Best apps for Varna and Bulgaria in 2026: navigation, taxis, parking, buses, vignette

The short answer: install Waze or Google Maps (plus an offline map), BGTOLL if you drive, MPark for parking, TTickets Varna for buses, a local taxi app, Glovo and Viber. There is no Uber in Varna, and Bolt offers no rides here (checked 27 October 2026). If you drive in on Bulgarian motorways or main roads, buy the e-vignette first: from 1 August 2026 a weekly one costs €10.00, according to BG TOLL.

What should I install before I leave home?

• Waze or Google Maps, plus OsmAnd with the Bulgaria map downloaded on Wi-Fi.
• BGTOLL (if you drive) – buy the vignette before you reach the toll network.
• MPark (if you will park in central Varna).
• TTickets Varna for buses.
• One taxi app: Triumf, Hippo, Omega or JoyTaxi.
• Viber, and your banking app with Apple Pay or Google Pay set up.

Waze or Google Maps: which is better in Bulgaria?

Both work; use Waze for driving and Google Maps for walking. Waze is widely used by local drivers for traffic jams, police and hazards. Its Bulgarian community guide (Wazeopedia, read October 2026) explains how to map fixed speed cameras and red-light cameras; it mentions average-speed systems but gives no separate instructions for them, and we could not confirm that Waze warns about them. Watch the road signs as well.

Google Maps is fine for finding places and walking routes. We could not confirm how well it shows Varna’s buses, so test a route against TTickets before relying on it. For areas with poor signal, OsmAnd has offline country maps; the free version limits how many maps you can download, according to Wikipedia. Download Bulgaria before you cross the border, while you are still on Wi-Fi or a home data plan.

Which app do I need for the Bulgarian vignette?

The official BGTOLL app (Google Play and App Store) or the web shop web.bgtoll.bg. The e-vignette is linked to your plate, there is no sticker, and you can check a plate’s vignette online. The BG TOLL helpline is +359 70010876, daily 08:00–20:00. Prices from 1 August 2026, according to BG TOLL:

Vignette	Price
Daily	€5.30
Weekend	€6.60
Weekly	€10.00
Monthly	€19.90
Quarterly	€35.90
Annual	€64.50
Compensatory charge (caught without one)	€46.50

Driving in? Read driving to Varna as well.

Is there Uber or Bolt in Varna?

No: Uber suspended its service in Bulgaria (Sofia Globe), and Bolt’s city list shows only Sofia, with no rides in Varna (checked 27 October 2026). Use a local company app instead, such as Triumf, Hippo, Omega or JoyTaxi, all compared on our page on taxis in Varna.

How do I pay for parking with a foreign phone?

With MPark, or in cash at a shop with the parking sticker. Paying by SMS to 1352 (Blue Zone) or 1353 (Green Zone) works only with a Bulgarian SIM, as our Blue and Green Zone parking guide explains, along with hours, prices and clamp fees. In MPark you choose the zone yourself, so check the street sign first; Visit Varna describes the payment options.

Which app is best for Varna buses?

TTickets Varna, the official app. According to BTA, it launched in summer 2026 and replaces the Ticket Varna and Bus Varna apps. It sells tickets, shows buses live and plans journeys, and you pay by bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. A ticket becomes valid only when you activate it on the validator on board. Lines and tips are on Varna buses and tickets, and the background is in Varna Pulse’s report on live GPS and card payment.

The unofficial site varnatraffic.com, which Visit Varna links to, also has live lines and a route planner. Moovit is sometimes mentioned, but we could not confirm how well it covers Varna.

Is there an app for Bulgarian trains?

We could not verify an official BDZ app. Buy tickets on the BDZ website bileti.bdz.bg or at the station.

Which food delivery apps work in Varna?

Glovo and Wolt. Glovo bought foodpanda’s Bulgarian business, and foodpanda’s Varna page now redirects to Glovo (checked 27 October 2026). Wolt has its own Varna page. Skip Takeaway.com: it announced it would stop all delivery in Bulgaria from 15 September 2026, BTA reported on 12 August 2026.

Do people in Bulgaria use WhatsApp or Viber?

Both, but Viber is the one to have. It is widely used in Bulgaria, and many taxi companies, landlords and small businesses take orders and bookings by Viber. For a local number and mobile data, see SIM cards, eSIMs and ATMs.

Can I pay with my phone?

Usually yes. Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026, and card and phone payments are common in shops and restaurants. Major Bulgarian banks support Apple Pay: Apple’s list for Bulgaria includes DSK Bank, UBB and UniCredit Bulbank (Apple); a foreign card works if your own bank supports your phone wallet. Keep a little cash for markets and small kiosks.

Is there an emergency app in Bulgaria?

You do not need one: call 112, free from any phone. The Bulgarian 112 app is a registered text chat for people with hearing or speech disabilities, according to BEREC, not a general app for travellers. Public alerts arrive as phone warnings; see BG-ALERT emergency warnings.

Which apps help with a longer stay?

OLX.bg and Bazar.bg for second-hand goods, and imot.bg for flats. Watch out for deposits asked before a viewing. Our sister site has a guide to finding a flat in Varna.

Check your car before you drive

Driving a car in Bulgaria? Check the vignette by plate on web.bgtoll.bg. For traffic fines, our fines and vignette page shows which official service to use and what it asks for (EGN/LNCH or ticket number); it does not check anything itself. There is no online check for Varna parking fines.