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.

• Find out 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, depending on the length of stay, certain vaccinations are recommended.

• 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 identity card or a passport. For your children, you 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) applies. 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 reputability.

Driving in Bulgaria

Traffic rules

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

Toll: vignette, distance-based toll and special toll

The toll can be levied 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 measured in kilometers, but correspond to a flat rate and vary 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 for a vignette may differ. The vignette requirement generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight (GVW), although there are also 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 load). 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 to neither a vignette requirement nor a distance-based toll. Accordingly, you must pay an additional fee for driving on 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 that includes both cities and rural areas.

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

• Fuel prices Bulgaria: Fuel prices are relatively cheap 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.

More detailed information on the various gas stations and charging points can be found 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 the car and speak to the vehicle owner from there. Especially cars with foreign license plates are preferred targets for car thieves.

Be aware that you should not pick up hitchhikers on your trip. The reason for this is the high number of refugees. Picking up hitchhikers can result in heavy penalties if the offense of people smuggling applies.

Vaccination protection

If you are traveling to Bulgaria, you do not need to observe any special mandatory vaccinations. However, check in advance whether the standard vaccinations are covered for you and your children. 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, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and rabies.

Medical care

Medical care in Bulgaria differs greatly from medical care in Germany. Modern medical equipment is often lacking in Bulgaria, even though the doctors are well trained. It should be emphasized, however, 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 with them.

When visiting a doctor, you usually have to pay for treatment in cash. The costs can be relatively high, so you should definitely ask for a formal invoice to be issued. Also note that private doctors on the Golden Sands beach usually charge particularly high fees. It is therefore 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 a lot of fun on your tour of exploration in this wonderful country. Order your digital vignette for Bulgaria from us now, quickly and easily, so that you can use the motorways of this country without any worries. We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and a lot of enjoyment 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 plan your trip optimally and see the suitable toll products displayed. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via email.