Money & duty free for Bulgaria
Exchange rates:
LevC$1 = лв1.41
€1 = лв1.96
£1 = лв2.33
US$1 = лв1.89
Currency & Money
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cents.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, petrol stations and larger shops, particularly in cities and tourist areas. Cash is still useful for small purchases, markets and businesses in rural areas.
Contactless card payments and mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted wherever compatible contactless terminals are available.
ATMs are widely available in cities, towns and tourist resorts and dispense euros. Travellers should preferably use ATMs operated by established banks and check any withdrawal or currency-conversion charges imposed by their own bank or the ATM operator.
Travellers entering or leaving the EU with €10,000 or more in cash, or the equivalent in other currencies, must declare it to customs.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and authorised exchange offices. Exchange rates and commissions should be checked before completing a transaction, and travellers should avoid exchanging money with individuals on the street.
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, replacing the Bulgarian lev at the fixed conversion rate of €1 = BGN1.95583. Lev banknotes and coins can be exchanged indefinitely at the Bulgarian National Bank.
Bulgaria duty free
Bulgaria's duty-free allowance for travellers arriving from within the EU:
If you are over 17 years old, you can transport goods freely between EU countries, provided they are for personal use and not for resale. Taxes must already have been paid on these goods in the country of purchase. If you exceed the following guideline amounts, customs officials may question you to ensure the goods are for personal use:
• 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco.
• 90L of still wine (of which a maximum of 60L can be sparkling wine).
• 110L of beer.
• 10L of spirits over 22% alcohol by volume or 20L of fortified wine or other beverages up to 22%.
• Travellers under 17 years old may not bring in tobacco or alcohol products, and rules may vary slightly between EU countries.
Bulgaria's duty-free allowance for travellers arriving from outside the EU:
If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Bulgaria by travellers over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• Air travellers: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• Land and sea travellers: 40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50g of tobacco. Tobacco products may be combined provided the total allowance is not exceeded.
• 1L of spirits over 22% alcohol by volume or 2L of alcoholic beverages up to 22% alcohol by volume.
• 4L of still wine.
• 16L of beer.
• Other goods up to the value of €430 for air and sea passengers or €300 for travellers arriving by land (reduced to €150 for travellers under 15).
Duty-free allowances are subject to change, sometimes at short notice due to policy updates or external factors. Information is correct at the time of writing; travellers should verify current allowances with official customs authorities before departure. We accept no liability for any inconvenience or loss arising from changes to these regulations.
Prohibited or restricted items include narcotic and psychotropic substances, weapons and ammunition, and endangered species and products made from them, including certain ivory, leather and plant products. The import of meat, milk and their products from most non-EU countries is prohibited, with limited exceptions.
EU sanctions prohibit the import of certain goods originating in or exported from Russia, including products such as diamonds, gold, jewellery, cigarettes, cosmetics, seafood, spirits, footwear and clothing. Restrictions are subject to change.
This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the Bulgarian Customs Agency or the relevant embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.
Prohibited exports include endangered species and their derivatives, historical or cultural artefacts without export authorisation, narcotics, and psychotropic substances. Travellers should verify export control rules with Bulgarian authorities or the nearest embassy.
This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
You know where