How much does it cost to travel to Bulgaria?
You should plan to spend around $70 (ư125) per day on your vacation in Bulgaria. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $17 (ư30) on meals
- $14 (ư25) on local transportation
- $76 (ư136) on hotels
A one week trip to Bulgaria for two people costs, on average, $977 (ư1,754). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Bulgaria expensive to visit?
Bulgaria is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Bulgaria is reasonably affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 25% of countries in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable countries such as Ukraine, but there are also more expensive countries, such as Switzerland.
For more details, see Is Bulgaria Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Bulgaria?
The average Bulgaria trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Bulgaria travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
ư136
($76)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
ư25
($14)
|
|
Food 2
|
ư30
($17)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
ư19
($11)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
ư4 -
12
($2 - 6)
|
|
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1
|
ư6 -
19
($3 - 10)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
ư7 -
21
($4 - 12)
|
Accommodation Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Bulgaria is $38 (ư68). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Bulgaria is $76 (ư136). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Bulgaria? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Local Transportation Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Bulgaria is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $14 (ư25) per person, per day, on local transportation in Bulgaria.
-
Local Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$14
ư25
Food Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Bulgaria can vary, the average cost of food in Bulgaria is $17 (ư30) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Bulgaria should cost around $6.77 (ư12) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Bulgaria is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$17
ư30
Entertainment Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Bulgaria typically cost an average of $11 (ư19) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$11
ư19
Tips and Handouts Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Bulgaria is $6.96 (ư13), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$6.96
ư13
Alcohol Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $7.79 (ư14) on alcoholic beverages in Bulgaria per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$7.79
ư14
Water Budget in Bulgaria
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.27 (ư2.28) on bottled water in Bulgaria per day. The public water in Bulgaria is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.27
ư2.28
Last Updated: Aug 23, 2022
Bulgaria On a Budget
Varna, Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a Balkan country along the Black Sea. It is one of the more frequently overlooked countries in Europe, but it actually has a lot to offer. Bulgaria is a surprisingly diverse country with winter sports, nice beaches, as well as churches and culture that you can immerse yourself in. Because it is less popular than most European countries, you truly feel like you've found an untouched, undiscovered, exotic destination when you travel here. Although the winter can be quite cold, the summer is very pleasant. The area's countryside can also be quite beautiful. There are mountains sprinkled with villages, beaches lined with resorts, and an old world rural setting you won't find elsewhere in Europe.
Bulgaria is divided into five different geographic regions. You're most likely to visit the northwest area, as this is where you will find the country's capital of Sofia. Southwest Bulgaria is very mountainous in nature and is also the country's haven for winter sports. The Northern Thrace is in the plains and has many ancient cities including the most popular, Plovdiv. The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast has many resort towns that see only a few tourists. There are also some larger port cities including Varna and Burgas. In Central Northern Bulgaria you will find many villages and forests lining the Danube River.
It's easiest to travel around the country by bus. This is the most common means of transportation and also the fastest. Trains are slightly less expensive than buses, but they are also slower and not as far reaching. Some destinations in the countryside or further into the mountains require access to a private vehicle. This can be arranged in most of the larger cities such as Sofia, but it can be somewhat expensive.
In general, costs in Bulgaria are quite low. Restaurants are generally cheap and pizza is available almost everywhere as an affordable option. Hotels are more affordable than they are in many Eastern European countries and most of the larger cities have at least a handful of hostels for those who are on a particularly tight budget.
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Top Tourist Attractions
Nessebar: This is a 2500 year old city and World Heritage Site. Located in the Burgas Province, it is a major seaside resort along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.
Plovdiv: This is the second largest city in Bulgaria and often referred to as the "heart of Bulgaria" do to its central location and historical importance. The old town of Plovdiv is fun to wander around and get lost in.
Rila Monastery: The Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is located in the southwestern Rila Mountains and is considered one of the most important religious, cultural and architectural sights in Bulgaria. It was built during the tenth century and was named after its found, the hermit Ivan of Rila.
Popular Foods
Shopska Salads: Bulgarian salads are incredibly fresh. They include cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a variety of other vegetables, but rarely have lettuce. The dressing is usually made from either sunflower or olive oil and flavored slightly with vinegar. Although somewhat comparable to Greek salads, Shopska salads typically have a subtly different flavor.
Bob Chorba: This is a mint and herb soup that is usually served warm. It's considered a Bulgarian national dish although it comes in a variety of different styles throughout the country. Most often it is made with beans and onions.
Tarator: This is a cucumber and yogurt soup often served cold. It often combines walnuts, dill, garlic and vegetable oil and is most frequently served during the warmer summer months.
We've been gathering travel cost data from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of destinations around the world.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.