Souvenirs & Travel Tips

The Best Souvenirs

• Rose Oil & Rose Cosmetics: THE quintessential Bulgarian souvenir. Genuine rose oil (Rosa damascena) is expensive (from 20€ for 2ml), but rose water, rose creams, and rose soap are affordable and of excellent quality. Best bought directly in the Valley of Roses.
• Rakia: A bottle of good rakia (Troyan plum rakia or Burgas 63) costs 10–25 BGN (5–13€) and makes a perfect gift. Observe duty-free limits (1 liter of spirits from EU countries: no problem).
• Ceramics & Pottery: Handmade pottery from Troyan (typical "drip" pattern in brown, green, and blue) is beautiful and inexpensive. Cups, plates, jugs from 5 BGN (2.50€).
• Bulgarian Yogurt: Difficult to transport, but yogurt starter culture (Lactobacillus bulgaricus) is available as a dry powder — allowing you to make real Bulgarian yogurt at home.
• Icons: Hand-painted Orthodox icons on wood — from tourist items (from 10 BGN) to genuine artworks (from 100 BGN). In Veliko Tarnovo (Samovodska Charshiya) and Sofia.
• Ljutenitsa: The spicy pepper-tomato paste in a jar — available in every supermarket from 3 BGN. The perfect gift for foodies.

General Tips

• Tipping: In restaurants, 10% is customary but not mandatory. In cafes: leave small change on the table. Taxi drivers: round up.
• Opening Hours: Shops: Mon–Sat 10 AM–8 PM. Museums: Tue–Sun 10 AM–6 PM (often closed on Mondays). Restaurants: 11 AM–11 PM.
• Electricity: 230V, Type C/F — German plugs fit, no adapter needed.
• EU Roaming: Your German mobile contract works in Bulgaria without additional costs — calls, internet, and SMS as at home.
• Holidays: March 3 (Liberation Day), May 24 (Day of the Cyrillic Script), September 6 (Unification Day), September 22 (Independence Day). On holidays, shops and museums may be closed.
• Photography: In Orthodox churches, photography is often prohibited or only allowed without flash. Observe signs and ask if in doubt.