Planning a trip to Bulgaria and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Avoid high roaming charges and get yourself a local prepaid sim card. This is your complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Bulgaria with where to buy a sim card, the best 4G/5G network in Bulgaria, up to date prices as per October 2023 my recommendation and information about international and e-sim cards for Bulgaria.
The first thing I do when getting to a new country is buying a prepaid sim card. Many year ago when visiting Bulgaria for the first time it was country no. 81 on my journey to visit every country in the world. Because I constantly get to new countries you can already find more than 150 prepaid sim card guides on Traveltomtom: Europe, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Istanbul, Italy, Venice, UK, Canada, Mexico, New York, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Malaysia and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card advice. Bookmark this website!
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.
A great alternative is a travel sim card with coverage in Bulgaria. Check out my list of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2023 and pick the one that suits your trip. Or traveling all around Europe? Then pick one from the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023.
Before buying a local prepaid sim card in Bulgaria or order an international or an e-sim card on the internet make sure your phone is unlocked. None of them will work in a phone that is locked.
Best s-sim cards for Bulgaria
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Bulgaria in 2023 is an e-sim card. You can arrange everything online and it takes just a couple minutes. Order an e-sim card, receive a code per email, follow the instructions, apply the settings on your phone and you are all set.
There are several e-sim card providers that offer e-sim cards for Bulgaria.
Airalo
Check out the following amazing e-sim card deals for Bulgaria:
- 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 to order one of the above Bulgaria e-sim card deals directly online via Airalo.
The above Bultel e-sim cards 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 offers e-sim cards that are valid in all of Europe and beyond. On top of that these international e-sim cards come with unlimited calls and sms.
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls/text for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data (5G ready) + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/text for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here to directly order an international e-sim card for Bulgaria via SimOptions.
Make sure your phone is unlocked and e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Bulgaria.
Not every phone is e-sim compatible, but you can also order physical prepaid sim cards on the internet. You can get 15 GB data plus unlimited calls for $21.90 USD. Click here for more info or to order a prepaid sim card for Bulgaria/Europe and see many more offers and find more info.
Bulgaria sim card and traveling in Europe
Sim cards you buy in Bulgaria are NOT great for traveling onwards in Europe. Although since 2017 there are no roaming costs within the EU most of the prepaid sim cards in Bulgaria cap their data bundles outside the country. Always ask before you are buying a sim card in Bulgaria if free roaming in the EU is included.
Traveling onwards to Europe? Check out my comparison of the best Europe sim cards in 2023 and I show you the best one for your trip.
Mobile internet providers Bulgaria
There are three main mobile operators in Bulgaria: Vivacom, A1 and Telenor. 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.
Best Bulgaria 4G/5G network in 2023
To determine the best mobile network in Bulgaria let's also have a look at the 4G/5G network maps of Bulgaria.
Is there 5G in Bulgaria?
Yes, there is actually a pretty extensive 5G network in Bulgaria, depending on the provider. All tourist destinations in Bulgaria are covered with either a 4G or 5G signal. See the 4G/5G network coverage maps below for more info.
Telenor 4G/5G network coverage map
A1 4G/5G network coverage map
Vivacom 4G/5G network coverage map
We can clearly see that the Telenor has the weakest 4G/5G network coverage in Bulgaria. A1 is a good runner up but Vivacom has the best 4G/5G network coverage in Bulgaria in 2023.
That said most of the popular tourist destinations in Bulgaria like Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas are fully covered by all mobile operators.But may you go skiing in Pamporovo then I recommend you to buy an A1 or Vivacom prepaid sim card.
Prices prepaid sim card Bulgaria in 2023
Telenor Bulgaria
The people in Telenor stores are inquired were very friendly, helpful and spoke decent English. They took the time to explain me their available packages for a prepaid data sim card in Bulgaria.
- 6 BGN ($3,70) = 1.5 GB data + 30 minutes to all of Europe
- 8 BGN ($5,00) = 4 GB data + 100 minutes to all of Europe
- 10 BGN ($6,20) = 6 GB data + 100 minutes to all of Europe
Packages are valid for 30 days. For more details about the above Telenor Bulgaria prepaid data sim cards check out the picture below. For the latest Telenor Bulgaria sim card prices check their website.
Vivacom Bulgaria
Vivacom prepaid sim cards costs pretty much the same as Telenor. They have the following sim cards for tourists, valid for 30 days:
- 8 BGN ($5,00) = 6 GB data + 400 minutes to all of Europe
- 20 BGN ($12,40) = 25 GB data (5.8 GB free data roaming in the EU)
These are the up to date prices as per October 2023. Check the latest Vivacom Bulgaria sim card prices on their website.
A1 Bulgaria
Last but not least A1 (M-Tel) where they were very helpful explaining me the only options available for buying a sim card in Bulgaria:
- 6 BGN ($3,70) = 1.5 GB data + 30 minutes to all of Europe - valid for 10 days.
Top-up for 5 GB extra data is 30 BGN ($18,60).
They also offer data only starter packages:
- 15 BGN ($9,30) = 15 GB - valid for 30 days
- 25 BGN ($15,50) = 30 GB - valid for 30 days.
For the latest A1 Bulgaria sim card offers check their website.
Best sim card for Bulgaria in 2023
The starting price for Bulgaria sim cards is very cheap, however data packages are rather small. Comparing all the above Bulgaria prepaid sim card deals and keeping in mind the strength of the 4G/5G network Traveltomtom comes to the following conclusion: Vivacom is the best prepaid sim card in Bulgaria in 2023.
For $5 you get 6 GB data and 400 minutes in all of Europe. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me and the Vivacom network is good too. Will you continue traveling in Europe after Bulgaria then have a look at the best prepaid sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023.
Buy a sim card for Hungary online
Does buying a sim card in Bulgaria sound like too much hassle and is your phone not e-sim card compatible then check out international prepaid sim cards for Bulgaria. These physical prepaid sim cards are pre-activated and can be ordered online and will be delivered to your home address before your trip.
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. 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
5. Three PAYG MBB - $59.90
- 12 GB data
- Valid for 1 year
- Valid in 55 countries
- Incoming/outgoing calls not supported
- 4G/LTE
6. Three PAYG MBB - $79.90
- 24 GB data
- Valid for 2 years
- Valid in 55 countries
- Incoming/outgoing calls not supported
- 4G/LTE
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in Bulgaria as well as all of Europe and beyond.
Another for those with e-sim compatible phones that you can arrange everything online by ordering an e-sim card. Check out the trusted e-sim card providers: Airalo or SimOptions to find the exact Bulgaria e-sim card that you are looking for.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a prepaid Bulgaria sim card were helpful for your upcoming trip to Bulgaria. In case you have any additional 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 October 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Bulgaria!
Some links in this article about Bulgaria sim cards are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using the outgoing links I’ll earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at no extra cost to you.