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Emergency & Service Numbers

Useful telephone numbers in Bulgaria

What to do in an emergency? Here you find Bulgaria’s national emergency telephone numbers as well as service numbers.

The national emergency numbers in Bulgaria are:

Number	Service
150	Ambulance
160	Fire brigade
166	Police/Traffic police

Useful telephone service numbers include the following:

Number	Service
121	Operator service for domestic calls
144	Business directory enquiries for Sofia
145	Private directory enquiries for Sofia
1286	Car breakdown service (Sofia)
146	Car breakdown service (outside Sofia)
175	Weather forecast

Public Telephones

Despite the increasing use of mobile phones, public phone booths can be found in all towns and villages – in post offices, bus and railway stations, airports, bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and of course, in the streets.

There are two types of public phone, using different systems and taking different types of phone card:

Betkom (in blue livery) and
Bulfon (orange)

Bulfon phones are more widespread and usually better value for local calls, whereas Betkom phones tend to be are more reliable and better for international calls and long-distance calls within Bulgaria. Neither type of phone takes coins. Phonecards are sold at most shops and kiosks.

This is an extract from Survival Books’ Living in Bulgaria. Click here to find out more and buy a copy online.