How To Buy a Prepaid Sim Card in Bulgaria in 2024

Planning a trip to Bulgaria and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Avoid high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans. This is the ultimate guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Bulgaria in 2024.

Let me help you find the best sim card for your trip!

Find out where to buy a prepaid sim card, up to date prices as per November 2024, the best 4G/5G network in Bulgaria, my recommendation and more info about eSIMs for Bulgaria.

In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in my destination, nowadays I mostly order an eSIM online to stay connected when traveling abroad.

Table of Contents

I have visited Bulgaria several times. Back in 2017 it was my first time and back then it was country no. 81 on my journey to visit every country in the world. I used to write weekly travel adventure blogs and one of them was Greece & Bulgaria country no. 80 & 81.

Some links in this guide about the best Bulgaria prepaid sim cards are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends a Vivacom sim card for traveling in Bulgaria. They have the best 4G/5G network in Bulgaria and competitive prices for prepaid sim cards. For around $7 USD you get 12 GB data.

There are amazing eSIM deals for Bulgaria and Airalo has an eSIM with 30 GB data for just $16 USD.

If your phone is eSIM compatible that is my first recommendation. You will be online as soon as the plane lands and you don't need to find a phone store in Bulgaria to buy a prepaid sim card.

Other recommended eSIMs for Bulgaria are: SimOptions and Jetpac.

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A great alternative is a travel sim card with global coverage. Check out my list of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2024 and pick the one that suits your trip to Eastern Europe.

Or if you are traveling all around Europe then pick a sim card from Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.

Before buying a local prepaid sim card in Bulgaria or order an international or an eSIM on the internet make sure your phone is unlocked. None of these sim cards will work in a phone that is locked.

Why buying a sim card for Bulgaria

First and foremost we want to avoid high roaming charges. Don't use data roaming or get charged crazy amounts on your phone bill. Also don't fall for the trap of overseas data roaming plans. They reduce the data speed on these plans.

Most hotels, bars, malls and restaurants offer free pubic WiFi in Bulgaria, yet I still recommend you to buy a sim card for Bulgaria.

Having a working data connection can save you a lot of hassle and traveling gets simply more convenient. Bulgaria is a beautiful country and staying connected while on road trips keeps you entertained, but what about getting directions from Google Maps, finding a nearby restaurant or ordering an Uber to get back to your hotel.

There are many reasons I can come up with to buy a sim card for your trip to Bulgaria.

What about your safety? What you gonna do in emergency situations when you need internet on your phone or think about checking your banking apps.

Keep in mind that surfing the web on free public WiFi is through an unsecured network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.

Where to buy a sim card for Bulgaria

Sofia International airport

Buying a sim card for Bulgaria straight on arrival is the most convenient place to get a tourist sim card in Bulgaria. All international airports have multiple sim card shops and it is very easy to buy a prepaid sim card at the airport.

At Sofia International Airport SOF there are sim card stores in the arrival hall right in front of you when coming from the luggage claim hall through the sliding doors.

Prepaid sim cards at Sofia Airport are more expensive, so if you want the best Bulgaria sim card deal you have to wait until you reach Sofia city center.

Phone store internet providers

If you missed the opportunity to buy a prepaid sim card for Bulgaria at Sofia airport then the best place to get your tourist sim card is in the city center of Sofia or at any other tourist destination in Bulgaria.

In every tourist destination in Bulgaria the mobile internet operators have multiple phone stores and are happy to sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. English is spoken very well in the big cities.

Also some bigger convenience stores as well as gas stations sell prepaid sim cards for tourists, but here it is getting a little more complicated to get connected. You will have to activated these Bulgaria prepaid sim cards yourself and English is not spoken very well in the countryside.

Online

You can also get a sim card for Bulgaria on the internet. Arrive prepared for your trip to Bulgaria and be online as soon as the plane lands.

There are plenty of eSIM providers that sell eSIMs for Bulgaria. eSIMs are my first recommendation as it is the easiest way to get connected and you don't need to go to a phone store in Bulgaria to buy a prepaid sim card.

Traveltomtom recommends buying an eSIM for Bulgaria via: Airalo, SimOptions or Jetpac.

If your phone is not eSIM compatible then look into ordering an international physical sim card. SimOptions sells these international prepaid sim cards for traveling to Bulgariainternational prepaid sim cards for traveling to Bulgaria on their website.

Mobile internet providers Bulgaria

There are three main mobile operators in Bulgaria: Vivacom, A1 and Yettel. All of them are reliable, have shops in the city center of Sofia, Burgas and other tourist destinations in Bulgaria and sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.

Bulgaria prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming

Sim cards you buy in Bulgaria are not the best for traveling onwards in Europe. The Bulgaria prepaid sim cards have limited or no EU data roaming.

Although since 2017 there are no roaming costs within the EU some Eastern European countries have exceptions to this law. Always ask about the EU data roaming restrictions before you are buying a sim card in Bulgaria.

Traveltomtom made it easier for you if you are traveling onwards to other countries in Europe. Check out my comparison of the best Europe sim cards in 2024 and I show you the best ones for your trip.

Best 4G/5G network in Bulgaria in 2024

To determine the best mobile data network in Bulgaria let's comparer the 4G/5G network maps of all the mobile internet operators in Bulgaria: Vivacom, Yettel and A1.

Is there 5G in Bulgaria?

Yes, there is actually a pretty extensive 5G network in Bulgaria as of 2024, but it depends on the provider and where in Bulgaria you are visiting. That said, all the tourist destinations in Bulgaria are covered with either a 4G/LTE or even a 5G signal.

Yettel 4G/5G network coverage map

A1 4G/5G network coverage map

Vivacom 4G/5G network coverage map

Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Bulgaria in 2024.

When we compare the mobile data network coverage maps of Vivacom, Yettel and A1 Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Yettel has the smallest 4G/5G network coverage in Bulgaria. A1 is a good runner up but Vivacom has the best 4G/5G network coverage in Bulgaria in 2024.

Most of the popular tourist destinations in Bulgaria like Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas are fully covered by all mobile operators with a 5G signal. But may you go skiing in Pamporovo then I recommend you to buy an A1 or Vivacom prepaid sim card for example.

Prices prepaid sim card Bulgaria in 2024

All the info and prices are updated as per November 2024. Prices are in Bulgarian Lev (BGN): $1 USD = 1.9 BGN and 1 BGN = $0.54 USD.

Yettel Bulgaria

Yettel (formerly Telenor) has 3 prepaid sim card plans:

• 6 GB data + 400 minutes + 3 BGN credit for 14 days = 8 BGN - $4.5 USD
• 8 GB data + 500 minutes + 3 BGN credit for 30 days = 10 BGN - $5.6 USD
• 15 GB data + 1,000 minutes + 3 BGN credit for 30 days= 15 BGN - $8.4 USD

Packages are valid for 30 days. For more info check the Yettel Bulgaria website.

Vivacom Bulgaria

Vivacom has the following prepaid sim cards for tourists with unlimited data valid for 30 days. However, there is a data speed drop, so unlimited is not really unlimited.

• 12 GB high speed data* + 800 minutes + 2 BGN credit for 30 days = 12 BGN - $6.7 USD
• 25 GB high speed data** for 30 days = 20 BGN - $11.1 USD

* = 6.7 GB free EU data roaming included. ** = 11.2 GB free EU data roaming included.

For more info check out the Vivacom website.

A1 Bulgaria

The prepaid sim card plans from A1 cost €9.99 EUR ($5.7 USD) and come with the following credit:

• 6 GB data for 10 days

You can add on the above data packages valid for 30 days:

• 1 GB data = 5.99 BGN - $3.3 USD
• 2.5 GB data = 9.99 BGN - $5.6 USD
• 9 GB data = 29.99 BGN - $16.7 USD

You have to add separate credit for calls/sms. For more info check out the A1 Bulgaria website.

Best sim card for Bulgaria in 2024

Prepaid sim cards in Bulgaria are pretty cheap and tourists can buy a sim card without too much effort.

However, lets first highlight the amazing eSIMs for Bulgaria that you can order online.

Airalo has the best-buy eSIM for Bulgaria in 2024. It offers an eSIM with 30 GB data for just $16 USD. Jetpac has a Bulgaria eSIM with 10 GB for just $13 USD.

If your phone is eSIM compatible this is definitely the best sim card for Bulgaria in 2024.

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In case you rather buy a prepaid sim card in Bulgaria then Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Vivacom is the best prepaid sim card in Bulgaria in 2024.

Vivacom has the best 4G/5G mobile data network, the fastest data speed and has prepaid sim cards for tourists for around $7 USD that give you 12 GB data and 800 minutes in all of Europe.

But if Bulgaria is part of your trip to Europe then you are better off with picking a sim card from my list of the best prepaid and eSIMs for traveling in Europe in 2024.

Best eSIMs for Bulgaria

The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Bulgaria in 2024 is an eSIM. You can arrange everything online and it takes just a couple minutes. No more visiting a sim card shop or swapping physical prepaid sim cards.

You order an eSIM for Bulgaria on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Bulgaria eSIM installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in Bulgaria it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

Airalo

Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue. Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Bulgaria for 2024:

• 2.5 GB data for 30 days = $6.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $7.5 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
• 50 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Bulgaria eSIM via Airalo.

The above Bultel eSIMs for Bulgaria are data-only and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of A1. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. Data is only valid in Bulgaria.

SimOptions

SimOptions is another reliable eSIM provider that sells eSIMs from pretty much every country in the world. SimOptions offers so called international eSIMs which are valid in all of Europe and beyond. On top of that these international eSIMs come with unlimited calls and sms in all of Europe, including Bulgaria.

• 15 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 15 days = $21.90 USD
• 10 GB data (5G ready) for 30 days = $24.90 USD
• 12 GB data + 30 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $29.90 USD
• 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 30 days = $44.90 USD
• 30 GB data + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $49.90 USD
• 50 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 28 days = $59.90 USD

Click here to directly order an international eSIM for Bulgaria via SimOptions.

Make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for traveling in Bulgaria.

There are many more eSIM providers that offer eSIMs for Hungary like: GigSky, Roamless, Sim Local, Firsty, etc.

Buy a prepaid sim card for Hungary online

If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Bulgaria online before your trip then check out the following.

Arrive prepared in Bulgaria with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Bulgaria, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.

SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Bulgaria:

1. O2 Go Card - $24.90

• 10 GB data
• $2 calling credit (no top-up)
• valid for 30 days
• valid in 34 countries
• 4G/LTE

2. Three Data Pack - $24.90

• 10 GB data
• Unlimited calls/sms
• Valid 30 days
• Valid in 56 countries
• 4G/LTE

3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90

• 12 GB data
• Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
• 30 minutes worldwide
• 200 sms worldwide
• Valid 14 days
• Valid in 34 countries
• 4G/LTE

4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90

• 30 GB data
• Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
• Valid 30 days
• Valid in 47 countries
• 4G/LTE

5. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90

• 30 GB data
• Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
• 120 minutes worldwide
• 1,000 sms worldwide
• Valid 14 days
• Valid in 34 countries
• 4G/LTE

Click here for more info or to order an international prepaid sim card for Bulgaria via SimOptions.

Personally Traveltomtom recommends the Bouygues Telecom or the Orange sim card with 30 GB data. I have used these sim cards a lot in the past and never had an issue.

But as mentioned many times before nowadays when traveling to Europe or Bulgaria I always use an eSIM. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane lands you are online.

I am sure some of the above tips were helpful for finding the best Bulgaria sim card for your upcoming trip to Bulgaria. In case you have any questions don't hesitate to leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of November 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Bulgaria!