The best eSIM for Bulgaria depends on how much data you need, but for a typical trip eSIM Ahora offers plans from $0.90, activated by QR code in about 30 seconds with no roaming from your home carrier. A 3 GB, 30-day plan costs $2.99. You connect, with top-ups available and nationwide coverage. It includes EU roaming if you continue your trip across Europe. Compatible with iPhone XS or newer, Samsung Galaxy S21+ and Google Pixel 3+.
Full-speed data every day; after the daily cap the speed is reduced.
Full speed up to 500 MB/day, then 512 Kbps.
Every eSIM can be installed within 180 days of purchase. Plan validity starts when you first connect.
Your eSIM picks between these networks on its own. If you see bars and nothing loads, you can pick one by hand.
Your Bulgaria eSIM runs on A1, Telenor and Vivacom, and your phone picks whichever has the better signal. Other local networks won't carry your data: if you see signal bars and nothing loads, turn off automatic network selection (iPhone: Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Network Selection; Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → your eSIM) and pick A1, Telenor or Vivacom by hand.
Bulgaria has three main carriers: A1 Bulgaria (A1 Telekom Austria subsidiary, 5G in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas), Yettel (formerly Telenor Bulgaria, owned by PPF Group, broad urban 5G), and Vivacom (historic operator, strong in rural and mountain areas). Plugs are Type C and F (standard European), 230V. 4G coverage reaches the entire Black Sea coast (Sunny Beach, Sozopol, Nesebar) and mountain tourist regions (Bansko, Borovets, Rila).
Sofia (SOF), Varna (VAR), and Burgas (BOJ) airports offer free WiFi limited to 1-2 hours. The currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGN, pegged at ~1.96 BGN/EUR, expected to adopt euro in 2026-2028). UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, and Postbank ATMs accept foreign cards with no commission up to 500 BGN. Tips are 10%. Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet — tourist menus are in English but road signs are bilingual BG/Latin. Beware airport taxis at SOF: use only OK Supertrans; "private taxis" charge 5x.