Bulgaria – known for its opera singers, folk dances & John Atanasoff (inventor of the first digital computer).
It is also a popular travel destination because it is relatively inexpensive (especially compared to the Nordics).
But Bulgaria also has a lot to offer in terms of sights and attractions.
Sunny Beach is a beach well-known throughout Europe.
Those who love nature always recommend the Seven Rila Lakes.
And those in love with churches head to the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila or Saint Alexander Nevsky Patriarch's Cathedral.
You should not be bored in Bulgaria.
While the country may be cheap, international roaming certainly will not be cheap.
That is why you should get a local SIM card to enjoy local rates, like a Bulgarian one.
So, how expensive are Bulgarian SIM cards?
You can get a Bulgarian SIM card for between 6 BGN (3.40 USD) to 50 BGN (28.35 USD) from A1, 7 BGN (3.95 USD) to 20 BGN (11.35 USD) from Vivacom & 8 BGN (4.55 USD) to 40 BGN (22.70 USD) from Yettel (formerly Telenor) in their stores. SIM cards may be sold at Sofia Airport (SOF).
Telenor Bulgaria has been rebranded to Yettel Bulgaria since March 2022. I will make sure this change will be reflected in this guide soon eventually, lol. Just read “Yettel” instead of “Telenor”. The plan selection and prices should still be the same.
All SIM cards include starter perks in terms of credit, data, minutes, and/or SMS, so those starter prices are certainly not bad at all for European standards.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Bulgaria. Let's get started.
Original publication: 6th of January 2022. Last updated: 31st of May 2023.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Bulgaria?
Anyone 18 years old or older living in or visiting Bulgaria can buy a Bulgarian SIM card from A1 (formerly Mtel), Yettel (formerly Telenor) & Vivacom with some restrictions.
The main restriction is that you can only have ten active SIM cards in your name in Bulgaria.
Even for people like me, who like to test out all the mobile operators in a country, this should be more than enough.
Besides that restriction, you are free to use Bulgarian SIM cards.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Bulgaria).
Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Bulgaria?
You can get a Bulgarian SIM card in A1 (formerly Mtel), Yettel (formerly Telenor) & Vivacom stores. Sofia Airport (SOF) may have SIM cards too.
You can expect to pay the following for Bulgarian SIM cards:
- A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel): 6 BGN, 15 BGN, 25 BGN & 40/50 BGN (four starter packs)
- Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor): 8 BGN, 10 BGN, 15 BGN, 25 BGN & 40 BGN (five starter packs)
- Vivacom Bulgaria: 7 BGN, 8 BGN & 20 BGN (three starter packs)
For up-to-date BGN:your currency (let's say EUR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Bulgaria. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).
Traditional European frequencies are used in Bulgaria, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American frequencies, which differ from the European ones.
If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Bulgaria.
If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Bulgaria or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Bulgaria (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE (and soon 5G NR as well).
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has three mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel Bulgaria)
- Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor Bulgaria)
- Vivacom Bulgaria
The following frequencies are used in Bulgaria:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz (n1) & 3600 MHz (n78) – not for prepaid yet
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Bulgaria, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Bulgaria
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) are available in Bulgaria.
However, not all mobile operators in Bulgaria offer VoLTE and VoWiFi.
The following mobile operators offer VoLTE and VoWiFi in Bulgaria:
- Vivacom Bulgaria
The following mobile operators offer VoLTE only in Bulgaria:
- A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel Bulgaria)
- Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
This means that your phone does not have to downgrade to 2G or 3G when making a call (unlike mobile operators that do not support VoLTE).
5G NR in Bulgaria
Commercial 5G NR has been available in Bulgaria since October 2020. It is available on the A1 (formerly Mtel), Yettel (formerly Telenor) & Vivacom networks. However, prepaid customers cannot use 5G NR (yet).
Best SIM Card in Bulgaria
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Bulgaria, I recommend going with A1 or Vivacom. A1 has, overall, a great network. Vivacom is the fastest (on 4G/LTE) and has the cheapest plans.
Best eSIM in Bulgaria
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Bulgaria (yet).
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Bulgaria.
But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.
Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).
So here are the six best eSIMs for Bulgaria:
- Airalo's Estekom Estonia eSIM with five choices between 1 GB and 10 GB (best value for money)
- Airalo's Eurolink Europe eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 100 GB (best value for money when also visiting other European countries) – read my ongoing Airalo Eurolink eSIM review too!
- Holafly Estonia eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 20 days (truly unlimited data plans at premium prices)
- Nomad Estonia eSIM with ten choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (switches to the best network, allowing for excellent reception at all times)
- Holafly Europe eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 60 days (truly unlimited data plans when also visiting other European countries at premium prices)
- Nomad Europe eSIM with 13 choices between 1 GB and 40 GB (the best of both worlds in terms of pricing and performance)
Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Bulgaria, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).
If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Bulgaria, you better check out my Bulgaria eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
SIM Card Registration in Bulgaria
SIM card registration with your passport information is required in Bulgaria. It will be done at the point of purchase.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, you can have up to ten active prepaid SIM cards in Bulgaria.
This restriction applies to both Bulgarian citizens and non-citizens (including migrant workers and tourists).
EU Roaming in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is part of the European Union (EU).
Since June 2017, those with EU/EEA (European Economic Area) SIM cards can roam for free in other EU/EEA nations, including Bulgaria.
This means that, in the majority of cases, you do not need to purchase a Bulgarian SIM card if you already have an EU/EEA SIM card because you can roam without additional costs.
However, conditions do apply. Mobile operators in some countries may impose a roaming Fair Use Policy (FUP).
In countries where local mobile data rates are extremely low (such as in the Baltics and Nordics), mobile operators may still charge you for roaming in the EU/EEA.
Be sure to head over to the international roaming page to learn whether your mobile operator offers free roaming while in Bulgaria or if restrictions apply.
Roaming in the EU with Bulgarian SIM Cards
Bulgaria and the Bulgarian mobile operators have largely adopted the roam like at home regulations principles early on.
However, some plans have an EU/EEA roaming cap.
Moreover, the standard Fair Use Policy applies where you should not be roaming over 50% of the time over a four-month period.
If you do so, EU roaming rates will apply. You are then better off buying local prepaid SIM cards in other EU nations.
Bulgaria Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
I mentioned that Bulgaria is a relatively inexpensive travel destination in the introduction.
And the same can be said for the mobile data rates in the country.
The average price for 1 GB of data in Bulgaria is 2.26 USD, around the European average of 2.50 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
Just look at how mobile data costs have fallen over the years (decreased by 80.4% from 2019 to 2021).
Cable.co.uk split Europe into three territories: Western Europe, Eastern Europe & the Baltics.
The Eastern European average cost of 1 GB of data, using Cable.co.uk's definition, is 2.25 USD.
So, the cost of mobile data is low, but what about mobile data speeds.
Is mobile data fast in Bulgaria?
You could say it blazing fast.
Bulgaria's median mobile download speed is around 85 Mbps, almost triple the global median.
You may be surprised, but Bulgaria has the 4th fastest mobile download speed in the whole of Europe.
Only behind Norway (117 Mbps), the Netherlands (94 Mbps) & Cyprus (89 Mbps).
You would not expect that from Bulgaria, did you? 😏
And the speeds have significantly improved since the introduction of 5G NR.
Moreover, Vivacom Bulgaria was the fastest mobile operator in 2020 – it even won the Europe Fastest Mobile Operator Speedtest Award.
In 2021, Vivacom hit the second place, with a Speed Score of 122.21, behind Cyta from Cyprus (134.69 Speed Score).
Okay, so which mobile operator is the best in Bulgaria?
A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel) and Vivacom Bulgaria are.
We already know that Vivacom Bulgaria is the fastest mobile operator in the country (and the second-fastest in Europe), but A1 Bulgaria is doing great too.
While you should ignore the speeds in the images below because they are way underreported, it does give you an idea of where the mobile operators stand.
What A1 Bulgaria is currently excelling in 5G NR.
It is rocking it. Far ahead of its competitors.
But… remember… 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers yet 🥲.
With low SIM card prices, extensive nationwide coverage, blazing-fast mobile download speeds, and low mobile data rates, you should have a smooth network experience in Bulgaria.
Currency in Bulgaria
Bulgaria uses the Bulgarian Lev with the symbol BGN (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as Лв. For example, 25 BGN = 25 Лв.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between BGN and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 BGN = 0.55 USD
- 10 BGN = 5.65 USD
- 100 BGN = 56.75 USD
For up-to-date BGN:your currency (let's say EUR – Euro) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
While Bulgaria is in the European Union, it is not part of the Euro Zone.
That is why it still uses its own currency.
However, Bulgaria is planning on adopting the Euro in 2024.
In the meantime, do not attempt to pay with Euros in Bulgaria, as almost no merchant will accept it – certainly not the mobile operators.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
Bulgarian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel), Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor) & Vivacom Bulgaria, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge / top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Bulgaria has to offer to us.
A1 Bulgaria (А1 България – formerly Mtel Bulgaria/Мтел България)
A1 Bulgaria (А1 България), just A1 and formerly Mtel Bulgaria (Мтел България), is the largest mobile operator in Bulgaria.
It also has the fastest 5G network – double the speed of its competitors.
Unfortunately, 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers (yet) 🥲.
A1, as a company, is from Austria and is active in Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia & Slovenia.
A1 uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3600 MHz (n78)
This is what you will learn about A1:
* Coverage
* How to Get an A1 SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
A1 has extensive coverage throughout Bulgaria.
While 4G/LTE with A1 is available almost everywhere, it is still (slightly) lacking behind Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor) & Vivacom Bulgaria.
Below is A1's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
You can buy an A1 SIM card, called A1 Holiday Plus, for 6 BGN with 1500 MB and 30 local/international minutes (to select destinations) or data-only SIM cards for 15 BGN (15 GB), 25 BGN (30 GB), or 40/50 BGN (50 GB) in A1 stores. A1 SIM cards may be available at Sofia Airport (SOF).
The local and international minutes to select destinations with the A1 Holiday Plus SIM card are as follows:
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
Below is an overview of the A1 data-only SIM cards:
| Price | SIM Card | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 BGN | Prepaid Mobile Internet 15 GB | 15 GB | 30 days |
| 25 BGN | Prepaid Mobile Internet 30 GB | 30 GB | 30 days |
| 50 BGN 1 | Prepaid Mobile Internet 50 GB | 50 GB | 30 days |
1 since mid-2019, this SIM card has often been sold for 40 BGN instead. It may be the new permanent price
Dial *123# to access the A1 menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
While A1 does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to prepaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Bulgaria without personal detail capturing, you can get Bulgaria Bultel eSIMs from Airalo (five options):
- 2.5 GB/30 days
- 5 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 15 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 30 GB/30 days
- 50 GB/30 days
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17th of May (2023 data only).
No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Airalo Eurolink eSIM to be used in 39 European countries with six variants:
- 1 GB/7 days
- 3 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 50 GB/90 days
- 100 GB/180 days
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17th of May (2023 data only).
Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!
By the way, you get free 5G NR access in 22 of the 39 supported countries!
I have used the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in 11 countries so far, and my goal is to test it in all supported countries.
- Be sure to check out my Airalo Eurolink eSIM review for my insights!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Bulgaria.
You can read about them in my Best Bulgaria eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Note that A1 offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
A1 top-up vouchers are sold in A1 stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Bulgaria.
The following (online) top-ups are available:
| Top-Up | Validity |
|---|---|
| 8 BGN | 90 days |
| 10 BGN | 90 days |
| 15 BGN | 90 days |
| 30 BGN | 90 days |
| 60 BGN | 90 days |
To top up your A1 SIM card, dial *100*VoucherCode# or call *88 and follow the instructions.
Note that every call to *88 will cost 0.18 BGN/call.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *100*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial *123# to check your A1 balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My A1 (Bulgaria) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
A1 has five data-featured prepaid plans:
- Combo Add-Ons for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan
- Add-Ons for Prepaid Pack A1 Holiday Plus (combo)
- MB Mobile Internet for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan (data)
- Additional Packages for A1 Prepaid Mobile Internet Cards (data for data-only SIM cards)
- Top-Ups for Mobile Internet Cards (top-ups/plans for data-only SIM cards)
All A1 plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 789 or by dialing *123#.
I will list all the prices in BGN (Bulgarian Lev).
To convert BGN to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Combo Add-Ons for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
The Combo Add-Ons for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan are, as the name implies, combo add-ons (read: plan) with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS for the Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan(s).
You have to send a text message to 789 to switch to this tariff plan to use these combo plans.
Text the Activation Code to 789 to activate Combo Add-Ons for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan:
| Price | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | On-Net SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.99 BGN | N/A | 30 minutes | N/A | N/A | 15 days | M5 |
| 1.99 BGN | N/A | 60 minutes | N/A | N/A | 7 days | M17 |
| 1.99 BGN | N/A | 5000 minutes | N/A | N/A | 30 days | V1 |
| 2.99 BGN | N/A | N/A | 20 minutes | N/A | 30 days | N2 |
| 3.99 BGN | N/A | 200 minutes | N/A | N/A | 30 days | M3 |
| 5.49 BGN | N/A | 150 minutes | 50 minutes | N/A | 30 days | C5 |
| 5.99 BGN | N/A | N/A | 50 minutes | N/A | 30 days | N1 |
| 5.99 BGN | 200 MB | 200 minutes | N/A | 200 SMS | 30 days | C1 |
| 5.99 BGN | 200 MB | 5000 minutes | N/A | 200 SMS | 30 days | F1 |
| 5.99 BGN | 1000 MB | 100 minutes | 100 minutes | N/A | 15 days | C3 |
| 6.99 BGN | N/A | 500 minutes | N/A | N/A | 30 days | M4 |
| 14.99 BGN | 3000 MB | 300 minutes | 150 minutes | N/A | 30 days | C4 |
Add-Ons for Prepaid Pack A1 Holiday Plus – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
The Add-ons for Prepaid Pack A1 Holiday Plus are combo add-ons (read: plans) with data (without 5G NR access) and minutes exclusively for the A1 Holiday SIM card.
Text the Activation Code to 1730 to activate Combo Add-Ons for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan:
| Price | Data | Local/International Minutes | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.99 BGN | 2000 MB | N/A | 10 days | DS1 |
| 9.99 BGN | N/A | 50 minutes | 10 days | VS1 |
| 24.99 BGN | 2000 MB | 50 minutes | 30 days | CS1 |
| 29.99 BGN | 5000 MB | N/A | 30 days | DS2 |
| 29.99 BGN | N/A | 150 minutes | 30 days | VS2 |
MB Mobile Internet for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
The MB Mobile Internet for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan are, as the name implies, data add-ons (read: plan without 5G NR access) for the Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan(s).
You have to send a text message to 789 to switch to this tariff plan to use these combo plans.
Text the Activation Code to 789 to activate Combo Add-Ons for Universal (Plus) Tariff Plan:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.99 BGN | 300 MB | 30 days | D2 |
| 9.99 BGN | 1500 MB | 30 days | D3 |
Additional Packages for A1 Prepaid Mobile Internet Cards – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
The Additional Packages for A1 Prepaid Mobile Internet Cards are data plans (without 5G NR access) for the data-only SIM cards.
Dial *123# to activate Additional Packages for A1 Prepaid Mobile Internet Cards:
| Price | Plan | Validity | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.99 BGN | Prepaid Mobile Internet 1000 MB | 1000 MB | 10 days |
| 9.99 BGN | Prepaid Mobile Internet 2500 MB | 2500 MB | 20 days |
| 29.99 BGN | Prepaid Mobile Internet 9000 MB | 9000 MB | 30 days |
Top-Ups for Mobile Internet Cards – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
The Top-Ups for Mobile Internet Cards are data top-ups/plans (without 5G NR access).
Depending on how much you top-up, a fee will be charged (6 BGN, 10 BGN, or 30 BGN) for data allowances.
If there is still credit left, it can be used for other purposes.
The following Top-Ups for Mobile Internet Cards are available:
| Top-Up | Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 BGN – 9 BGN | 6 BGN | 2000 MB | 30 days |
| 10 BGN – 29 BGN | 10 BGN | 5000 MB | 30 days |
| 30 BGN => | 30 BGN | 20 000 MB | 30 days |
EU Roaming – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
You can use your allowances in the following EU/EEA member states without paying roaming fees:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Martinique
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Réunion
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Be aware that, in some cases, the EU/EEA roaming allowance is lower than the domestic allowances.
APN/Internet Settings – A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel)
- Name: A1
- APN: internet.a1.bg
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
Yettel Bulgaria, just Yettel and formerly Telenor, is the second-largest mobile operator in Bulgaria.
While Yettel is from Norway, it is not run by the Telenor Group.
Instead, it is owned by the PPF Group – a Czech-based investment firm – that also runs Telenor in Hungary, Montenegro & Serbia.
For a while, Yettel Bulgaria was known as Telenor.
Yettel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 2600 MHz (n38) & 3600 MHz (n78)
This is what you will learn about Yettel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Telenor SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
Yettel has extensive coverage throughout Bulgaria.
It has the best 4G/LTE coverage experience together with Vivacom Bulgaria.
Below is Yettel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
You can buy a Yettel SIM card for 8 BGN or 10 BGN (regular SIM cards), or 15 BGN, 25 BGN or 40 BGN (data-only SIM cards) in Telenor stores. Yettel SIM cards may be available at Sofia Airport (SOF).
The following five Yettel starter packs are available:
| Price | SIM Card | Credit | Data | EU/EEA Data | Local/EU Minutes 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 BGN | Prepaid Starter Pack Telenor 8 BGN | 3 BGN (60 days) | 6000 MB | 2800 MB | 300 minutes | 14 days |
| 10 BGN | Prepaid Starter Pack Telenor 10 BGN | 3 BGN (60 days) | 8000 MB | 3500 MB | 400 minutes | 30 days |
| 15 BGN | Prepaid Starter Pack Mobile Internet 15 GB | N/A | 15 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 25 BGN | Prepaid Starter Pack Mobile Internet 30 GB | N/A | 30 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 40 BGN | Prepaid Starter Pack Mobile Internet 50 GB | N/A | 50 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
1 local use and to call/SMS other EU/EEA member states when in other EU/EEA member states and back to Bulgaria (NOT from Bulgaria to other EU/EEA member states)
Yettel used to have Yettel Tourist SIM card with some data and attractive international call rates.
This offer has been discontinued, or it is only available during summer.
I guess I have to visit Bulgaria once when it is summer instead of winter or spring 🥴.
Dial *123# to access the Yettel menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
While Yettel does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to prepaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Bulgaria without personal detail capturing, you can get unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly (six options):
- Unlimited/5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/10 days
- Unlimited/15 days
- Unlimited/20 days
- Unlimited/30 days
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17th of May (2023 data only).
The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!
No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Holafly Europe eSIM to be used in 33 European countries, also with unlimited data, with seven variants:
- Unlimited/5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/7 days
- Unlimited/10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/15 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/20 days
- Unlimited/30 days
- Unlimited/60 days
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17th of May (2023 data only).
Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Holafly review!
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off each Holafly purchase!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Bulgaria.
You can read about them in my Best Bulgaria eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Note that Yettel offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
Yettel has four data-featured prepaid plans:
- From-To Combo Add-Ons
- Top-Up Add-Ons (combo top-ups/plans)
- Mobile Internet Add-Ons (data)
- Mobile Internet Add-On for Mobile Internet SIM Cards (data)
All Yettel plans can be activated by dialing *123#.
I will list all the prices in BGN (Bulgarian Lev).
To convert BGN to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
From-To Combo Add-Ons – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
The From-To Combo Add-Ons (read: plans) are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access) and minutes.
Dial the Activation Code to activate From-To Combo Add-Ons:
| Price | Local/EU Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net/EU Minutes 1 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.99 BGN | 500 MB | 250 minutes | 25 minutes | 7 days | *123*2*2# |
| 9.99 BGN | 1000 MB | 500 minutes | 50 minutes | 30 days | *123*2*4# |
| 14.99 BGN | 2000 MB | 1000 minutes | 100 minutes | 30 days | *123*2*5# |
1 for calls within and to other EU/EEA member states and back to Bulgaria (NOT from Bulgaria to other EU/EEA member states).
Top-Up Add-Ons – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly GloBul)
The Top-Ups Add-Ons (read: plans) are combo top-ups/plans with data (without 5G NR access) and minutes.
Depending on how much you top-up, a fee will be charged (5 BGN or 7 BGN) for data and call allowances.
If there is still credit left, it can be used for other purposes.
The following Top-Ups Add-Ons are available:
| Top-Up | Price | Data | EU/EEA Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net/EU Minutes 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 BGN – 7.99 BGN | 5 BGN | 750 MB | 750 MB | 100 minutes | 50 minutes | 14 days |
| 8 BGN – 9.99 BGN | 7 BGN | 1000 MB | 2400 MB | 100 minutes | 50 minutes | 14 days |
| 10 BGN – 14.99 BGN | 7 BGN | 3500 MB | 2400 MB | 150 minutes | 50 minutes | 14 days |
| 15 BGN => | 7 BGN | 6000 MB | 2400 MB | 200 minutes | 100 minutes | 20 days |
1 for calls within and to other EU/EEA member states and back to Bulgaria (NOT from Bulgaria to other EU/EEA member states).
Mobile Internet Add-Ons – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
The Mobile Internet Add-Ons (read: plans) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Dial the Activation Code to activate Mobile Internet Add-Ons:
| Price | Data | EU/EEA Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.99 BGN | 300 MB | Shared with local data allowance | 1 day | *123*3*1# |
| 4.99 BGN | 1500 MB | Shared with local data allowance | 7 days | *123*3*8# |
| 9.99 BGN | 3500 MB | Shared with local data allowance | 30 days | *123*3*3# |
| 14.99 BGN | 10 000 MB | 5200 MB | 30 days | *123*3*4# |
| 19.99 BGN | 20 000 MB | 6900 MB | 30 days | *123*3*7# |
Mobile Internet Add-On for Mobile Internet SIM Cards – Yettel Bulgaria (formerly Telenor)
The Mobile Internet Add-On for Mobile Internet SIM Cards is, as the name implies, a data add-on (read: plan without 5G NR access) for the data-only SIM cards.
For 5 BGN, you get 1000 MB for 14 days. Text LS1 to 123 to activate it.
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 BGN | 1000 MB | 14 days | Text LS1 to 123 |
APN/Internet Settings – Telenor Bulgaria (formerly GloBul)
- Name: Telenor Internet
- APN: telenorbg
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Vivacom Bulgaria (Виваком България)
Vivacom Bulgaria, just Vivacom and officially Виваком България, is the third-largest mobile operator in Bulgaria.
It was the first mobile operator to offer 5G NR in all 27 district centers of Bulgaria.
It also won the Speedtest Europe's Fastest Mobile Network of 2020 award twice (Q1 – Q2 (83.64 Speed Score) and Q3 – Q4 (92.55 Speed Score)).
Vivacom uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
- 5G NR: 1800 MHz (n3), 2100 MHz (n1) & 3600 MHz (n78) – not for prepaid (yet)
This is what you will learn about Vivacom:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Vivacom SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Vivacom Bulgaria
Vivacom has extensive coverage throughout Bulgaria.
It has the best 4G/LTE availability.
It has the best 4G/LTE coverage experience together with Telenor Bulgaria.
Below is Vivacom's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Vivacom Bulgaria
You can buy a Vivacom SIM card for 7 BGN (OPA!), 8 BGN (FREE2GO), or 20 BGN (DATA2GO) in Vivacom stores. Vivacom SIM cards may be available at Sofia Airport (SOF).
The following three Vivacom starter packs are available:
| Price | SIM Card | Credit | Data | EU/EEA Data | Local Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 BGN | OPA! | 5 BGN | N/A | N/A | N/A | 60 days |
| 8 BGN | FREE2GO | 3 BGN | 6000 MB | 2800 MB | 400 minutes | 60 days |
| 20 BGN | DATA2GO 1 | N/A | 25 000 MB | 5900 MB | N/A | 60 days |
1 this is a data-only SIM card
Dial *123# to access the Vivacom menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
While Vivacom does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to prepaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Bulgaria without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Nomad (eight options):
- 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices)
- 3 GB/15 days
- 3 GB/30 days
- 5 GB/15 days
- 5 GB/30 days
- 10 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices)
- 15 GB/30 days
- 20 GB/30 days
The best part is that you can get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off using code ADU123 on your first Nomad eSIM purchase!
No idea what or who Nomad is? Check out my Nomad review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over two years.
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Nomad Europe eSIM to be used in 25 or 35 European countries, depending on the plan, with eight variants:
- 1 GB/7 days (25 countries – new)
- 1 GB/7 days (35 countries)
- 3 GB/30 days (25 countries – new)
- 3 GB/30 days (35 countries)
- 5 GB/30 days (25 countries – new)
- 5 GB/30 days (35 countries) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers (that was before the 25 countries options were added)
- 10 GB/30 days (25 countries – new)
- 10 GB/30 days (35 countries) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers (that was before the 25 countries options were added)
Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!
I have used the Nomad Europe eSIM in eight countries so far, and my goal is to test it in all supported countries.
- Be sure to check out my Nomad Europe eSIM review for my insights!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Bulgaria.
You can read about them in my Best Bulgaria eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Note that Vivacom offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.
Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Vivacom Bulgaria
Vivacom top-up vouchers are sold in Vivacom stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Bulgaria.
The following (online) top-ups are available:
| Top-Up | Validity |
|---|---|
| <= 19.99 BGN | 60 days |
| 20 BGN => | 120 days |
To top up your Vivacom SIM card, dial *101*VoucherCode# or call 123, select option 1, and enter the VoucherCode.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *101*123456# or call 123, select option 1, and enter 123456.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial *102# or call 123 and select option 2 to check your Vivacom balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the MY VIVACOM app (Android/iOS/Huawei AppGallery).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Vivacom Bulgaria
Vivacom has three data-featured prepaid plans:
All Vivacom plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 1236 or by dialing *123#.
I will list all the prices in BGN (Bulgarian Lev).
To convert BGN to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Additional Packages – Vivacom Bulgaria
The Additional Packages are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS. Unlike the name suggests, they can be purchased as standalone plans.
The following Additional Packages are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 1236:
| Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | On-Net SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.99 BGN | + Talk | 200 MB | 300 minutes | 20 minutes | N/A | 7 days | M2 |
| 3.99 BGN | + Talk Super | 400 MB | 500 minutes | 50 minutes | 25 SMS | 25 days | D1 |
| 6.99 BGN | + No. | 400 MB | 150 minutes | 10 minutes | N/A | 7 days | M3 |
| 6.99 BGN | + No Super | 1000 MB | 300 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 SMS | 25 days | D2 |
Combo/Mix Add-Ons – Vivacom Bulgaria
The Combo/Mix Add-Ons are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS. Unlike the name suggests, they can be purchased as standalone plans.
The following Combo/Mix Add-Ons are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 1236:
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Local/EU Minutes | Local/EU SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.99 BGN 1 | Mix M+ | 800 MB | 3400 MB | 400 minutes | 50 SMS | 28 days | X2 |
| 7.99 BGN | Mix M | 600 MB | 600 MB | 300 minutes | 25 SMS | 28 days | X1 |
| 9.99 BGN 1 | Mix L+ | 6000 MB | 4800 MB | 800 minutes | 50 SMS | 28 days | X4 |
| 10.99 BGN | Mix L | 2000 MB | 2000 MB | 600 minutes | 25 SMS | 28 days | X3 |
1 auto-renews
Some Combo/Mix Add-Ons auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text STOP_X2 (Mix M+) or STOP_X4 (Mix L+) to 1236.
Internet/Data Add-Ons – Vivacom Bulgaria
The Internet/Data Add-Ons are data plans (without 5G NR access). Unlike the name suggests, they can be purchased as standalone plans.
The following Internet/Data Add-Ons are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 1236:
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.99 BGN | Data XS | 1000 MB | 1000 MB | 1 day | T1 |
| 5.99 BGN | Data S | 1000 MB | 1000 MB | 7 days | T2 |
| 6.99 BGN 1 | Data M+ | 1200 MB | 3400 MB | 28 days | P1 |
| 7.99 BGN | Data M | 1000 MB | 1000 MB | 28 days | T3 |
| 9.99 BGN 1 | Data L+ | 8000 MB | 4800 MB | 28 days | P2 |
| 10.99 BGN | Data L | 4000 MB | 4000 MB | 28 days | T4 |
1 auto-renews
Some Internet/Data Add-Ons auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text STOP_P1 (Data M+) or STOP_P2 (Data L+) to 1236.
EU Roaming – Vivacom Bulgaria
You can use your allowances in the following EU/EEA member states without paying roaming fees:
- Austria
- Azores
- Balearic Islands
- Belgium
- Canary Islands
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madeira
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Réunion
- Romania
- Saint Barthélemy
- Saint Martin
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
Be aware that, in some cases, the EU/EEA roaming allowance is lower than the domestic allowances.
APN/Internet Settings – Vivacom Bulgaria
- Name: VIVACOM INTERNET GPRS
- APN: internet.vivacom.bg
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Bulgaria
Getting a SIM card from A1 or Vivacom would do you well when considering a Bulgarian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other European Countries
Visiting other countries in Europe? Check out my Europe SIM card buying guide, covering other European nations, such as:
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
Support Phone Travel Wiz
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Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need to recommend international SIM cards as the best local SIM card (but some of them CAN be useful).
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Check Out My Resource Page
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience?
Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling
Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling?
In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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