Are you coming to Bulgaria in April? Well, first of all, Iโd like to welcome you to our beautiful country! ๐
Itโs always best to prepare in advance before visiting a new country, so in this article Iโve gathered some useful information to ease you with the preparations for your trip. It consists of tips regarding the month of April, but also general information for every visitor, such as using public transportation in our capital city Sofia, what currency you need to bring with you, clarifications when traveling by train, some unwritten rules that could cause turmoil, and many more. I hope youโll find this article helpful!
1ST OF APRIL – TESTING THE NATIONAL EARLY WARNING AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Twice a year, the government tests The National Early Warning and Notification System. The first test is usually done on 1st of April and the second one on 1st of October. Since 2025, Bulgaria has had an official early warning and notification system for mobile phones called BG-ALERT. Both of them get tested on the same day.
The testing is usually done at 11:00 a.m. For the physical system, there is a voice message notifying that it is just a test, followed by loud sirens. The video below was filmed in Plovdiv on 01/04/2025 and it can give you an idea of what the testing is like.
BG-ALERT is a bit different. As already stated, it is a mobile-based warning system. In order to recieve a message, you need to be on Bulgarian territory, connected to one of the local mobile operators, and in an area where there’s 2G/3G/4G/5G coverage. Your device must support the Cell Broadcast Service technology and you must have allowed the recieving of such messages in your settings. If all of the above is in check, the message should look something like this (it may vary depending on your phone’s operating system):
You can visit their website for more information.
ORTHODOX EASTER
The traditional religion in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The majority of the population practices it and most religious temples in the country are part of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It differs from the Catholic Christianity in many ways, such as Easter’s date. The Catholic and Orthodox Easters rarely coincide and are usually one or two weeks apart. The Orthodox Easter in 2026 is on 12th of April, i.e. the four holiday days are 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of April.
From Good Friday to Bright Monday, all four days around Easter are national holidays (official non-working days). This means public sector institutions and administrations, banks and exchange offices, and most private sector offices donโt work on Good Friday and Bright Monday. Hospitals, transportation services, gas stations, and most restaurants and cafรฉs work. Supermarkets, malls, and other smaller stores often work with reduced hours or donโt open at all.
We don’t have the Easter Bunny tradition in Bulgaria, although it is gaining some popularity in recent years. We do, however, paint eggs like in other countries. This is done either on Holy Thursday or Holy Saturday and the first painted egg is always red – symbolizing Christ’s blood. While the paint is still fresh, the eldest woman in the family draws crosses upon the children’s foreheads for good health, strength, and protection against evil. This egg is then placed somewhere within the home and kept until next year’s Easter for good health, prosperity, and protection against evil to all residents.
According to some traditions, eggs are painted only in red. However, most people choose to paint their eggs in different colors, as well as motley designs, stamped leaves, hand-made drawings, and even stickers.
On Holy Sunday, people greet each other with “ะฅัะธััะพั ะะพัะบัะตัะต” (“Hristos Voskrese” – “Christ is risen”) and reply with “ะะพะธััะธะฝะฐ ะะพัะบัะตัะต” (“Voistina Voskrese” – “Truly he is risen”) and exchange painted eggs.
The day usually begins by visiting the church and then families gather for a festive lunch. Traditionally, the Easter lunch includes green salad with some of the painted eggs, a lamb meal as the main course, and kozunak for dessert.
Kozunak is a traditional Bulgarian sweet bread. It is most commonly prepared and consumed on Easter and the weeks before and after it. There are many types of kozunak – with chocolate cream or jam filling, with different types of nuts, dried fruit, lokum (Turkish delight), or simply plain.
With every Easter gathering comes the egg cracking game. Everyone chooses one of the painted eggs and an opponent. Then one person strikes their opponent’s egg with their own and, respectively, recieves a strike back. The goal is to crack your opponent’s egg and each participant continues until both ends of their egg are cracked or not cracked at all. The main goal of the game is to find the “ััะบะฐั” (“chukach” –“the knocker”/“the striker”) – the egg that cracked all its opponents, but remained intact. Whoever holds this egg therefore wins!
WEATHER IN APRIL
April is mid-spring in Bulgaria. The landscape gets greener, many trees blossom, and storks and swallows are often to be seen (mostly in smaller towns and rural areas).
Weather in April is highly dynamic. The average temperatures are 10-15ยฐC. The evenings and nights are still quite cold, while daytime temperatures could reach and exceed 20ยฐC. April is so dynamic that it can bring anomalies, such as snowing or temperatures as high as 30ยฐC. It’s safe to say that every April is unique on its own and you should be prepared for all sorts of surprises.
However, the one thing that is certain is that April is a rainy month, so you should definitely take an umbrella. Thunderstorms aren’t too frequent, but are likely. It’s best to bring layers of thinner and thicker clothes, jakets, scarves, and waterproof shoes. We have a saying in Bulgaria – “If there’s an “r” in the month’s name, always carry a jacket with you”! This covers the months September through April and you shouldn’t underestimate how cold it could get in a short period of time!
Bulgaria is located within a transitional region between continental and Mediterranean climate, which results in sudden weather changes and large temperature amplitudes between different parts of the country. You should always check the forecast in the area youโll be visiting before coming!
TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES IN APRIL
From late-season skiing to hikes, spa and wellness procedures, and city and food tourism. Despite its dynamic weather, April can offer you lots of oppotunitues depending on what you’re looking for.
*Late-season skiing
In April, the high parts of the mountains (2,000+ m) are still covered in snow, though it’s usually soft and slushy. However, there are still suitable skiing conditions at some areas and some slopes are open until mid-April. Bulgaria has 4 major ski resorts and a few smaller ones, but Bansko and Pamporovo are most likely to still operate in April.
โ Bansko is the biggest and most popular ski resort in Bulgaria. Itโs located in southwestern Bulgaria, in Pirin Mountain. Itโs visited by thousands of tourists each year and rounds of world winter sports competitions are held there. For more information visit Bansko Ski website and Bansko Minucipality’s website.
โ Borovets is another major and popular skiing destination. It is located in Rila Mountain, also in southwestern Bulgaria. It is only 68 km away from the capital city Sofia, and it is the preferred skiing resort for the locals. Visit Borovets website for more information.
โ Pamporovo is one of the biggest ski resorts in Bulgaria. It is located in Rhodope Mountains, in southern Bulgaria. There are other smaller ski resorts within the same mountain. Visit Pamporovo website for more information.
โ Vitosha Mountain is located right next to Sofia or more like Sofia is located right next to Vitosha Mountain. It provides numerous hiking opportunities for the locals and the visitors of the city. In winter, it also provides options for skiing. However, the slopes might not be available at all times. Consult with Ski Vitosha website for more accurate information.
*Hiking
As already mentioned, the high parts of the mountains are usually still covered in snow in April. However, there are many options for hiking. Many popular trails also have a winter marking in the form of tall, most often black and yellow poles, if needed. Except hotels in resorts, there are many fully functioning huts and chalets, and shelters, located in the remote parts of mountains.
Below 2,000 m the snow is usually gone (or very scarce), so you can have a nice walk in nature without the need for serious winter gear. Vitosha Mountain offers many opportunities for one-day getaways, if you’re visiting Sofia or another location nearby. There are many trails at the foot of the mountain and easy to reach huts (with a car or public transportation). Most of these huts also offer rooms, so you could easily spend the night (of a few nights) in the mountain.
Rila and Pirin are the most popular mountains for hiking throughout the entire year, including late-season skiing. You can visit the official websites for more information.
*Spa and wellness
Bulgaria offers countless options for Spa and Wellness tourism throughout the entire year. The country is also dotted with mineral springs, which attract thousands of visitors each year.
Some of the most visited Spa and Wellness resorts in Bulgaria are Velingrad, Sapareva banya, Sandanski, Hisarya, and Bansko, but there are many more! Sofia and Plovdiv also have many Spa and Wellness hotels.
*City tourism
There are always options to visit museums, art galleries, theatres, ballets, attend city tours, and many more in the bigger cities. With the coming of spring, also come a lot of outdoor shows, spring festivals, and folklore celebrations. Culinary tourism is always a great way to explore a foreign country and the milder weather in April is great for such travels. It’s not too hot and too crowded yet, so April is a wonderful time to visit Bulgaria!
Below you can find the websites of some of the most popular and most visited cities in Bulgaria, where you can explore more options.
โ Sofia: Bulgariaโs capital city and a home to many historical and cultural sites, The National Opera and Ballet, The National Palace of Culture, Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and many more. It is the hearthbeat of city tourism in Bulgaria with endless options for sightseeing and entertaintment.
โ Plovdiv: The second biggest city in Bulgaria and a cultural centre with many sightseeing options, including The Old Plovdiv Reserve and an ancient Roman theatre. Plovdiv is the 5th oldest city in the world and the oldest in Europe (with continuity of settlement).
โ Veliko Tarnovo: Translated as “Great Tarnovo”, it used to be Bulgaria’s capital city from 1185 to 1393. It is a toursist attraction for its numerous historical sights, such as Tsarevets Fortress and Old Tarnovo District. Throughout the year, the city holds numerous light shows titled “Sound and Light”, which attract thousands of visitors.
โ Varna: The third biggest city in Bulgaria and the biggest on our Black Sea coast. It is regarded as Bulgariaโs Sea Capital. Except sea tourism, you can also visit an astronomical observatory and ethnographic museums.
GENERAL INFORMATION
CURRENCY
Starting on 01.01.2026, Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency. If, for some reason, you have Bulgarian lev at you disposal, you can easily exchange it in any bank without any fees.
TAXIS
Primarily, the taxis in Bulgaria are yellow and have a sign upon the roof saying ‘taxi/ัะฐะบัะธ’. Some of the vehicles, however, are concidered eco taxis (usually when the cars are electric or hybrid) and are green in color.
Usually taxis have a light on the windshield by the passengerโs seat, signaling whether they are free or occupied โ respectively, a green and a red light. However, there are many companies, so this practice may vary.
Furthermore, if youโre staying in our capital city Sofia, you have a variety of options to download a taxi app. Some popular options include:
โ TaxiMe: A popular and handy service that can take you anywhere within the city.
โ Yellow Taxi: One of the biggest taxi companies in Sofia.
โ Volt Taxi: This is a premium and more luxurious service, so the prices are higher than usual taxis. Their cars are dark green in color. They also have black minivans in their arsenal that can transport larger groups of people.
Unfortunately, in Sofia there are many fraudsters. Usually, they stay in front of the entrance of the Central Railway Station and the Central Bus Station and ask random passengers whether they need a taxi transportation. Not all of them are scammers, but it’s easy to come across one. Especially, if you stop a random taxi on the road. So, I would advice you to use one of the apps above when you need a taxi in Sofia.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN SOFIA
If you’re not a fan of taxis or want to immerse yourself in the pulse of the city, you can always use the public transport. Here are a few things you should know in advance.
*Types of public transport
There’s an underground network, currently consisting of 4 lines. Above the ground, there are buses, trolleybuses, and tramways. There are also 4 lines of night buses.
*Buying a ticket
There are two options to buy a ticket for the ground transportation โ a physical one and an electronic one. The physical ticket can be bought from the driver. For the electronic one you just need to place your payment card onto a validation device. There are a few located near the doors when you enter. There are two types of physical tickets. If it has a QR-code, it must be validated, as well, on the same devices. If it looks like a reciept, you don’t need to validate it.
Itโs the same for the underground โ you can buy a physical ticket from the booth at the station or an electronic one by placing your payment card upon the validation device. If you have a physical ticket, you have to validate its barcode in order to enter the platform.
Important! There are inspectors checking random vehicles and metro trains for valid transport documents. If you have paid by card, you just simply have to place it onto their device and if you have successfully validated your card, youโll pass the check. Donโt be a joyrider โ there are fines for the offenders!
Visit Sofia Traffic website for full information about using the public transport and parking within the city.
TRAVELING BY TRAIN
Even we Bulgarians sometimes find it challenging to travel with our State Railways, so I can only imagine what it is like for an outsider. ๐
Their website is pretty decent and you can find useful information there, such as train schedules, ticket prices, and online live updates. But here are some additional tips for an easier and more comfortable trip by a Bulgarian train.
*Buying a ticket
You can either buy a physical ticket from the train stations or an electronic one from the website or through special devices at the train stations. You need to show your ticket (physical or electronic) to the train conductor when asked for it during the trip.
*Finding the right train
This could be a little challenging for foreigners. Basically, you need to know the final destination of your train in advance. This information is written (in Bulgarian) within a rectangle on the sides of some of the carriages. This way you’ll know which train to board. There are some more modern ones and this information is easily found on their digital screens right at the front. The bigger railway stations usually have information on every platform, especially Sofia Central Railway Station. There are digital screens showing the number, the destination, and the schedule of the train, departuring from each platform.
Also, there isn’t a practice of announcing the upcoming stops, so you should prepare yourself in advance as much as you can. For example, by taking a photo/screenshot of the train’s route or following the GPS service on your phone. Like this, you could eliminate the possibility of missing your stop or getting off on a wrong one. However, there are a few exceptions. The above mentioned modern trains also have speakers inside, announcing the stops are, so it’s easier to follow the route.
*Finding your seat
In Bulgarian trains you can buy tickets with or without a reserved seat. For most trains the standard ticket doesnโt have a designated seat and you can choose where to sit. You can get a reserved seat, if such is available, by paying a small extra fee for it. Some trains, however, always have designated seats for all the passengers and for some people it can be quite confusing to find them.
Basically, every carriage has its own number and all the seats inside are also numbered. When you buy a ticket with a reserved seat, youโll find information about the carriage (in Bulgarian ะฒะฐะณะพะฝ) number and the seat (in Bulgarian ะผัััะพ) number. Most trains have both first and second class. This is marked with large numbers 1 and 2 written on the carriages. A lot of people confuse those numbers with the numbering of the carriages themselves. But no, the number of each carriage is written inside small squares, usually next to the doors.
Once you are inside the right carriage, you just need to find your seat. The numbers usually go from 1 to 100 (or above). If the train has separated compartments, the numbers are usually above each seat. If itโs a big saloon, then search for them either above the seats (where the luggage goes) or by the windows.
Current repair work at Sofia Central Railway Station! For quite some time now, Sofia Central Railway Station has been under repairs. If you’re going to travel towards destinations, such as Varna, Ruse and Vidin (basically the northern half of Bulgaria), you have to board the train from Sofia Sever (Sofia North Station). You can either get there by a taxi/public transport, or you can board the provided intermediate train from Central Railway Station. It’s the same when traveling towards Sofia – you have to get off at Sofia Sever and board the intermediate train towards Centrail Railway Station, or use a taxi/public transport to get to your destination within the city.
And if you ever decide to board a Bulgarian train – good luck! ๐
RELIGION
The traditional religion in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The majority of the population practices it and most religious temples in the country are part of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
A very important thing to remember when visiting such a church is the dress code. You canโt walk inside scarcely dressed and your shoulders and knees must be covered. It is a holy place and more provocative clothes and appearance could cause resentment and it is possible a church official to ask you to leave or even escort you out. Failure to comply with the dress code could be seen as offensive.
DO BULGARIANS SPEAK ENGLISH?
Well, I do. ๐
But the situation is so-so.
From 1944 to 1989, Bulgaria was under Soviet occupation and became a communist country. Respectively, kids then mostly learned Russian at school. So, the older generations in Bulgaria as a whole donโt speak English at all or they speak just a little bit.
The generations after 1989 started learning English at school, so younger people in Bulgaria usually speak the language more or less. Many of them even migrate to the UK for higher education, and some students spend their summers in the USA as seasonal workers. So, if you ever need assistance with anything, I would suggest you to turn to a younger person, because there is a higher chance theyโll be able to understand and help you.
TIPPING IS NOT MANDATORY, BUT IT IS COMMON
Youโre not obliged to leave the waiter a tip after youโve visited a restaurant/cafรฉ. However, it is a common practice, especially in the bigger and fancier restaurants. There is no minimum or maximum amount, nor a mathematical percentage that you can calculate. It is all up to you what the amount would be and weather youโll leave a tip or not at all. Usually, clients who are pleased with the service tend to leave bigger tips, while bad service might leave the waiter โempty-handedโ.
If the waiter picks up the check, but you’re still at your table, they are obliged to give you the change (if the amount you have given is higher). So, usually, we say to the waiter that the amount we’ve put is ‘correct’, suggesting there is no need to give us the change.
Respectively, if you don’t want to tip the waiter, just wait at your table for your change. However, there might be some exclusions in certain restaurants, especially if they’re fancier, but as a whole tipping is not mandatory.
NODDING MEANS ‘NO’ AND A ‘HEAD SHAKE’ MEANS ‘YES’…ISH
This information is widely spread across the internet, because other people find it quirky, but it is not entirely true. Head movements in Bulgaria are very likely to leave you quite confused, because we basically move our heads in all sorts of ways and speeds. To say it simply, the most important thing you need to observe is our facial expressions, because they tell you what we mean.
A grimace and a frown means ‘no’/refusal and can be accompanied by a nod up and down or a shake to the sides, usually done in a faster way. A friendlier expression, often with a slight smile, means ‘yes’/agreement and can be accompanied by either a nod up and down or a shake to the sides, usually done in a slower way. We also tend to bobble our heads, similar to people in India, when we mean ‘okay’ or ‘I understood’, usually done in a faster way. A slower movement might mean ‘maybe’ or ‘Iโll think about it’ or anything else, depending on the conversation. ๐
No matter the head movement, observe the facial expression, we make a lot of those. ๐ But most of all, if youโre not certain what the other person means, you can simply ask โ we, Bulgarians, are friendly and warm people in general. (There are always exceptions, of course ๐)
A visit to Bulgaria could leave you very surprised or even confused. I hope this information will be helpful to you and will make your stay easier and more pleasant! ๐
Till the next time!
Lina Dimitrova
19/03/2026
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