Bulgarian Lev: Currency and Exchange Tips for Tourists in Bulgaria

Bulgarian The lev was born in 1880. That same year, the law introducing the national currency, the lev, was passed. In 1999, the lev was denominated 1,000 to 1,000 to the Deutsche Mark, becoming equal to the Deutsche Mark at a rate of 1:1. After the introduction of the euro, the lev became exchangeable at a fixed exchange rate of 1.95 to one euro. One lev is equal to 100 stotinki. Modern stotinki coins are made of an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel.

Bulgarian Lev. Description of coins

The obverse of the coin features the denomination and 12 stars, while the reverse features the Madara Horseman and the inscription "Bulgaria," though these images may be replaced by others depending on the year of issue. The 1 lev coin is being replaced by coins with a gold border and a silver core, similar to the 1 euro. In 2015, a 2 lev coin was introduced, gradually replacing the banknote of the same denomination in circulation. The coin is bimetallic, with an image of Paisius of Hilandar on the obverse.

Bulgarian Lev. Description of banknotes

The 2 leva banknote has been gradually withdrawn from circulation and replaced by a coin.

The 5 lev banknote is burgundy in color, with a portrait of artist Ivan Milev on the front. On the back are paintings by Ivan Milev.

The 10 lev banknote is dark olive green and features a portrait of astronomer Peter Beron on the front. The back features drawings from scientific works and a telescope.

The 20 Bulgarian lev banknote is blue and features a portrait of revolutionary Stefan Stambolov, while the reverse side features the National Assembly building, the Lion Bridge, and the Eagle Bridge in Sofia.

The fifty-dollar Bulgarian leva banknote is brown in color and features a portrait of Pencho Slaveykov, with his illustrations and manuscripts on the back.

The 100 lev banknote is green. On the front side is a portrait of Aleko Konstantinov, and on the back is also Aleko Konstantinov holding a book.

Recommendations for tourists visiting Bulgaria

I'll point out one peculiarity about Bulgarian banknotes: they wear out quickly and become worn. Therefore, levs should be handled with care, literally.

What money and in what form should I take to Bulgaria?

You can take any currency, even the national currency. In Bulgaria, it can be easily exchanged at exchange offices, but only at a very unfavorable rate.

It's more cost-effective and convenient to withdraw the bulk of your balance on a bank card. Ideally, this would be a card issued in euros. The Bulgarian lev is pegged to the euro, so the exchange rate is always stable. For over 20 years, there have been no exchange rate fluctuations, and the difference in buying and selling currencies is very small. Carrying cash euros is also a good option, as bank cards are still sometimes not accepted everywhere, although this is quite rare these days. You can also use a card in the national currency, but be sure to disable "double conversion" on your card to reduce conversion losses.

The denomination of the bills doesn't matter. Any denomination is accepted. However, the dollar isn't so good for tourist trips to Bulgaria. The dollar-to-euro exchange rate is constantly fluctuating. The dollar is also undervalued when exchanging for levs. There's also a significant exchange rate difference when exchanging dollars for levs. And if your card is denominated in dollars, you'll likely encounter a double conversion. First, the dollar is converted to euros, and then the euro is exchanged for levs.

Results

We recommend that tourists visiting Bulgaria obtain a euro card from their bank before their vacation. Then, load the required amount of euros onto the card and/or purchase the required amount of euros at an exchange office. The optimal option is to bring 1/3 of the amount in cash and 2/3 of the amount on the card.

This simple tip will help you avoid extra expenses. It's customary to leave a tip when paying in the service industry, taxis, cafes, and restaurants in Bulgaria. How much? It's up to you.