8 Useful Things to Know Before Heading to Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a member state of the European Union and most visa rules of the union apply for the country. Most foreign nationals won’t need a visa for a stay up to 90 days, but you should still check if there are any special requirements for your country.

Public transport in Bulgaria is as a whole reliable but can sometimes run late, especially trains. Trains are the cheapest way to travel in the country, even if you choose the first class, while bus companies connect the major cities with smaller towns and villages. The most remote villages are usually reachable by taxi vans that run one or a few times per week.

You should be extra cautious when driving in Bulgaria as Bulgarians are notorious for their aggressive and mindless behavior on the road. Another important fact to note is that the roads and streets tend to be covered in potholes. That, and horses, mules or cows can be expected to invade the roads sometimes.

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Calling an ambulance for an emergency is free, but if the patient’s condition is not urgent, you will be required to pay. Members of the European Union should bring their European Health Insurance Card (it’s free and you should apply for it in your own country) to receive free or discounted treatment in hospitals. The Bulgarian health care system has been struggling with financial and structural problems for years, so it’s advisable to choose a private hospital to receive quality treatment.

In Bulgaria, you can pay only in the local currency, lev (abbreviated BGN). Paying in euros is not allowed, although some gas stations on the main road arteries and border towns make an exemption. At the time of writing, the Bulgarian lev is fixed to the euro at a rate of 1 BGN = 1.95583 euro. Paying with debit and credit cards is widely accepted, except in small towns where paying cash is more common.

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Museums, government institutions, and some shops may be closed on national holidays, but supermarkets and food stores are normally open, although with shorter opening hours. The official holidays in Bulgaria are:

January 1 – New Year’s Day

March 3 – Liberation Day

April or May – Easter (from Good Friday to Easter Monday)

May 1 – International Labor Day

May 6 – Bulgarian Army Day

September 6 – Unification Day

September 22 – Independence Day

December 24, 25 and 26 – Christmas

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Bulgaria has beautiful national parks and pristine mountains. Before setting off hiking, however, make sure that your travel insurance covers you for emergency mountain rescue, which can be very expensive if you need to be transported or evacuated from a remote place with no vehicle access.

As a member state of the European Union, Bulgaria follows all the food safety rules, and in general it is safe to eat both street food and meals at restaurants. You should always be handed a receipt together with the bill – by issuing a receipt, the entity pays taxes, while you as a customer get a guarantee in case anything goes wrong.