Bulgaria eSIM

 This specific plan is valid only within Bulgaria (and the EU). This is the most important question for Balkan travelers. If you take a bus from Sofia to Istanbul (Turkey), Belgrade (Serbia), or Skopje (North Macedonia), your connection will stop at the border as they are not in the EU. For this multi-country trip, we highly recommend our Europe Regional eSIM, which covers both EU and non-EU Balkan countries. 

Planning the trip? See our North Macedonia eSIM plans, install in one tap before you fly, and land online. Free VPN included.

It depends. Bulgaria is in the EU, so "Roam Like at Home" applies only to EU citizens.

• If you are from the UK (Post-Brexit): Most UK carriers (like O2, Vodafone, Three) have reintroduced daily roaming fees (e.g., £2-£6 per day).
• If you are from the USA/Canada/Asia: Your home carrier will charge expensive international rates (e.g., $10-$14 per day).

A Cellesim eSIM is a one-time prepaid fee that is significantly cheaper than these roaming charges.

Planning the trip? See our Bulgaria eSIM plans, install in one tap before you fly, and land online. Free VPN included.

Yes, absolutely. Bulgaria has a fantastic, modern 4G/5G network. Our eSIM connects to premium local networks (like A1 or Yettel) to ensure you have a strong signal for Google Maps while hiking in the Rila Mountains, on the ski slopes in Bansko, or at the resorts on the Black Sea (Sunny Beach). 

Yes, 100%. Buying a physical local SIM card (like A1, Yettel, or Vivacom) at Sofia Airport requires you to find the kiosk, wait in line, and go through a mandatory passport registration process as required by Bulgarian law. Our eSIM is 100% digital, requires no ID registration, and can be installed before you fly, so you are connected the moment you land. 

 To give you the best speed and coverage, our eSIM connects to Bulgaria’s premium Tier-1 networks, typically A1, Yettel (formerly Telenor), or Vivacom. This ensures you get the fastest available 4G/LTE (and 5G) speeds, whether you are in Sofia, Plovdiv, or Varna. 

Planning the trip? See our Bulgaria eSIM plans, install in one tap before you fly, and land online. Free VPN included.

 Yes. TaxiMe and Yellow Taxi are the safest ways to book rides in Sofia and avoid scams, so reliable data is essential. 

Planning the trip? See our Bulgaria eSIM plans, install in one tap before you fly, and land online. Free VPN included.

 Yes. Coverage is excellent in Plovdiv, the European Capital of Culture, allowing you to share photos of the Ancient Theatre instantly. 

 Yes. You will generally have signal within the Rila Monastery complex to download audio guides, though it may drop in the surrounding deep forests. 

 Absolutely. Waze is extremely popular in Bulgaria for real-time alerts on police and potholes while driving on the highways. 

Planning the trip? See our Bulgaria eSIM plans, install in one tap before you fly, and land online. Free VPN included.

Most flagship smartphones released since 2018-2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and Samsung Galaxy S20 series and newer. Tablets, smartwatches and an increasing number of laptops also support eSIM. The fastest way to verify your specific device is to check Settings , if you see "Add eSIM" or "Add cellular plan" as an option, you're compatible.

eSIM compatibility is now standard across the high-end smartphone market and rapidly spreading into mid-range devices. Cellesim works with any unlocked, eSIM-capable device , no special configuration needed beyond scanning the QR code we send you.

iPhones with eSIM support

• iPhone XS, XS Max, XR (2018) , first iPhones with eSIM (one physical SIM + one eSIM).
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (2019).
• iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max (2020).
• iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max (2021) , supports two active eSIMs simultaneously.
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max (2022) , US versions are eSIM-only (no physical SIM tray).
• iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone SE 3 and later , full eSIM support.

Google Pixel with eSIM support

• Pixel 3 / 3 XL and all later models (Pixel 4, 4a, 5, 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, Pixel Fold).

Samsung Galaxy with eSIM support

• Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, S20 FE (2020) , first Galaxy with eSIM.
• Galaxy S21 / S22 / S23 / S24 series (all variants except some regional versions).
• Galaxy Z Fold 2, 3, 4, 5 and Z Flip 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Galaxy Note 20, 20 Ultra.
• Note: Some regional Samsung variants (e.g., specific Hong Kong dual-SIM physical models) may not support eSIM. Check Settings → Connections → SIM Card Manager.

Other Android devices with eSIM

• Huawei: P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro and newer flagships.
• Motorola: Razr (2019+), Edge 30 series, ThinkPhone.
• Xiaomi: Mi 11 series and newer (international versions).
• OnePlus: OnePlus 11, 12 (verify region).
• Sony: Xperia 1 IV, 5 IV, 10 IV and newer.
• Nokia / HMD: G60, X30 5G.

How to verify eSIM support on your device

1. iPhone: Settings → Cellular → look for "Add eSIM" or "Add Cellular Plan". You can also dial *#06# , if you see an "EID" (32-digit number), your phone has eSIM hardware.
2. Android: Settings → Connections (or Network & Internet) → SIM Cards → look for "Download a SIM instead" or "Add eSIM".
3. EID check: most eSIM-capable Android phones show EID in Settings → About Phone → Status.

Tip: Even if your phone supports eSIM hardware, it must be unlocked (not carrier-locked) to use third-party eSIMs like Cellesim. Most phones bought outright are unlocked; phones from carrier instalment plans may require unlocking after the contract is paid off.