Bulgaria
Balkans · Bulgarian · Euro
A nod means no and a head shake means yes, so confirm with words before you order a second rakia.
Today in Bulgaria
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5 phrases you need in Bulgaria
- HelloЗдравейтеzdrah-VEY-teh
- GoodbyeДовижданеdoh-VEEZH-dah-neh
- PleaseМоляMOH-lyah
- Thank youБлагодаряblah-goh-dah-RYAH
- Excuse meИзвинетеeez-vee-NEH-teh
The Trovlr app drills all 8 Bulgaria phrases with audio, Duolingo-style. Get the app →
Know before you go
money
Bulgaria switched from the lev to the euro in January 2026, and many menus still show both prices at the fixed 1.95583 rate; insist on euro pricing if a vendor quotes you levs from memory.
etiquette
Bulgarians traditionally nod for no and shake their heads for yes, though many reverse it for foreigners; say da or ne out loud to be sure.
scams
Sofia airport and station taxis with lookalike branding charge multiples of the real fare; book through the TaxiMe or Yellow apps instead.
transport
The Sofia metro is cheap, clean, and runs straight to the airport; buy tickets by tapping a contactless card at the gate.
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