Yes. International credit and debit card payments are widely accepted all across Bulgaria, including in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and the seaside resorts of Burgas and Sunny Beach on the Black Sea.

Cards issued by Mastercard, Maestro, Visa and Diners Club are widely supported. Cards issued by American Express may not be supported by some vendors.

Be aware that in smaller towns and villages, off the beaten track, shops and smaller supermarkets may only accept cash.

Some British banks may charge for international card payments. In addition your bank’s BGN to GBP exchange rate may not be so good. This is how banks make money. Before using your bank card for payments in Bulgaria it’s certainly a good idea to contact your bank. This will avoid your card becoming blocked due to international transactions that your bank may find suspicious.

It’s best to take some cash with you when you travel to Bulgaria. Although cards are widely accepted in Bulgaria, some vendors may not be able to accept international cards and ask for cash payment. Minimum spend may also apply for payments by card, since vendors are not allowed to charge extra for card payments under EU rules.

Cash remains an important means of payment in Bulgaria and it is a great fallback option. Taxi drivers, street vendors and tour guides will often only accept cash. Cash, especially smaller banknotes and coins, is also useful for tipping.

A coffee will cost somewhere between 1 lev in small town cafes to 2-3 leva in tourist-heavy areas of Sofia and the Black Sea resorts.

A three-course dinner for two people in a mid-range restaurant costs around 40 leva, not including tips.

The cost of living in Bulgaria is quite cheap compared to prices in the UK.

Tipping is very common in Bulgaria and in many cases expected. In cafes, paying an extra 1 or 2 levs is good practice.

In bars and nightclubs tips are 2-5 leva. In restaurants, add 10% extra to the bill if you’re happy about the service.

Taxi drivers usually round up the fares, adding 2-3 leva extra.