Bulgaria tourist SIM card in Varna: eSIMs, prepaid data and ATMs

If your SIM is from an EU country, you do not need anything: it works in Varna like at home. From Turkey, the UK, Ukraine, Moldova or anywhere else outside the EU, the cheapest fix is a Bulgarian prepaid data SIM or eSIM from A1, Yettel or Vivacom, with packs from about €8 for 15 GB. For cash, use an ATM that belongs to a bank and always choose to be charged in euros. Source: A1.

Which tourist SIM or eSIM should I buy?

Prices below are from the operators’ own websites as of October 2026; promotions change, so check before you pay.

Offer	Price	What you get
A1 Prepaid Mobile Internet 15 GB	€7.67	Data only, SIM or eSIM, A1 network only; valid 25 days; bonus data and unlimited days depend on the current promotion
Yettel 25 GB eSIM	€10.23	30 days; unlimited for the first 5 days, then 25 GB; data only, Bulgaria only
Yettel 100 GB eSIM	€40.90	60 days; unlimited for the first 20 days
Vivacom prepaid	see vivacom.bg	Data2Go data card and Free2Go with minutes and data

Data-only packs have no calls or SMS, so use WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram. If you need a local number, for example for delivery apps or a landlord, pick a starter pack with minutes.

Do I need a passport, and where do I buy one?

A SIM card with a phone number must be registered with an identity document in an operator shop or partner store, so bring your passport. A1 says its data-only packs come without registration, and the Yettel eSIM is ordered online and arrives as a QR code by e-mail. Physical SIMs are sold in A1, Yettel and Vivacom shops in central Varna and in the big shopping malls; a 2025 guide also lists Varna Airport and many tech shops and petrol stations. A1’s customer hotline is *88 or +359 88123.

Check first that your phone is unlocked and, for an eSIM, that it supports eSIM.

Which ATMs are best in Varna?

Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026, so ATMs give out euros. Use machines that belong to a bank, such as Fibank, Postbank, UniCredit Bulbank or DSK Bank, ideally inside or next to a branch. Standalone ATMs not run by a bank, for example Euronet, are best skipped; if you have no choice, read the screen carefully for an operator fee before you confirm.

Should I pay in euros or in my home currency?

With a card in Turkish lira, pounds, hryvnia or lei, the ATM or card terminal may offer to “convert” the amount into your currency. This is dynamic currency conversion, and it usually costs more than your bank’s rate. Choose EUR or “without conversion”. EU rules require the mark-up over the European Central Bank rate to be shown before you accept. With a euro card there is nothing to convert.

Can I pay by card everywhere?

Cards and phone payments work in supermarkets, most restaurants and malls; in a taxi, ask before the ride. Keep some euro cash for market stalls, small bakeries and kiosks. More basics are in everyday essentials in Varna; for budgeting see eating out prices in Varna and the Bulgaria euro and money guide. Mobile data also makes bus tickets in Varna easier through the TTickets app.