Money, cards and ATMs in Bulgaria

The lev is gone

This is the fact that invalidates most published Bulgarian price information.

• Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, becoming the 21st member of the euro area.
• The fixed conversion rate was EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583.
• The lev stopped being legal tender on 1 February 2026, ending 146 years of the currency.
• Dual pricing in both currencies was mandatory until 8 August 2026, so even that transitional signposting has now ended.

Practically: any guidebook, blog or price list quoting lev is describing a currency you cannot spend. Divide old lev prices by roughly 1.96 to get a sense of the euro figure, and expect some rounding upward in practice, as happens in every changeover.

Cards and cash

• Cards work nearly everywhere and contactless is standard.
• Carry some cash for village shops, markets and mountain huts.
• Commercial banks were required to exchange lev coins for euro free of charge through the first half of 2026 - if you have leftover lev from an earlier trip, that window has closed for most purposes and the central bank is the remaining route.

ATMs

• Always refuse the machine's offer to charge you in your own currency. Dynamic currency conversion at an ATM or a card terminal costs several per cent, every time, and the offer is worded to sound helpful. Choose the local currency and let your own bank convert.
• Use bank ATMs rather than the independent machines in tourist areas, which add their own fee on top.

Tipping

• Around 10 per cent in restaurants where service is not included.
• Check the bill. Some tourist-area restaurants add service and hope you tip again.