burgas3 min read

DoesBurgasUsetheEuro?Money,CardsandCashinBulgariaExplained

Yes. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, so you pay in euros in Burgas exactly as you would in Athens or Dublin. Cards work in most central hotels, restaurants and shops, but markets, small taverns and some taxis stay cash-only — carry €25–50 in small notes.

Cash and coffee on a café table on Bogoridi street in Burgas with shoppers passing in warm afternoon light

TL;DR

Burgas uses the euro (since 1 January 2026), cards are fine in the centre, and you still want small cash for markets, buses and taverns.

No more lev maths

Bulgaria switched from the lev to the euro on 1 January 2026, which removes the single most annoying thing about budgeting a Black Sea trip: converting prices in your head. Menus, bus tickets and hotel rates are all quoted in euros now.

If you have leftover lev banknotes from an older holiday, they are not lost. <cite index="0-3,0-4">The Bulgarian National Bank exchanges lev banknotes and coins indefinitely and free of charge at the fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN, including at a Cash Service Company office in Burgas</cite>. <cite index="0-7">Since February 2026 the euro is the only legal tender — pounds and dollars are not accepted for payment.</cite>

Cards or cash in Burgas?

Use a card for hotels, malls, supermarkets and most central restaurants. Keep cash for the Central Market Halls (cash only, best in the mornings), small mehanas, bakeries and the occasional taxi. Withdraw from bank ATMs rather than the independent exchange machines near the seafront, and always decline "conversion to your home currency" at the terminal.

What things actually cost

  • City bus single: about €0.80
  • Airport taxi to the centre: €10–15 (bus line 15 is ~€0.80–1.50)
  • Metered taxi: roughly €0.60–1.00 per km
  • Bakery breakfast (banitsa and coffee): under €3
  • Mehana main course: €8–13; full dinner with drinks €20–30

Tipping is simple: round up, or leave about 10% for good service — and check whether a service charge is already on the bill.

Plan the rest of your trip with our guides to getting around Burgas and where to eat, and start your Eurovision 2027 planning at travelburgas.com.

Questions

Can I still pay in Bulgarian lev in Burgas?
No. The euro is Bulgaria's currency since 1 January 2026 and the sole legal tender since February 2026. Old lev banknotes and coins can be exchanged free of charge at the Bulgarian National Bank's cash service office in Burgas at the fixed rate of 1.95583 BGN per euro.
How much cash should I carry in Burgas?
Around €25–50 in small notes per day covers markets, bakeries, buses and taxis. Everything larger — hotels, malls, central restaurants — takes cards.
Is Burgas expensive compared with other EU beach cities?
No. A bus ride is about €0.80, a bakery breakfast under €3 and a full dinner with drinks €20–30 per person. Beachfront terraces charge noticeably more than the same food two streets inland.

Written in response to a reader question: source thread

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