Free eSIM for Bulgaria 
3 GB of free mobile data across Bulgaria — Sofia's yellow cobblestones, Plovdiv's Roman theatre, the Black Sea resorts at Golden Sands and Sunny Beach. Install before wheels-down at SOF and skip every kiosk queue.
Free for new users · Credit card for identity verification only — never charged · Valid 3 days
Why skip the A1 or Vivacom kiosk
Bulgaria joined the Schengen air/sea area in 2024 but prepaid SIMs still require a passport, a signed registration form and sometimes a Bulgarian address if you want monthly packages. A1's 'Tourist' prepaid runs around 15 лв (~€7.50) for 3 GB with a 7-day validity. Your 99esim gives you the same 3 GB for a full 30 days — and it activates while you're queueing for passport control at SOF.
- No passport registration, no kiosk detour in Terminal 2
- Works on the Black Sea coast and across the Rila + Rhodope mountains
- No currency juggling — you don't pay in lev or euro for the free tier
- 3 GB handles a Sofia–Plovdiv–Veliko Tarnovo–Varna week easily
How Bulgarian networks treat 99esim
99esim partners with A1 Bulgaria — the country's largest carrier by subscriber count and the network with the strongest Black Sea coastal coverage. You get A1's 4G LTE blanket nationwide plus 5G in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas. Where A1 thins out in the Rhodope villages, the eSIM roams to Vivacom, whose legacy copper-to-fibre backbone still owns the mountain tower sites.
Arriving at a Bulgarian airport
All four international airports have 4G across terminals and taxi ranks. Sofia and Varna have 5G at gates. Your eSIM wakes up automatically on its first handshake with an A1 tower.
Terminal 2 has 5G; Terminal 1 (low-cost carriers) has solid 4G. Metro Line 1 from T2 to Serdika runs every 6 minutes and keeps signal in the tunnels.
Gateway to the northern Black Sea coast. Bus 409 to the Sea Garden takes 25 minutes; signal is rock-solid along the route.
Main airport for Sunny Beach, Nessebar and Sozopol. The B1 shuttle to Sunny Beach holds 4G the full 35 km.
Small regional airport mostly serving Ryanair. Signal covers the arrivals hall and the shuttle-bus stand but dips briefly on the country road into the city.
Where your free eSIM works best
What 3 GB actually gets you in Bulgaria
Bulgaria mixes city navigation with beach and mountain travel. Cyrillic signs push you onto Translate often. Here's the typical breakdown:
Bulgaria-specific travel tips
Black Sea resort congestion
Golden Sands, Sunny Beach and Albena pack in ~400,000 visitors in peak August — the cells throttle. Download offline Varna + Burgas maps before you go and queue video uploads for evening Wi-Fi at the hotel.
Rila Monastery day trip
The UNESCO monastery sits in a gorge about 120 km south of Sofia. A1 signal drops for the last 6 km through the Rila gorge, then reappears in the monastery courtyard itself (surprisingly). Save the drive route offline.
Sofia Metro signal
Both M1 and M2 lines have DAS installed — you'll have 4G/5G in the tunnels, platforms and shuttle sections, including the Serdika–Stadium stretch travellers use most.
Bansko ski season
A1 has cell-on-wheels at the gondola base during December–April. You'll stay connected at the Banderishka Poliana mid-station but lose signal on Todorka peak runs — nothing any eSIM can fix.
Cyrillic keyboard swap
Your eSIM won't change your keyboard — but it will let Google Translate's camera mode read shop signs on the fly. Useful for распродажба (sale), отворено (open) and the Plovdiv tram timetables.
Travelers who used 99esim in Bulgaria
"Ten days between Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. eSIM stayed rock-solid even on the overnight bus. Translated every menu in Kapana with Google Lens."
"Did the Rila Monastery trip out of Sofia. Lost signal for 10 minutes in the gorge, picked right back up at the monastery. Perfect."
"Beach week at Sunny Beach. 3GB was enough because I mostly lounged — Instagram uploads went through even during the packed weekends."
Frequently asked — Bulgaria edition
Does 99esim work on Sunny Beach and Golden Sands?
Yes. A1's Black Sea coverage is excellent — you'll have 4G/5G across the boardwalks, hotels, beach bars and Aqua parks. Signal only thins on the very end of the Kamchia river mouth.
Can I cross into Romania or Serbia without switching eSIM?
Yes. Both Romania (Ruse bridge) and Serbia (Kalotina crossing) are in our 39-country pool. The eSIM hands off automatically — same 3 GB, no extra charge.
Do I need a Bulgarian phone number to register?
No. The eSIM is a roaming profile — it keeps your home number intact. Bulgarian number registration requirements only apply to physical local SIMs.
Will the eSIM work in Rila Monastery and Plovdiv's old town?
Yes. Both UNESCO sites have reliable 4G — A1 has specifically targeted tourist sites. The monastery courtyard itself has been covered since 2021.
Is 5G supported?
Yes. A1's 5G NSA is live in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas. If your phone is 5G-capable, you'll hop onto it automatically in those cities with no setting changes.
What if I burn through 3 GB on the beach?
Top up instantly in the 99esim app — Bulgaria add-ons start at €2.99 for 1 GB. No auto-renew, no surprise bill back home.
Free eSIM in other European countries
Your 3 GB works in all 39 countries. Here are a few more popular destinations:
See all 39 countries →
Ready to claim your free 3 GB in Bulgaria?
Install the 99esim app, create a free account, and your data is live in about 90 seconds.