Mobile Services in Bulgaria - Prices, Plans and Where to Buy

Every year, Bulgaria’s mobile operators introduce new prepaid plans and improve their networks. Mobile coverage is generally very good across the country, including Bulgaria’s popular seaside and mountain resorts. You should have no trouble staying connected during your holiday.

However, depending on your home country and mobile provider, roaming in Bulgaria can be expensive or your mobile data may be limited. If that is the case, buying a local Bulgarian SIM card is often a convenient and affordable option.

How to Buy a SIM Card in Bulgaria
Prepaid or Contract Plan?
Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Bulgaria in 2026
How to Check Your SIM Card Balance
Which Bulgarian SIM Card Should You Choose?

How to Buy a SIM Card in Bulgaria

There are three major mobile operators in Bulgaria:

A1 (formerly known as M-Tel) – https://www.a1.bg/
Vivacom — https://www.vivacom.bg/
Yettel (formerly Telenor and Globul) — https://www.yettel.bg/

You can buy a SIM card at an operator’s store in most towns and resorts. Look for the familiar A1, Vivacom or Yettel signs. Buying and activating a prepaid SIM card usually takes only a few minutes.

Prepaid SIM cards with mobile data are readily available. If you also want to make regular phone calls, you may be asked to show your passport or another form of identification.

You can also buy a SIM card at some Bulgarian airports. For example, SIM cards are available at Varna Airport and Burgas Airport, making this a convenient option if you want to get connected as soon as you arrive.

Tip: If you run out of data or minutes, check the minimum top-up amount before adding credit to your SIM card. Depending on the plan, the minimum top-up may cost more than simply buying another prepaid SIM card. For a short holiday, purchasing a new SIM can sometimes be the cheaper and easier option.

Prepaid or Contract Plan?

Bulgarian mobile operators offer both contract plans and prepaid options.

Contract plans generally offer cheaper call rates and more benefits, but they usually require a long-term commitment – typically at least two years. For short-term visitors, a prepaid SIM card is usually a much better choice: there is no long-term contract, and you can simply stop using the card when your holiday is over.

Some operator stores may offer contract plans only. In this case, prepaid SIM cards can be purchased at independent mobile phone shops.

Below are some of the most interesting and affordable prepaid options available in 2026.

Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Bulgaria in 2026

A1 – MAX 5G Prepaid Package

Price: €5.11

A1’s MAX 5G Prepaid Package is a good choice for a short trip.

The package includes:

500 minutes of calls within Europe and the UK
15 GB of mobile data
An additional 5 GB promotional data allowance
Validity: 19 days from activation

If you are staying in Bulgaria for just a week or two, this is a particularly convenient option.

Vivacom – Free2Go

Price: €7

Vivacom’s Free2Go prepaid plan offers:

1,000 minutes of calls within Bulgaria
35 GB of mobile data
SIM card validity of up to 12 months if you keep the card active according to the operator’s terms

Keep in mind that the included 1,000 minutes are intended for calls within Bulgaria. Calls to other European countries are charged separately at €0.228 per minute.

For most tourists who mainly need mobile internet and occasionally make calls within Bulgaria, Free2Go offers a good balance between price and data allowance.

Vivacom – Data2Go

If you only need mobile internet and do not need voice calls, take a look at Data2Go.

Price: €13
Data: 80 GB

This is an attractive option for heavy data users. It can be useful if you plan to use your phone as a hotspot, stream video, work remotely, or simply want plenty of data without worrying about running out.

Yettel – Hello 2026

Price: €5.11

Yettel’s Hello 2026 prepaid plan is another inexpensive option.

For €5.11, you get:

500 minutes of calls within Bulgaria and the EU
25 GB of mobile data (10 GB of the included data available during the first five days)
Validity: 30 days from activation

This makes Hello 2026 an interesting option for visitors staying in Bulgaria for up to a month.

💡 Did you know?

If your phone supports eSIM, you can set up your Bulgarian mobile internet BEFORE your trip — without waiting in line at the airport or looking for a mobile shop. You can keep your main SIM card in your phone for calls, SMS and banking messages, while using a Bulgarian eSIM for mobile data.

Some Bulgarian operators let you buy a prepaid eSIM online and receive a QR code by email — for example, Yettel offers tourist packages that can be activated using a QR code. This is especially convenient with Dual SIM: your physical SIM stays in the phone, while the Bulgarian eSIM is used only for mobile data. Before buying, check that your smartphone supports eSIM and allows you to use a physical SIM and eSIM at the same time.

How to Check Your SIM Card Balance

Once you have activated your Bulgarian SIM card, you can check your remaining credit, minutes and data using the following USSD codes.

A1

Main menu: *123#
Remaining minutes: *101#07#
Remaining SMS: *101#05#
Remaining mobile data: *101#03#

Vivacom

Account balance: *102#
Remaining minutes: *104#
Your phone number: *99*#

Yettel

Main menu / account information: *123#

Which Bulgarian SIM Card Should You Choose?

For most tourists, there is no need to overthink the choice. All three major Bulgarian operators offer good coverage, and the best option mainly depends on how long you are staying and how much mobile data you need.

For a short trip: A1 MAX 5G or Yettel Hello 2026 are inexpensive options with a useful combination of calls and mobile data.

For more mobile data: Vivacom Free2Go offers 35 GB, while Data2Go provides 80 GB if you only need internet.

For a longer stay: Check the validity period and the conditions for keeping your prepaid SIM active before choosing a plan.

With a local prepaid SIM card, you can use mobile internet, navigation, messaging apps and other online services without relying on potentially expensive roaming from your home operator.