Money in Bulgaria: Euros, Cards, Everyday Payments and Tax Free

Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. Old lev prices and leftover BGN cash need different treatment from the money used on a new visit. Cards work well in many urban settings, while a small cash reserve remains useful.

Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria · packing4two

The currency is now the euro

The currency is EUR or €, divided into 100 cents. Coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents plus €1 and €2. Convenient travel notes are €5, €10, €20 and €50; €100 and €200 notes also circulate.

Following January’s transition month, the euro became the sole legal tender on 1 February 2026. Do not buy lev for a new trip, and do not read an old BGN price as a euro amount.

Leftover lev from an earlier visit

The fixed conversion rate is €1 to BGN 1.95583. The Bulgarian National Bank continues to exchange lev notes and coins without a deadline or exchange fee. Commercial banks may charge after the transition period.

Dividing an old price by roughly two helps interpret it but does not establish today’s selling price. The underlying price may also have changed.

Cards or cash?

Hotels, supermarkets and many restaurants accept cards. Markets, villages, mountain stops and small purchases are reasons to keep some smaller notes and coins. A €100–200 reserve for two can be a starting point, not a prescribed daily budget.

Carry a separate backup card. Apple Pay or Google Pay requires a supported card and terminal, so a phone wallet is not a guaranteed replacement for a physical card and cash.

ATMs, conversion and deposits

Compare charging in euros with any offered home-currency conversion. A terminal operator’s rate need not beat your card’s own terms. An ATM may also add a separate withdrawal fee.

Hotels and rental companies can reserve a deposit against your card. Check available credit and accepted card types. A temporary authorisation is not necessarily a final charge, but it reduces available spending capacity.

Taxis and the Yellow app

In Sofia, the Yellow app supports booking and in-app payment with a registered card and other supported methods. Set pickup and destination, verify the assigned vehicle and inspect the chosen payment method.

For a street taxi, check displayed tariffs, meter use and card acceptance before departure. A clear hotel or app booking is preferable to an unexplained offer near a tourist arrival point. Keep the receipt.

Paying for Sofia transport

Ticket 30+ costs €0.80 and permits transfers within the first 30 minutes after initial validation. It can be loaded on a travel card or paid using a supported bank card at vehicle validators and metro gates. Validate again when changing vehicles.

A day card costs €2; a 24-hour product including night transport costs €3 and is different. Keep using the same card or device rather than switching between plastic and a phone wallet. Each passenger needs their own valid travel arrangement.

Tips

Tipping is not a compulsory tax. Around 10% for good restaurant service is a common choice after checking whether service is already included. Round up a café or taxi bill if you wish.

Ask how a card tip is added and whether it reaches the staff. A little cash can be useful even when the main bill is paid by card.

VAT and the advertised price

The standard VAT rate is 20%, with reduced categories including accommodation at 9%. Do not apply the accommodation rate to every restaurant or service: restaurant VAT returned to 20% in 2025.

Consumer prices are generally VAT-inclusive. Check separately for local accommodation tax, which varies by municipality and property category, plus other mandatory charges. Compare the complete stay for all guests, not just a room’s base price.

Visitor VAT refunds

Non-EU residents may qualify for refunds on goods exported unused in personal luggage. Before buying, arrange a participating Tax Free process, an invoice and passport-based paperwork.

The threshold concerns VAT on one invoice: at least the equivalent of BGN 50, about €25.56, not a €50 purchase. At 20% VAT this corresponds to roughly €153.36 including tax; have the shop confirm the precise qualifying invoice total.

Leaving the EU

Export the goods unchanged by the end of the third month after the invoice month and obtain customs validation. Keep the purchases accessible before checking luggage.

Consumed meals and accommodation are not covered. Submit customs-approved paperwork to the refund provider as instructed; handling fees can reduce payment. The VAT rate is not an equal-percentage discount on a tax-inclusive price.

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