Bulgaria travel guide
Bulgaria offers beaches, mountains and a long layered history in a country that is easy to cover by road. You can wander the Roman ruins and Revival houses of Plovdiv, climb the medieval fortress above the Yantra gorge at Veliko Tarnovo and swim off the Black Sea coast at Nessebar. Plovdiv is the cultural pick, with a creative quarter and a Roman theatre. Veliko Tarnovo is the place for medieval history, while Nessebar and Burgas anchor the Black Sea coast, with old churches and sandy beaches. Bansko sits beneath the Pirin range, a ski resort in winter and a hiking base in summer, with stone taverns in its old town. Late spring and early autumn are comfortable for sightseeing, summer is the beach season, and winter is for skiing. Bulgaria is easy to cover by road and suits history lovers, families, hikers and travellers who want a varied, good-value trip. Zippy Trips can help you plan the itinerary city by city.
Capital: Sofia.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to Bulgaria
- Currency
- EUR лв
- Emergency number
- 112 / 166
- Plug type
- Type C, F
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard
- ATM fees
- Usually free at bank ATMs; Euronet machines charge several euro and push DCC
Cities in Bulgaria
- Sofia Bulgaria's capital at the foot of Mount Vitosha — layered with Roman Serdica ruins, the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ottoman…
- Plovdiv One of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, famed for its Roman Theatre of Philippopolis, cobbled National-Revival Old Town and…
- Varna Bulgaria's maritime capital on the Black Sea — home to the world's oldest gold treasure, the vast Sea Garden park, Roman thermae and lively…
- Nessebar An ancient rocky peninsula town on the Black Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with medieval Byzantine churches, wooden Revival…
- Bansko Bulgaria's premier ski and mountain resort at the foot of the Pirin range, blending a modern gondola-served ski area with a cobbled Revival…
- Burgas A relaxed Black Sea port city ringed by lakes rich in birdlife (flamingos on Atanasovsko Lake), with a long seaside garden, sandy central…
- Veliko Tarnovo The medieval capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, dramatically set on the meandering Yantra River gorge around the mighty Tsarevets…
Frequently asked questions about Bulgaria
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in Bulgaria?
- The currency in Bulgaria is the Euro (€). лв1 is about ₹107.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Bulgaria?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Bulgaria?
- Tipping in Bulgaria: optional. Tipping around 10% is appreciated in restaurants but not obligatory; round up taxi fares.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Bulgaria?
- Tap water is safe. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country.
- What plug type does Bulgaria use?
- Bulgaria uses Type C, F plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Bulgaria?
- Emergency: 112. Police: 166. Ambulance: 150.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Bulgaria?
- SIM and eSIM available in Bulgaria.
- What is the capital of Bulgaria?
- The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. Time there: IST - 2 h 30 min.