The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid for nationals of EU and EFTA countries. The EHIC regulates care and reimbursement of costs in the event of illness for EU and EFTA citizens. The EHIC does not include repatriation after a serious illness or an accident abroad. Statutory health insurance companies are not allowed to offer this service. Only private travel insurance companies pay for return transport. It is therefore recommended that you take out health insurance abroad for the duration of your stay, which covers risks that are not covered by statutory health insurance companies. Basic medical care is sufficient however, cannot be compared with the standard of Western European countries. Many medicines common in Western Europe are also available in Bulgaria. However, if you take your medication regularly, it is recommended that you bring it with you. Check indexdotcom for more information.
Food and drink
Tap water is chlorinated and relatively clean, but you may experience a mild stomach upset, especially in remote areas. Bottled water, which is available everywhere, is therefore recommended for the first few weeks of your stay. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are generally safe, as are local meats, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables.
Other risks
The standard vaccinations for children and adults recommended by the Robert Koch Institute (including against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, rubella, pneumococci, poliomyelitis and influenza) should be refreshed before the trip if necessary. Ticks are mainly active in river valleys and forest areas in some parts of Bulgaria during the months of April to October. Skin-covering clothing and insect repellents protect against Lyme disease. A vaccination against TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) is recommended for professional or leisure activities with possible exposure to ticks in endemic areas between April and October. There is a national risk of infection with hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B is also recommended for longer stays, when traveling under simple conditions and when staying outside of tourist centers. Careful food and drinking water hygiene should also be ensured. HIV/AIDS occurs and is fundamentally a danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: unprotected sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can pose a significant health risk. Rabies occurs nationwide. The main carriers are dogs, cats, forest animals and bats. Vaccination is recommended for backpackers, children, professional risk groups and for longer stays in the country. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Health certificate
In Bulgaria and in all other EU countries, in addition to the digital COVID-19 vaccination card (EU Digital COVID Certificate), proof of the COVID vaccination status with the vaccination card in paper form is also valid. Bulgaria accepts Swiss COVID certificate.
Money
Currency
1 lev = 100 stotinki. Currency code: Lw, BGN (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Lw; Coins in denominations of 1 lev, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 stotinki. The lev is pegged to the euro. The introduction of the euro has been postponed indefinitely.
Credit cards
Diners Club, American Express and Visa are accepted in larger hotels, car rental offices, some restaurants and shops. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.
ATMs
Girocard With the Girocard (formerly EC card) such as the Maestro card, V Pay or Sparcard and PIN number, cash can be withdrawn from ATMs in the national currency throughout Europe. In many European countries it is also possible to pay with a debit card in shops. Cards with the Cirrus, V-Pay or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.
Travelers cheques
Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are rarely available in Austria. Traveller’s checks can hardly be cashed in Bulgaria. They have been almost completely replaced by credit cards as a means of payment in Bulgaria.
Bank opening hours
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00.
Foreign exchange regulations
For travelers within and from outside the EU, there are no restrictions on the import or export of national and foreign currencies, but there is an obligation to declare funds from an equivalent value of €10,000 (in addition to cash, cash also includes travelers cheques, savings accounts, other currencies, to third parties checks drawn, the true value of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum (gold coins containing at least 90 percent gold grade, uncoined gold in the form of bars, nuggets or nuggets containing at least 99.5 percent gold grade), precious stones (but not jewelry). )).
Currency Exchange
The exchange receipts (Bordereau) must be kept until the end of the stay and presented upon departure. Money should only be exchanged in commercial banks, not in exchange offices or on the black market. Unfair practices towards tourists have often occurred in bureaux de change. ATMs are now widespread, they can be found in banks in Varna and Burgas, as well as in some resort towns. The best exchange rate is available when withdrawing cash from an ATM.
