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 finding the best sim card for traveling to Bulgaria in 2024.
Find out where to buy a prepaid sim card in Bulgaria, a comparison of the mobile internet operators, the best 4G/5G network in Bulgaria, up to date prices as per January 2024, the best e-sim cards for Bulgaria, my recommendation, information about international sim cards and everything else you need to know.
Back in 2017 I visited Bulgaria for the 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.
Staying connected is one of my main concerns when planning my next trip. I started comparing local prepaid sim cards with e-sim cards and since I like to document all my travel tips I already wrote more than 200 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 and e-sim card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money.
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.
You can only buy this prepaid sim card on arrival in Bulgaria. If you want to arrive prepared and be online as soon as the plane lands then check out e-sim cards. In fact, e-sim cards for Bulgaria are cheap.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Bulgaria via either SimOptions, Airalo or Nomad.
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 2024 and pick the one that suits your trip.
Or if you are traveling all around Europe then pick one 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 e-sim card on the internet make sure your phone is unlocked. None of them will work in a phone that is locked.
Best e-sim cards for Bulgaria
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Bulgaria in 2024 is an e-sim card. 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 e-sim card 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 e-sim card 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.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Bulgaria.
There are several e-sim card providers that offer e-sim cards for Bulgaria.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue. Here are the Airalo e-sim card 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 e-sim card 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 is another reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. SimOptions offers so called international e-sim cards which are valid in all of Europe and beyond. On top of that these international e-sim cards 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 e-sim card for Bulgaria via SimOptions.
Nomad
Another trusted and reviewed e-sim provider is Nomad and Traveltomtom has used Nomad now in more than 10 countries. Nomad sometimes has amazing competitive e-sim card plans with cheap prices.
Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Bulgaria in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $19 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Bulgaria via Nomad.
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 and in that case you can also order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling to Bulgaria via SimOptions. You can already get 30 GB data plus unlimited calls in all Europe for $44.90 USD. Check out all the physical prepaid sim card plans of SimOptions for Bulgaria.
Bulgaria prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
Sim cards you buy in Bulgaria are the best for traveling onwards in Europe. Although since 2017 there are no roaming costs within the EU most of the prepaid sim cards in Bulgaria limit their data bundles outside the country. Always ask about the EU data romaing restrictions before you are buying a sim card in Bulgaria.
But Traveltomtom made it easier for you if you are traveling onwards to Europe. Check out my comparison of the best Europe sim cards in 2024 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 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.
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 January 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 below info and prices are updated as per January 2024 and prices are in Bulgarian Lev (BGN): $1 USD = 1.8 BGN and 1 BGN = $0.56 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
Price for prepaid sim cards in Bulgaria are cheap and tourists can buy a sim card without too much effort. However, if you have an e-sim compatible phone you can order your e-sim card for Bulgaria on the internet and arrive prepared. As soon as the plane lands you are online.
The best thing? E-sim cards for Bulgaria are cheap. You can already get an e-sim card with 30 GB data for just $16 USD.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Bulgaria via either SimOptions, Airalo or Nomad.
In case you rather buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival then Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Vivacom is the best prepaid sim card in Bulgaria in 2024 after comparing all the mobile internet providers in Bulgaria.
For around $7 USD you get 12 GB data and 800 minutes in all of Europe with a Vivacom prepaid sim card.
However, if you continue your trip to other countries in Europe then check out Traveltomtom'scomparison of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.
Buy a prepaid sim card for Hungary online
If your phone is not e-sim 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 e-sim card. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane lands you are online.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Bulgaria via either SimOptions, Airalo or Nomad.
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 January 2024 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.