An independent English guide to Bulgaria
Practical
Practical: the rules that changed
Bulgaria joined the Schengen area fully in 2025 and the euro area in 2026, and raised its road vignette fees in August 2026. Guidebooks printed before then are out of date on all three. These pages give the current position with official sources and check dates.
The practical pages
Entry rules
Schengen membership, the 90-in-180-day rule, passport validity, the Entry/Exit System and the state of ETIAS. Read.
Money and the euro
The changeover from the lev, the fixed rate, what happens to leftover lev, cards and cash. Read.
Trains and buses
BDZ trains, night trains to the coast, international links, the narrow-gauge line and the Sofia metro. Read.
Driving and vignettes
The e-vignette and its prices since 1 August 2026, documents for your own or a hire car, and road conditions. Read.
When to go
Climate by region, the coast season, mountain snow and ice, festival months and when not to go. Read.
The short version
| Topic | Position on 28 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Schengen | Full member since 1 January 2025 |
| Short-stay rule for visa-free visitors | 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries |
| Entry/Exit System | Being implemented; fingerprints and photo may be taken at first entry, free of charge |
| ETIAS | Not yet in operation; EUR 20 once launched; start date to be announced months ahead |
| Currency | Euro since 1 January 2026; BGN 1.95583 = EUR 1 |
| Car vignette | From EUR 5.30 a day to EUR 64.50 a year since 1 August 2026 |
| Emergency number | 112 |
Sources: eucrim — Bulgaria and Romania fully join Schengen (Council decision of 12 December 2024); UK Foreign Office — Bulgaria entry requirements; Norwegian Police — ETIAS status and fee; European Commission (Access2Markets) — Bulgaria adopts the euro as of 1 January 2026; The Sofia Globe — vignette fees raised 30% from 1 August 2026 (29 July 2026); Bansko ski area — official site · last checked .
Why these pages carry so many dates
Three of the facts in that table did not exist two years ago, and one changed in the summer of 2026. The European Union has also been rolling out new border systems that affect every non-EU visitor. A practical guide to Bulgaria that does not carry check dates is a guide you cannot trust.
The pages are also written to be read before you book anything non-refundable. Entry rules decide whether you can go at all, the currency affects your budget, and transport and seasons decide whether a plan works on the ground.
Each practical page lists its sources at the end of every section. Our order of preference is: EU bodies and national governments, central banks, operators such as the railway, then news reports. Pass sellers, reference works and travel blogs come last and are labelled. When an official page could not be read on the day we checked, as happened with the national toll site, we say so and name the source we used instead.
Things we do not cover
- Visas for work, study or residence. Ask the Bulgarian embassy in your country.
- Rules for specific nationalities other than the general Schengen position. The UK Foreign Office pages we cite are written for British passport holders; other governments publish their own advice.
- Property, residency or tax questions.
- Insurance products. We say what cover the UK Foreign Office advises for mountain activities; we do not compare policies.
Before you travel
- 01
Check the entry rules
Read the entry page and your own government's advice for Bulgaria.
- 02
Plan money
Bring a card that works abroad; prices are in euros.
- 03
Choose train, bus or car
Look up BDZ times and fares for your dates; a car needs an e-vignette, the electronic road tax.
- 04
Match the season
Check whether lifts, lakes and beaches are open in your month.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Bulgaria entry requirements; BDZ — Bulgarian State Railways passenger site; The Sofia Globe — one-day vignette and 2026 vignette prices (2 February 2026) · last checked .
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Do I need a visa for Bulgaria?
That depends on your nationality. Bulgaria applies Schengen rules. Visa-exempt visitors, such as British citizens, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
Is ETIAS required for Bulgaria now?
Not as of 28 October 2026. ETIAS is not yet in operation, and the start date will be announced several months in advance.
Related
Read next
Practical · Borders
Entry rules
Bulgaria in Schengen: the 90/180-day rule, passport validity, the Entry/Exit System, ETIAS status and customs.
Read more
Practical · Money
Money and the euro
The euro in Bulgaria: changeover date, the BGN 1.95583 rate, dual pricing, exchanging old lev, cards and ATMs.
Read more
Practical · Rail and road
Trains and buses
BDZ trains, dynamic fares, night trains, international links, the narrow-gauge railway, buses and the Sofia metro.
Read more
Practical · Car
Driving and vignettes
Bulgarian e-vignette prices since August 2026, where to buy one, documents for your own or a hire car, road safety.
Read more
Practical · Seasons
When to go
Bulgaria by month: climate by region, coast and ski seasons, the Seven Rila Lakes, festivals, and when not to go.
Read moreStart planning
Send a correction or a question
Tell us which page and which fact you are writing about, what you found instead, and where you found it. A link to an official notice helps us check it quickly.