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Bulgaria Bulgaria Currency Guide

The currency of Bulgaria and how to prepare for payments — all on one page.

Currency

Euro

EUR · €

Checking rates

Check with your bank app or card issuer before you go

The rate and fees you actually pay differ by bank and card issuer.

Payment Tips to Remember

Always pay in the local currency

If a terminal asks whether to charge in your home currency, always choose the local currency. Choosing your home currency triggers DCC (dynamic currency conversion), which adds a hidden markup.

Set up a travel card before you fly

Prepaid multi-currency travel cards let you convert money in the app beforehand and pay like a debit card locally. Fees are usually lower than cash exchange counters, and you can freeze the card instantly from the app if lost.

Airport exchange counters: last resort

Airport counters are convenient but tend to offer some of the worst rates. If you need cash, exchange via your bank's app before departure or consider withdrawing from a local ATM.

Check ATM fees on screen

Local ATMs may add their own operator fee. Check the fee shown on the confirmation screen before proceeding. If the ATM offers conversion to your home currency (DCC), choosing the local currency is usually better.

Keep some small cash

Every country has places that don't take cards — markets, tips, small transport. Carrying a small amount of cash in separate places keeps you covered.

Cards for Abroad

Explore the Wise multi-currency card

One account holding 40+ currencies, converting and paying at mid-market based rates. Handy for multi-country trips — no need to exchange for each currency separately.

Learn more

Local data

Get an eSIM for Bulgaria before you go

Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.

Airalo Airalo Yesim Yesim Saily Saily Drimsim Drimsim

Check prices and availability on the booking sites.

City Guides in Bulgaria

Sofia

Sofia is Bulgaria's capital and largest city, ranked among Europe's oldest capitals. Its long history, dating back to an 8th-century BC Thracian settlement, can be traced throughout the city.

Burgas

Burgas sits on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast and is the second-largest city along the Black Sea shoreline. It's a great place to travel and soak up the lively energy of a coastal city.

Ruse

Ruse is a border city facing Romania's Giurgiu across the Danube, long prosperous through river trade. Buildings dating from the late 19th century still stand throughout the city, giving it an old-world charm.

Pleven

Pleven is the administrative center of a province in northern Bulgaria, offering attractions such as a panorama museum and a wine museum. It's a nice place to stroll through Kaylaka Park and learn about local history at the regional museum.

Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora, a city in southern Bulgaria, has an 8,000-year history and ranks among Europe's oldest cities. Here you can experience both the storied history of the Thracian region and a mild Mediterranean climate.