Money
Bulgaria joined the euro area on 1 January 2026, at the fixed rate of €1 = 1.95583 lev. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in the city, including on most buses and in small cafés, but keep a few coins for a market stall or a village bakery. Withdraw from bank ATMs rather than the standalone machines on the tourist streets, and always decline the on-screen currency conversion.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
Adopted 1 January 2026 at €1 = 1.95583 lev.
- Cards
- Widely accepted
Contactless is normal in Burgas; cash still helps outside the city.
- Tipping
- Round up, or about 10%estimate
Not obligatory. Tip in cash where you can.
Entry and documents
Bulgaria is a full Schengen member, so there are no routine border checks on flights from other Schengen countries. Non-EU visitors follow the usual Schengen rules for their nationality. Bring the physical document you booked with — carriers still check names against passports and ID cards.
Phones and data
Bulgaria is inside EU roaming, so an EU or EEA plan works at home rates. Coverage across the city and the coast road is good, and 5G reaches the centre. An eSIM from a local operator is the cheap route for visitors from outside the EU.
Health
Tap water in Burgas is drinkable. Pharmacies are common and several in the centre stay open late. EU and EEA visitors should carry the European Health Insurance Card; everyone else should carry travel insurance. Dial 112 for any emergency, from any phone, in English.
- Emergency number
- 112
Police, ambulance and fire, English spoken.
- EHIC / GHIC
- Bring it
Covers state healthcare for EU and EEA visitors on the same terms as residents.
Safety
Burgas is a calm provincial city and contest week will be policed accordingly. The realistic risks are the ordinary ones: pickpocketing in a crowd, an unmetered taxi, and the sea itself — the Black Sea in May is cold enough to take your breath, and beaches have no lifeguards before the season opens.
Language
Bulgarian is written in Cyrillic, and street signs in the centre and along the coast are usually bilingual. Younger staff in Burgas generally speak English, and German is common in hotels. A nod means no and a shake can mean yes, which catches everyone out at least once.
- Здравейте (zdraveyte) — hello
- Благодаря (blagodarya) — thank you
- Сметката, моля (smetkata molya) — the bill, please
Who the city is for
Eurovision brings a crowd that is visibly diverse, and Burgas is a coastal city used to visitors from all over Europe. Bulgaria has recognised anti-discrimination law and same-sex partnerships are not legally recognised, so public attitudes outside the contest bubble are more conservative than in western Europe. In practice the city centre and contest venues are relaxed; the countryside is quieter about it.
Accessibility
The Sea Garden paths, the Bogoridi pedestrian street and the pier are level and step-free, which covers most of what a visitor comes to see. Older pavements in the side streets are uneven, Nessebar's old town is cobbled and steep, and some museums are in historic buildings with stairs only.
- Arena accessible seating
- Not announced
Contest seating, including accessible places, has not been published.
