Bulgaria.
Flight from TLV
2h 33m
Best season
ינו–דצמ
Avg temp
17°
Currency
€ EUR · 1=₪3.52
Time zone
+0 מול ת״א
Language
בולגרית
Plug
C / F · 230V
Visa
אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום בתקופה של 180 יום
Safety
בטוחה בדרך כלל; באזורי תיירות, בתחבורה ציבורית ובמועדונים מומלץ להיזהר מכייסות ומחיובים מופרזים
Overview
🇧🇬Bulgaria
🇧🇬Bulgaria
Bulgaria offers Israeli travelers three distinct holidays within a short flight: Sofia for shopping, dining and nightlife, the Black Sea coast for families and younger crowds, and Bansko or Borovets for affordable skiing. Summer means Burgas, Sunny Beach and Nessebar for resort hotels, water parks and parties, while winter brings snowy slopes, spas and après-ski.
What are you looking for?
Everything for Bulgaria, in one place
Pick a category and dive into its dedicated page.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Bulgaria
Each area and who it suits best.
Central Sofia
Around Vitosha Boulevard, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Serdika, restaurants, bars, shopping and Sofia's essential sights are all within walking distance.
Bansko
In winter, this is an Israeli favorite for skiing, with spa hotels, bars around the gondola station and an atmospheric stone-built old town.
Borovets
A compact mountain resort set in pine forest, where hotels, ski schools and lifts cluster together for an especially easy short break.
Sunny Beach
A lively Black Sea resort strip with a broad beach, water parks, clubs and resort hotels, busiest from June through August.
Old Nessebar
Cobblestone lanes, historic churches and sea views create a romantic, quieter base a short ride from Sunny Beach's action.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Bulgaria
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
7°
-2°
Cool
פבר
9°
-2°
Cool
מרץ
14°
3°
Cool
אפר
17°
6°
Recommended
מאי
19°
9°
Recommended
יונ
27°
15°
Excellent
יול
31°
18°
Excellent
אוג
30°
17°
Excellent
ספט
25°
13°
Excellent
אוק
19°
8°
Recommended
נוב
12°
3°
Cool
דצמ
7°
0°
Cool
Most pleasant weather: יונ · יול · אוג · ספט
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): ינו · פבר · יונ · יול · אוג · ספט · דצמ
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Bulgaria · Open-Meteo
This week in Bulgaria
Measured in Bulgaria
13°
Partly cloudy
Next 7 days
Tap a day for hourly detail
Seasonal averages · loading live forecast…
Things to do
Things to do in Bulgaria
On the map
Bulgaria on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Bulgaria itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
The Heart of Sofia
Begin at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, continue past Saint Sofia Church and the Russian Church, then explore ancient Serdica and the Grand Synagogue. In the evening, stroll along Vitosha Boulevard and stop for a drink at one of the nearby bars.
- 2
Day 2
Vitosha Mountain and Boyana Church
Visit UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and its remarkable frescoes, then continue to Vitosha Mountain for a short walk around Zlatnite Mostove. Return to Sofia in the afternoon for shopping at Paradise Center or more time in the city center.
- 3
Day 3
Rila Monastery
Leave early for Rila Monastery, around two hours from Sofia, to see its arcaded courtyard, frescoes and mountain setting. In suitable weather, add a short walk to Saint Ivan's Cave or make a relaxed stop on the return journey.
- 4
Day 4
Plovdiv Old Town
Travel to Plovdiv and explore the colorful houses of the Old Town, the Roman Theatre and Knyaz Alexander Street. Toward evening, head into Kapana, a creative quarter packed with cafés, galleries and bars.
- 5
Day 5
A Relaxed Sofia Finale
Start at the Central Market Hall and the former mineral baths, then stroll through the gardens around the National Palace of Culture. Leave time for coffee, final shopping or the National History Museum before your flight.
Quick game
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Budget
How much does Bulgaria cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Round-trip flight from TLV
₪500-1,400 (summer: ₪1,800+)
Mid-range hotel nightly
₪250-550 (double room)
Restaurant meal
₪40-90
Local beer
₪8-16
Coffee
₪6-12
Short taxi ride
₪12-30
Rental car daily
₪100-220 (before insurance)
Daily budget per person
₪250-500 (excluding skiing)
Good to know
Good to know before Bulgaria
Getting around
From the airport
From Sofia Airport, the metro reaches the center in about 25-35 minutes for roughly ₪3; an official taxi booked at the desk or through an app usually costs ₪35-60 and takes 20-35 minutes. Bansko is about 2.5-3 hours away by shuttle, generally ₪90-160 per person; Borovets takes around 75-90 minutes and usually costs ₪100-180 per person. For a Black Sea holiday, fly to Burgas: a taxi to Sunny Beach or Nessebar takes about 30-40 minutes and costs roughly ₪100-160.
Need a car?
Not in Sofia, Bansko or on a Sunny Beach resort holiday. A car is worthwhile for combining Rila Monastery, the Seven Rila Lakes, Plovdiv and villages independently; in winter, confirm winter tires, snow chains and road conditions before heading into the mountains.
Tips
In Sofia, use the metro and the TaxiMe or Yellow app, and avoid drivers soliciting passengers inside the terminal. Rental cars require an electronic vignette for intercity roads, so confirm it is included in the rate.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Chabad Bulgaria operates in central Sofia, offering prayers, Shabbat meals and kosher meals by advance arrangement; the city's large Sephardic synagogue is on Ekzarh Yosif Street. A seasonal Chabad presence usually operates around Sunny Beach in summer, and ski resorts may have seasonal services, but hours, locations and meals change, so direct confirmation before travel is essential.
Kosher food
In Sofia, kosher food can be ordered in advance through Chabad, but outside the capital travelers should not assume a permanent kosher restaurant exists. Observant visitors commonly book an apartment with a kitchenette, buy sealed products at supermarkets such as Billa, Lidl and Kaufland, and bring certified meat, wine and snacks from Israel. Those comfortable with kosher-friendly choices can readily find Shopska salad, vegetables, eggs, cheese and fish, but kitchens are not kosher, so request clean utensils and check ingredients.
Verified suppliers
Verified suppliers in Bulgaria
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eSIM for Bulgaria 🇧🇬
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7 days
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance for Bulgaria 🇧🇬
A hospital day in Bulgaria can cost thousands. Full coverage with Hebrew support.
- Medical + hospital 24/7
- Trip cancellation
- Baggage
- Ski & winter sports add-on
Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
Convert
You get
351.8
1 EUR
₪3.52
100 EUR
₪351.8
1,000 EUR
₪3,518
Source: exchangerate-api · updated Sep 14 · refreshes daily
Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Bulgaria 🇧🇬
What you need before you fly
- אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום בתקופה של 180 יום
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Bulgaria
- 💶Bulgaria uses the euro, so do not rely on older guides quoting prices in lev; use a low-foreign-fee card or an ATM operated by a recognized bank.
- 🚕After landing in Sofia, ignore unsolicited taxi offers inside the terminal and book through Yellow or TaxiMe, or use the official taxi desk.
- 🏨In Sofia, stay around Serdika, Vitosha Boulevard, or NDK; for a quieter seaside holiday than Sunny Beach, choose Sveti Vlas or Sozopol’s old town.
- 🎿In Bansko, reserve equipment and lessons ahead, and during busy weeks reach the gondola before 8:00 a.m. or take a shuttle to the upper access point to avoid losing an hour in line.
- ✡️Kosher-observant travelers should coordinate with Chabad Sofia and check seasonal services around Sunny Beach in summer; buy sealed products with recognized certification and never assume a vegetarian dish is kosher.
- 📅Direct flights from Tel Aviv to Varna and Burgas are usually seasonal, so for July and August book flights, accommodation, and airport transfers at least six to eight weeks ahead.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"Bulgaria always surprises me: it is close, good value, and shifts completely between Sofia’s elegant streets, the Rila peaks, and the Black Sea. Israelis tend to fall for it while sitting by the Sveti Vlas marina with a cold Shopska salad and watching the yachts."
Loves
My seaside secret is Kavatsi, south of Sozopol: a wide sandy beach with pleasant water and a much calmer atmosphere than Sunny Beach. I arrive in the morning before the car parks fill up and stay for a simple fish lunch overlooking the sea.
Skip
I avoid the restaurants with enormous menus and street promoters along Sunny Beach’s main strip, where prices are inflated and the experience feels far less Bulgarian.
Boutique pick
I would design a day that begins early at Rila Monastery, continues with a short walk among the Stob Pyramids, and ends back in Sofia around Shishman Street. In the evening, we would eat at a modern Bulgarian restaurant, walk past the illuminated Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and finish with a cocktail near NDK.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Bulgaria
"We started the morning in Plovdiv's Old Town lanes, continued with wine tasting in the Thracian Valley and ended our Bulgaria getaway at a wonderfully relaxing spa in Velingrad."
Noa and Yoav, Tel Aviv
Couples getaway in Plovdiv
"The kids refused to leave Action Aquapark in Sunny Beach, while we loved the wide beach and reasonable prices that made Bulgaria such an easy family holiday."
The Levi Family, Modi'in
Family summer in Sunny Beach
"We skied Bansko's slopes all day, had a warm dinner in the old town and continued to the bars around Pirin Street on an unforgettable friends' trip to Bulgaria."
Omer, Daniel and Roi, Haifa
Friends' ski holiday
FAQ
Common questions about Bulgaria
Do Israelis need a visa for Bulgaria?
Israeli passport holders do not need a visa for Bulgaria for tourist visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, under Schengen rules.
When is the best time to fly to Bulgaria?
The best time for Bulgaria depends on the trip: June to September for the Varna and Burgas coast, December to March for skiing in Bansko and Borovets, and spring or autumn for Sofia and the mountains.
How many days do you need in Bulgaria?
For Bulgaria, allow four days for Sofia or Bansko, five to seven days for a beach holiday, and seven to ten days for a route combining Sofia, Rila Monastery, Plovdiv and the Rhodope Mountains.
Are there direct flights from Israel to Bulgaria, and how long is the flight?
Direct flights from Tel Aviv to Bulgaria operate year-round to Sofia and seasonally to Varna and Burgas, with a typical flight time of about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes.
How do you get around Bulgaria, and what does a trip cost?
In Bulgaria, Sofia's metro and taxi apps are convenient, a rental car is best for nature trips, and a comfortable daily budget is around ₪250–450 per person before accommodation.
Is Bulgaria safe for Israelis?
Bulgaria is generally considered safe for Israelis, but keep bags secure in busy parts of Sofia and Sunny Beach, order taxis through an app, and avoid prominent displays of identity during periods of tension.
Where should families and couples stay in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, families enjoy Albena's beaches, Action Aquapark in Sunny Beach and Bansko's ski area, while couples often prefer Plovdiv's Old Town, a spa stay in Velingrad or a boutique hotel in central Sofia.
Where can you find nightlife and kosher food in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, the main nightlife hubs are Vitosha Boulevard and Studentski Grad in Sofia and the clubs of Sunny Beach, while reliable kosher meals are found mainly through Chabad and Jewish dining options in Sofia with advance booking.