What things cost

Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries in the EU to travel in. Most of the nature on this trip is free; fortresses, caves and palaces charge a few euro.

Cheap €Mid-range €€Expensive €€€

Getting around Bulgaria

CheapMid-rangeExpensive
Car hireper day, economy
€6–15budget, low season
€20–30major brands
€50+summer, coast, automatic
Vignette
€5.301 day
€101 week
€19.901 month
Fuelper litre, Oct 2026
€1.66petrol
€1.89diesel
—
TrainSofia → Plovdiv
€5–72nd class
≈€71st class
—
Busbetween cities
€10–12Sofia → Plovdiv
€20–30Sofia → the coast (typical)
—

Typical entry tickets

CheapMid-rangeExpensive
Monasteries and villages
FreeRila, Bachkovo, Troyan, Rozhen churches; villages
€12Rila museums, combined
—
Fortresses and ruins
≈€2.50–4Madara, Pobiti Kamani, Kaliakra
≈€7–8Perperikon, Tsarevets
—
Caves and falls
≈€1.50–3Devetashka, Krushuna
≈€6.65Devil’s Throat
—
Palaces and gardens
—
€10Balchik Palace or garden
€20both

Eating and sleeping (typical)

CheapMid-rangeExpensive
Dinnerper person, with a drink
€12–18village mehana
€25–40good restaurant
€50+coast in high season
Coffee
€1–1.50espresso
€2.50–3.50cappuccino
—

Eating and drinking

CheapMid-rangeExpensive
Coffee
€1–1.50espresso at a kiosk or bakery
€2.50–3.50cappuccino in a café
€4–5specialty or hotel bar
Breakfast
€2–3banitsa and ayran
€8–12brunch plate
€18+brunch with drinks
Lunchper person
€7–12lunch menu or kebapche plate
€13–16main, salad and a beer
€25+restaurant lunch with wine
Dinnerper person, with a drink
€12–18mehana (tavern)
€25–40good restaurant
€60–100+chef’s tasting menu
Beer0.5 l
€1–1.50from a shop
€3–5draught in a bar
€5–7craft beer
Wineglass
€3–4house wine in a tavern
€5–8Bulgarian wine bar
€9–12rooftop or hotel
Cocktail
€5–7student bars
€8–12good cocktail bar
€10–16speakeasy or rooftop
Rakia50 ml
€2–3tavern
€4–6bar
€7+aged or rare rakia

Prices change, and many places only switched from leva to euro in 2026, so treat these as a guide and check on the spot. Ticket prices are for adults; students and pensioners usually pay less. Sources: Sofia–Plovdiv by train and bus · Vignette prices from 1 Aug 2026 · Fuel prices, 5 Oct 2026 · Car hire listings · Kazanlak tomb tariff 2026 · Devil’s Throat 2026 · Devetashka & Krushuna · Balchik Palace 2026 · Perperikon · Tsarevets · Pobiti Kamani · Numbeo, Oct 2026 · Sofia night-out prices 2026.

Before you go

Beyond the route

Photo credits

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