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Essential apps for

Bulgaria

България

BulgarianEUR8 apps

Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, so cards and contactless work nearly everywhere in Sofia, Plovdiv, and the Black Sea resorts, though small shops and rural areas still favor cash. Uber and Bolt ride-hailing are banned, so locals book licensed taxis through apps like TaxiMe and Maxim (not on the major app stores abroad) — Bolt here only runs e-scooters. Viber is the default messaging app and 4G/5G coverage is strong in cities, so an eSIM gets you online instantly.

🔌

Power & Plug

TypeC / F
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz

Same sockets as most of continental Europe; US and UK devices need an adapter.

💬

Basic phrases

Bulgarian

  • Hello
    Здравейте
    Zdra-VEY-te
  • Thank you
    Благодаря
    Bla-go-da-RYA
  • Excuse me / Sorry
    Извинете
    Iz-vi-NE-te
  • Yes
    Да
    Da
  • No
    Не
    Ne

+10 more below

🎎

Tipping

Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants if service was good; tipping is appreciated but not obligatory.

🚖Rideshare & Taxi

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B

Bolt

European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.

Ride-hailing is banned, but Bolt operates shared e-scooters across central Sofia — unlock in-app and pay per minute.
iOSAndroidWebsite

💳Payments & Wallets

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R

Revolut

Multi-currency wallet with great FX rates. Useful in Europe, UK, US.

Handy multi-currency card now that prices are in euros — good FX and widely accepted contactless.
iOSAndroidWebsite

🗺️Navigation & Maps

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G

Google Maps

Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.

Reliable for driving, walking, and Sofia tram/bus/metro routing — download an offline map of the country.
iOSAndroidWebsite

💬Translation

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G

Google Translate

The universal default. Camera mode translates signs and menus instantly.

Essential for reading Cyrillic — use camera mode on menus, signs, and supermarket labels.
iOSAndroidWebsite

📱Messaging

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V

Viber

Strong in Eastern Europe, Greece, and the Philippines.

Bulgaria's everyday messenger — locals, guesthouses, and small businesses coordinate over Viber far more than WhatsApp.
iOSAndroidWebsite

🍱Food Delivery

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G

Glovo

Spanish food + parcel delivery, big in Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Africa.

The dominant food and grocery delivery app after absorbing foodpanda in Bulgaria; widest restaurant coverage in cities.
iOSAndroidWebsite

✈️Travel Planning

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B

Booking.com

Largest hotel inventory globally with free-cancellation default filter.

Largest accommodation inventory for Sofia, Plovdiv, Bansko ski resorts, and Black Sea coast towns.
iOSAndroidWebsite

📶eSIM & Data

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A

Airalo

eSIMs for 200+ countries, instant install. Avoid roaming charges entirely.

Drop in a Bulgaria or Europe eSIM on arrival to skip roaming; coverage is strong across cities and main roads.
iOSAndroidWebsite
Phrases

All Bulgarian phrases

Hello
Здравейте
Zdra-VEY-te
Thank you
Благодаря
Bla-go-da-RYA
Excuse me / Sorry
Извинете
Iz-vi-NE-te
Yes
Да
Da
No
Не
Ne
Please
Моля
MO-lya
Goodbye
Довиждане
Do-VIZH-da-ne
How much?
Колко струва?
KOL-ko STRU-va
Where is the bathroom?
Къде е тоалетната?
Kuh-DE e to-a-LET-na-ta
The check, please
Сметката, моля
SMET-ka-ta, MO-lya
I don't understand
Не разбирам
Ne raz-BI-ram
Do you speak English?
Говорите ли английски?
Go-VO-ri-te li an-GLIY-ski
Help!
Помощ!
PO-mosht
Delicious
Вкусно
VKUS-no
Cheers
Наздраве
Naz-DRA-ve
Briefing

What to know before you go

✓ Do

  • Bulgarians nod the head to mean 'no' and shake it side-to-side to mean 'yes' — the reverse of most countries.
  • Greet shopkeepers with 'Zdravey' and a smile; a little Bulgarian goes a long way.

✕Don't

  • Assuming everyone speaks English — older generations and rural areas often do not.
  • Discussing the country's communist past dismissively; opinions are personal and mixed.

⚠️ Common scams to know

  • Unmetered or rigged taxis at Sofia airport and tourist spots — use TaxiMe or insist on the meter (some apps tamper with rates).
  • ATMs offering 'dynamic currency conversion' — always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency.
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