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 July 2022 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 2022 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 2022.
You want to make it even easier for yourself, then look into buying an electronic sim card for Bulgaria.
E-sim cards for Bulgaria
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling in 2022 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. 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 and find more info. With an e-sim card you keep your own phone number.
However, an e-sim card is a data-only sim card and phone calls are not included. In case you also want to make phone calls when traveling in Europe you can better order a physical sim card for Bulgaria. You can get 20 GB data plus unlimited calls for $49.90 USD. Click here to order this sim card deals 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 2022 and I show you the best one for your trip.
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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 2022
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! As of July 2022 there is actually a pretty extensive 5G network in Bulgaria, depending on the provider. 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 2022.
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 2022
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 July 2022. 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 2022
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 2022!
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 2022.
Buy a sim card for Hungary online
Does buying a sim card in Bulgaria sounds like too much hassle and effort then look into ordering a sim card online for your Bulgaria trip. The following pre-activated international sim cards will be send to your home address before your trip and you arrive prepared.
1. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 8 GB data
- Unlimited calls in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- Unlimited sms in Europe
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
2. Three PAYG AIO15 - $29.90
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls within Europe
- Unlimited sms within Europe
- Valid 30 days
3. Three PAYG AIO20 - $39.90
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls within Europe
- Unlimited sms within Europe
- Valid 30 days
4. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data
- Unlimited calls in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- Unlimited sms in Europe
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to order one of the above prepaid sim cards for traveling in Bulgaria and all of Europe. Personally I would recommend you one of the last two options.
Another reminder that when you want to keep your own phone number and you want to arrange just data on your phone for your trip to Bulgaria then have a look into buying an e-sim card for Bulgaria and find very competitive prices. For example 30 GB for $16 USD.
I hope 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 July 2022 I have visited more than 135 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, but I have the duty to inform you. Thank you for your understanding!
