Getting Euros for Your Trip to Bulgaria
Bulgaria is one of Europe's best-kept secrets for budget travelers - ancient Roman ruins, beautiful Black Sea beaches, ski resorts, and charming mountain villages, all at remarkably low prices. Since 1 January 2026 the country uses the euro, which replaced the Bulgarian lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583 lev per euro - so if you remember lev prices from an earlier trip, halve them to get euros.
While Sofia and Plovdiv have embraced card payments, Bulgaria remains more cash-oriented than Western Europe. The Black Sea resort towns, while touristy, often have small vendors, beach bars, and local restaurants that prefer cash. Rural areas and mountain villages are almost exclusively cash-based.
The smart approach is to bring a fee-free debit card for hotels and larger restaurants, plus have a healthy amount of euro cash for everyday expenses, especially if heading to the coast or mountains.
Bulgaria and the Euro
Bulgaria joined the eurozone on 1 January 2026. The lev and the euro circulated side by side during January, and since 1 February 2026 the euro has been the only legal tender.
Quick Reference
- 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN (the fixed conversion rate)
- Old lev prices: halve them for a good estimate in euros
- Dual pricing: shops had to show prices in both currencies from 8 August 2025 to 8 August 2026, so many labels now show euros only
- Leftover lev: the Bulgarian National Bank changes lev notes and coins for euros free, with no limit and no end date; commercial banks did so free only until 30 June 2026 and need not do it at all from 1 January 2027
Notes and Coins
- Notes: standard euro banknotes, the same across the eurozone
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents + €1, €2 - Bulgarian-minted coins carry national designs, including Saint Ivan of Rila and Paisius of Hilendar
- Bulgarian cent coins are inscribed "stotinki" (the 1 cent "stotinka") and show the Madara Horseman; every euro coin works across the eurozone
Best Ways to Get Euros for Bulgaria
1. Fee-Free Debit Cards (Recommended)
Cards like Wise and Revolut give you the real mid-market exchange rate. Great for hotels, larger restaurants, and ATM withdrawals when you need cash.
2. Bank ATMs
Essential for getting cash in Bulgaria. Use ATMs from major banks: UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, Postbank, or First Investment Bank. Always decline currency conversion and withdraw in euros.
3. Card Payments
Accepted in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna city centers at hotels, malls, chain restaurants, and supermarkets. Coverage is spottier elsewhere - always carry backup cash.
4. Caution: Exchange Bureaus
Bulgaria has strict regulations on exchange bureaus, but some tourist-area offices still offer poor rates. Look for offices displaying "no commission" and calculate what you'll receive before exchanging.
Using Cards in Bulgaria
Where Cards Work Well
- Hotels and major hostels
- Shopping malls (Mall of Sofia, Paradise Center)
- Supermarkets (Billa, Kaufland, Lidl)
- Chain restaurants and cafes
- Petrol stations
- Large tourist attractions
Where Cash is Essential
- Beach vendors and bars on the Black Sea
- Small restaurants and mehanas (taverns)
- Rural guesthouses and mountain huts
- Local markets and street food
- Minibuses and some taxis
- Small shops throughout the country
ATMs in Bulgaria
Best ATMs to Use
- UniCredit Bulbank: Large network, reliable
- DSK Bank: Major Bulgarian bank, widespread
- Postbank: Good coverage across the country
- First Investment Bank (Fibank): Common in cities
ATMs to Avoid
- ATMs in casino areas
- Standalone ATMs with unclear bank branding
Important: Decline Currency Conversion
If a cash machine or card terminal offers to bill you in pounds, choose euros: paying in pounds lets the business set the exchange rate, usually a worse one.
Costs in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is exceptionally affordable - one of Europe's cheapest destinations:
Typical Costs (2026)
- Restaurant meal: €6-13 (£5-11)
- Beer: €1.50-3 (£1.30-2.60)
- Coffee: €1.50-2.50 (£1.30-2.20)
- Public transport: about €0.80 (£0.70)
- Museum entry: €3-8 (£2.60-6.50)
- Hotel (mid-range): €30-70 (£26-60)
- Beach sunbed rental: €5-10 (£4.30-8.70)
Best Exchange Options for EUR in Bulgaria
Top providers by category:
UniCredit Bulbank
Largest Bulgarian bank. ATMs nationwide.
DSK Bank
Good coverage in all cities.
Postbank
Wide ATM network across Bulgaria.
Sofia Airport
Metro from Terminal 2 to the centre in about 18 minutes, EUR 0.80.
Street and phone exchange offers
Police warn that any rate better than the official one is a scam.
Compare EUR Exchange Rates
See what you'd receive from providers local to you
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by ruling out the risky routes: street and phone exchange offers, which police say are scams if the rate beats the official one, and some tourist-area bureaus that still give poor rates. Safer sources are a big-bank cash machine, such as UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank or Postbank, and a fee-free debit card to pay in hotels and bigger restaurants.
Yes. Bulgaria became a eurozone member on 1 January 2026 and the lev circulated alongside the euro only during that month; from 1 February 2026 the euro became the sole legal tender. The lev was converted at a fixed 1.95583 to the euro, so lev prices you remember from an earlier visit can be roughly halved.
The lev has not been legal tender since 1 February 2026. If you have old notes or coins, the Bulgarian National Bank will change them into euros free of charge, with no limit and no closing date. Commercial banks offered free exchange only until 30 June 2026 and are not obliged to exchange lev at all from 1 January 2027, so the National Bank is the safer bet.
Both. Cards are fine in the centres of Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna at hotels, malls, chain restaurants, supermarkets and petrol stations, but coverage is patchier elsewhere, so always carry backup cash. You will need notes for small restaurants and mehanas, beach bars and vendors on the Black Sea, rural guesthouses, mountain huts, markets, street food, minibuses and some taxis.
No, it is one of the cheapest destinations in Europe. The guide's 2026 figures put a restaurant meal at €6-13, a beer at €1.50-3, a coffee at €1.50-2.50, a public transport ride at about €0.80, museum entry at €3-8 and a mid-range hotel at €30-70, with a beach sunbed costing €5-10.
Use machines belonging to the big banks: UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank and Postbank have wide networks, and First Investment Bank (Fibank) is common in cities. Steer clear of ATMs in casino areas and of standalone machines with no clear bank branding. If the screen asks whether to take the money in pounds or euros, pick euros, otherwise the business sets the exchange rate, usually a worse one.
Nearby Destinations
Planning to visit multiple countries? Check out exchange guides for nearby destinations:
Romania
Greece
Turkey