currency
In Bulgaria you cannot pay with the euro. The country uses its local currency (Bulgarian lev). You can either exchange money before your trip or do so locally. Exchange rates in Bulgaria are often better, but you should pay close attention to reputable exchange offices.
Driving in Bulgaria
Traffic rules
There are certain traffic rules in Bulgaria that you must observe during your vacation. The blood alcohol limit is 0.5‰; for novice drivers the limit is 0.0. You can find more information on traffic rules—such as speed limits, daytime running lights requirements, traffic light rules, tire regulations, and how to behave in the event of an accident—in our guide.
Tolls: vignette, distance-based toll, and special tolls
Tolls can be charged in different forms. These include the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll, and special toll routes.
With the vignette requirement, toll fees are not calculated by kilometers but are a flat rate that varies depending on the length of your trip. This means you buy a vignette before your journey and choose from different 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), though there are exceptions. You can find more information in our article about the vignette requirement in Bulgaria.
In contrast to the vignette, the distance-based toll is not a flat rate, but depends on the kilometers driven, the vehicle class (number of axles), and the emission class (pollution level). The amount of the toll can therefore vary significantly. In Bulgaria, the distance-based toll applies to commercial vehicles such as trucks over 3.5 t GVW. You can find more information in our article about the distance-based toll in Bulgaria.
Special tolls are charged for certain routes that are not covered by either a vignette or a distance-based toll. This means you must pay an additional fee to use a special toll route even if you have already purchased a vignette or paid the distance-based toll. You can find more information in our article about special tolls in Bulgaria.
Charging and refueling
Refueling in Bulgaria is easy: the country has a well-developed network of gas stations that covers both cities and rural areas.
Electric car Bulgaria: the network of charging stations is not yet as dense as in other European countries, but it is steadily expanding.
Fuel prices Bulgaria: fuel prices are relatively low compared to the European average, making travel 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 about different gas stations and charging points in our guide.
Safety and health
Crime
As in other countries, you should always keep an eye on your bags and 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 get out of your vehicle carelessly if you see a car with a flat tire—rather stay in your car and speak to the driver from there. Cars with foreign license plates are particularly preferred targets for car thieves.
Be aware that you should not pick up hitchhikers during your trip. The reason is the high number of refugees. Giving hitchhikers a ride can lead to severe penalties if it constitutes the offense of smuggling.
Vaccination status
If you are traveling to Bulgaria, there are no special mandatory vaccinations you need to comply with. However, check in advance whether standard vaccinations are up to date for you and your children. In addition, various travel vaccinations are recommended, such as vaccination against hepatitis A and—depending on the length of stay—vaccinations against hepatitis B, TBE, and rabies.
Medical care
Medical care in Bulgaria differs significantly from medical care in Germany. Modern medical equipment is often lacking, even though doctors are well trained. It is worth noting, however, that you should be able to find all common medications from Germany in Bulgarian pharmacies. Nevertheless, people who regularly take certain medications are advised to bring them with them.
When visiting a doctor, you usually have to pay for treatment in cash. Costs can be relatively high, so you should definitely request a formal invoice. Also note that private doctors at Golden Sands often charge particularly high fees. Therefore, it is often recommended to take out travel health insurance for the duration of your stay.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!
We wish you lots of fun on your exploration tour in this wonderful country. Simply order your digital vignette for Bulgaria from us now so you can use the country’s highways without any worries. We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and lots of joy exploring this diverse country. You can find more information about tolls in Bulgaria in our guide. Feel free to use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, please contact us anytime via email.
