Power & Connectivity (SIM)
Connectivity may vary by region and season.
Voltage & Plug Types
Electrical standards and outlet shapes
Bulgaria uses 230V / 50Hz with Type C and Type F sockets (European two round pins). Bring a Type C/F adapter; travellers from 100–120V countries need a converter for devices that are not dual-voltage.
- Voltage
- 230V / 50Hz
- Sockets
- Type C and F
- Adapter
- Type C/F needed
- Most phone/laptop chargers are 100–240V and fine with an adapter
Buying a SIM Card
Where to buy, costs, and activation process
The main operators are A1, Yettel and Vivacom, with good nationwide 4G/5G. Prepaid SIMs are sold at operator shops, kiosks and supermarkets, and you must show your passport to register. EU visitors can use their home plan at no extra cost ("roam like at home").
- Operators
- A1, Yettel, Vivacom
- Where
- Shops, kiosks, supermarkets
- EU roaming
- Home plan, no extra cost
- Bring your passport to register a prepaid SIM
eSIM & Mobile Wi-Fi
eSIM availability and portable Wi-Fi rental
eSIM travel plans are a convenient option: buy one online (Airalo, Holafly and similar, often running on a local network) before arrival and install it in minutes, with no physical SIM or shop visit. EU visitors may simply use home roaming instead.
- Convenience
- Buy online before arrival
- Setup
- No physical SIM
- EU visitors
- Home roaming may suffice
- Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked
Wi-Fi Availability
Public Wi-Fi coverage and security
Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, cafés and at the airport, and mobile coverage is good in cities. Use a VPN on public networks for sensitive tasks like banking.
- Availability
- Hotels, cafés, airport
- Quality
- Good in cities
- Security
- Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi
- A SIM/eSIM helps for on-the-go essentials
Internet Restrictions & VPN
Blocked services and VPN recommendations
Bulgaria has an open internet with no significant restrictions. All standard apps and services — messaging, social media, maps and streaming — work normally.
- Internet
- Open, no censorship
- Apps
- All standard apps work
- Services
- Work normally
- No VPN needed to access common global services
Useful Local Apps
Must-have apps for transport, translation, and maps
Handy apps include ride-hailing such as TaxiMe, Yellow! and Bolt, maps and translation, and the Sofia public transport app for tickets and schedules. A map that shows Cyrillic place names is very useful.
- Ride-hailing
- TaxiMe, Yellow!, Bolt
- Everyday
- Maps, translation
- Transit
- Sofia transport app
- A map that reads Cyrillic place names helps a lot
International Calls
How to make international calls and alternatives
Bulgaria's country code is +359 and the EU-wide emergency number is 112. App-based calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar) are common, and EU roaming lets EU visitors call normally. Save numbers in full +359 format so they work from any network.
- Country code
- +359
- Emergency
- 112
- EU visitors
- Roaming calls normally
- Save numbers in full +359 international format