Data roaming in Bulgaria allows international travelers to stay connected while visiting the country.
This article is for travelers going to Bulgaria who will use mobile data there. In Bulgaria, using your phone’s data can lead to high costs if you don’t know the local rules and prices. This blog post will explain how data roaming in Bulgaria works, how to turn on roaming on your device, and other ways to avoid big bills and keep using your phone in Bulgaria.
In this article
Bulgaria is ideal for tourists, offering multiple data roaming options to stay connected. Explore historic towns, relax by the Black Sea, or hike the mountains smoothly with an understanding of data roaming. Here’s what you need to know about data roaming in Bulgaria:
Costs:
Roaming Rules:
Turning on Roaming:
Being part of the European Union means Bulgaria doesn’t charge extra for roaming to EU people. This means you can use your phone in Bulgaria without paying more, just like at home. But, there are some important things to remember about roaming in Bulgaria:
For EU/EEA People:
For People from Outside the EU/EEA:
Tips:
YES, roaming in Bulgaria can be costly, particularly for data, depending on your operator and plan. You’ll find 3 main types of roaming in Bulgaria:
Below is a summary of estimated roaming rates in Bulgaria for major operators. Note these are rough estimates and may vary with your plan and network.
| Operator | Service | Type | Rate |
| A1 | Call | Local Outgoing | ~0.20/min |
| Local Incoming | ~0.10/min | ||
| International Outgoing | ~1.00/min | ||
| International Incoming | ~0.50/min | ||
| SMS | Local & International | ~0.15/SMS | |
| Data | ~10/GB | ||
| Vivacom | Call | Local Outgoing | ~0.25/min |
| Local Incoming | ~0.12/min | ||
| International Outgoing | ~1.20/min | ||
| International Incoming | ~0.60/min | ||
| SMS | Local & International | ~0.18/SMS | |
| Data | ~12/GB | ||
| Telenor | Call | Local Outgoing | ~0.22/min |
| Local Incoming | ~0.11/min | ||
| International Outgoing | ~1.10/min | ||
| International Incoming | ~0.55/min | ||
| SMS | Local & International | ~0.16/SMS | |
| Data | ~9/GB |
Notes:
► Recommendation: As a tourist to Bulgaria, you can consider other connectivity options like prepaid SIM cards, prepaid eSIMs, portable WiFi as alternatives to roaming. Pocket WiFi for Bulgaria travel is useful if you want to share Internet for multiple devices. But it is quite pricey and requires effort to bring along. On the other hand, prepaid Bulgaria SIM cards/eSIMs are more affordable and flexible. Therefore, if your phone is carrier-unlocked and compatible, consider using these options as alternatives to roaming.
To activate roaming services, you just need to take 4 steps:
Step 1: Choose your preferred service provider
A1, Vivacom, and Telenor are the top mobile network operators in Bulgaria. Check with your provider for roaming partners. Fees vary by network agreements, so verify rates.
Step 2: Activate the roaming function
Each mobile network carrier has a different way to activate roaming service.
Eg: For Vivacom: Log into your Vivacom account online or via the Vivacom app > Select ‘International Roaming’ > Choose Bulgaria from the list of countries > Activate roaming.
Step 3: Buy a mobile package with roaming
Most providers have daily, weekly, or monthly roaming packages for short trips. Check your provider’s website for options.
Step 4: Turn on your phone’s roaming
Note: Roaming charges can add up fast. Turn off roaming when unnecessary to prevent bill shock. Most providers offer usage limits and alerts.
There are several things you can do to avoid expensive roaming charges when traveling to Bulgaria.:
A local SIM or eSIM is the best way to avoid roaming fees. Just make sure your phone can use them by checking the compatibility list.
If you’re traveling to Bulgaria, you’ll want to stay in touch with friends and family back home via messaging apps or get internet access to browse the web. Normally this means paying very high data roaming charges. However, there is an innovative choice – using an eSIM.
eSIM is a digital SIM that works with certain smartphones, letting you use it without needing a tiny physical SIM card. So what happens when we compare an eSIM vs roaming?
| Aspect | Roaming | eSIM Bulgaria |
| Cost | High rates per MB of data | Affordable flat daily/weekly rates |
| Convenience | Still need physical SIM card | No SIM card needed, just scan QR code |
| Coverage | Same as home network | Works anywhere in Bulgaria |
| Data usage | Unlimited rates apply after low-cost quota | Clear data quota and rates stated upfront |
As the table shows, eSIM for Bulgaria has clear benefits over roaming in terms of upfront pricing, ease of setup and full local coverage.
For reliable eSIM service in Bulgaria, travelers can purchase a plan from Gigago – one of the ideal and reputable places to buy eSIM. For Bulgaria, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1GB/day for 3 days with $3.00 .
What is great about Gigago’s Bulgaria eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $3.00 – $95.90 . Thus, it does not matter how many Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Bulgaria, there is always an option for you with Gigago.
Here are the steps to turn off data roaming when traveling in Bulgaria:
Yes, you can send and receive texts normally in Bulgaria with roaming on. MMS might depend on your phone company.
Yes, phone companies usually have a daily limit between 500MB and 2GB when roaming to keep costs down. If you use more, it’ll cost more.
No, you need data for WhatsApp and other apps, which will cost extra without a local plan. WiFi calling might be an option if your phone supports it.
Yes, roaming fees include Bulgaria’s VAT/sales tax, which could add about 20% more to your bill. Check with your phone company.
In short, data roaming in Bulgaria can be expensive. It’s okay for quick, important tasks but not for everyday internet use on your trip. It’s smarter to buy a local SIM card or eSIM with a data plan before you get there. This way, you get cheap internet without scary high fees. Planning this before your trip means you can use the internet without worrying about big bills.
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