How To Call Bulgaria From USA: Updated For 2025

Quick Answer

To call Bulgaria from the United States:

• Landline: 011 + 359 + Area Code (1-4 digits, drop leading 0) + Local Number (variable length)
• Mobile: 011 + 359 + Mobile Number (9 digits, typically starts with 87, 88, 89 after dropping domestic 0)

Examples:

• For a Sofia landline (Area Code 2): 011 + 359 + 2 + XXX XXXX
• For a Bulgarian mobile phone (e.g., domestic 088 XXX XXXX): 011 + 359 + 88 XXX XXXX

Bulgaria is on EET (UTC+2) during winter and EEST (UTC+3) during summer. It is typically 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET).

Understanding Bulgarian Phone Numbers

Bulgarian phone numbers use the country code +359. When dialing internationally, the leading 0 from a domestic area code (for landlines) or mobile prefix is dropped.

Landline Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 359 + Area Code (1-4 digits) + Subscriber Number (variable length)
• The total National Significant Number (NSN) length after +359 for landlines is typically 8 digits (e.g., +359 2 XXX XXXX for Sofia). Some can be shorter or longer depending on the region.

Mobile Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 359 + Mobile Prefix (2 digits, e.g., 87, 88, 89) + Subscriber Number (7 digits)
• After +359, Bulgarian mobile numbers are 9 digits long. They start with a 2-digit prefix (e.g., 87, 88, 89) followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.

Bulgarian Area Codes (Fixed Lines)

When calling a landline in Bulgaria from the US, dial 011 + 359, then the area code (dropping any leading '0' used for domestic calls), followed by the local subscriber number. Here is a list of common area codes:

Bulgarian Mobile Phone Prefixes

Bulgarian mobile phone numbers are 9 digits long after the +359 country code (when the leading domestic 0 is dropped). They start with a 2-digit prefix, typically indicating the mobile operator, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number. Due to mobile number portability (MNP), the prefix is not always a guaranteed indicator of the current network provider.

*The 'X' represents further digits. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows users to keep their number when switching providers. The total mobile number length after +359 is 9 digits.

Time Difference

Bulgaria is in the Eastern European Time Zone (EET).

• Standard Time: EET is UTC+2 (typically late October to late March).
• Daylight Saving Time: Bulgaria observes Eastern European Summer Time (EEST), which is UTC+3 (typically late March to late October).

The time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET):

• When the US is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) and Bulgaria is on EEST (UTC+3): Bulgaria is 7 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 7 PM in Bulgaria).
• When the US is on Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) and Bulgaria is on EET (UTC+2): Bulgaria is 7 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 7 PM in Bulgaria).

So, Bulgaria is consistently 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time throughout the year. Remember to adjust if you are in a different US time zone (e.g., Central Time is 8 hours behind Bulgaria, Mountain Time is 9 hours behind, Pacific Time is 10 hours behind).

Bulgaria's Phone System

Bulgaria has a well-established telecommunications sector, regulated by the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC). The market has undergone significant liberalization and privatization. Key players include Vivacom (the incumbent operator, offering fixed, mobile, and TV services), A1 Bulgaria (offering mobile, fixed, TV, and ICT services), and Yettel Bulgaria (primarily mobile services). There's widespread mobile coverage, with 4G/LTE available across most of the country and 5G services being actively deployed and expanded, especially in urban areas. Fixed-line broadband access is also common, with increasing availability of fiber-optic connections. The "Connected Bulgaria" plan aims to further enhance digital connectivity. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is available, allowing users to switch providers while retaining their phone numbers.

Best Times to Call

Considering Bulgaria is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET):

• To reach someone during typical Bulgarian business hours (e.g., 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EET/EEST):
  • Call from the US ET zone between 2:00 AM and 11:00 AM ET.
  • Morning calls from the US (e.g., 8 AM - 11 AM ET) will reach Bulgaria in their late afternoon (3 PM - 6 PM).
• For evening calls to Bulgaria (e.g., up to 8:00 PM EET/EEST):
  • Call from the US ET zone up to 1:00 PM ET.
• Avoid calling too early in the US morning if it's for business, as it might be very late at night or too early in the morning in Bulgaria.

Always confirm the recipient's local time and availability, especially for important calls. Business hours might be shorter on Fridays.