Personal Safety:
If you are inexperienced with travelling in this part of Europe, it is recommended that you be in no hurry to drive here, although automobile rental is becoming more popular with tourists who wish to feel free to visit the many "off the travelled path" sights. While walking in the city, be mindful that although there are pedestrian crosswalks, there are also pedestrian tunnels at or quite near every major intersection. As a bonus, many of these tunnels also are the location for some quite wonderful shops, cafes and other attractions. It is often tempting to merely walk across a street at a traffic light, but the drivers usually consider their own need to be in the intersection more important than any pedestrian, and you may have a very long wait just to walk across any street.
Regarding Credit Cards (also see our page on Currency)
Over the past four years the ATM network in Bulgaria has grown considerably, making it relatively easy to obtain cash from the numerous ATMs as in all major cities and resorts. The national credit/debit card operator BORICA (www.borica.bg, www.iccs.bas.bg/etcetera/whoiswho/borica.htm), to which all ATMs in the country are hooked up, accepts VISA/Plus, Visa Electron, MasterCard/Cirrus, Maestro, American Express, Diners Club, and a number of other cards, including local debit cards*.
ATMs in Sofia, Plovdiv and the other major cities are available at most banks, many Shell and OMV gas stations, and big stores as well as at numerous other locations, mostly in the downtown area. ATM withdrawals are undoubtedly the most reasonable way to bring money to Bulgaria. All withdrawals are received in Bulgarian Leva (BGN), at the inter-bank exchange rate, which is generally better than that of any change bureau. In addition, BORICA does not charge a commission fee whatsoever, which, although quite unusual, is obviously of great advantage.
Furthermore, credit/debit cards do not have to be declared at customs, unlike cash. And last, but not least, credit/debit cards are definitely safer to carry around and use to obtain local currency than any other financial instruments. We strongly advise against "Traveller’s Cheques" as these can be very difficult and expensive to cash. Reasonable "out-of-pocket" expenses per person per day in Bulgaria should not normally exceed 20 USD. Naturally, you are advised to follow some common-sense procedures, such as keeping your cards in a safe place, not sharing the card numbers, expiration dates or PINs with anyone, and abstaining from using badly-lit ATMs alone at night.
Credit or debit cards can be also used to obtain cash from all banks and most change bureaus. Those, however, usually charge commission fees for the withdrawal and/or the currency exchange. The amount of those fees varies, and is often not openly stated, so make sure you inquire about it before requesting a transaction.
Unfortunately, most retailers in Bulgaria, especially those in smaller cities and rural areas, do not accept credit or debit cards yet. Only a few - particularly hotels, gas station chains, restaurants, airlines and some other retailers in bigger cities have been switching to that practice (however, be aware that paying with cards at such places can be a little more risky that obtaining cash from an ATM). It is recommended that you only use your credit/debit cards at locations that you have a reason to trust. For example, you probably should not be concerned about card payments at Sofia Sheraton Hotel, the TZUM Central Department Store, a Shell or OMV gas station, or the Clinique store. Also, remember to keep or carefully destroy any receipts on which the full card number appears.
If you plan to use your credit/debit card(s) in Bulgaria, it is highly recommended that you contact your financial institution in advance, and inform them about your travel plans. Often credit/debit card usage is limited to your home country, so you should ensure that you would be able to use your cards abroad. Informing your financial institution about your travel plans in advance will also prevent the unpleasant event of your cards being cancelled due to extraordinary transactions. U.S. visitors please note that Discover Card is not accepted overseas except for Internet purchases and transactions through US-based institutions.
Bear in mind that you will most likely be unable to obtain your balance from an ATM that uses a currency different than the one in your account. Therefore, when your account is in currency other than the Leva, you should ensure easy telephone or Internet access to your card account, in order to regularly monitor your transactions. Those may also be of vital importance in the unpleasant event of your cards being lost or stolen. As you may know, banks/credit institutions generally waive unauthorized charges made on your card only if you have reported it missing beforehand. Only regular magnetic stripe cards are usable at ATMs in Bulgaria. Smart Card, AMEX Blue and other microchip-only cards are currently not accepted.
