Is Bulgaria Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Bulgaria
Safety rating
Women living in Bulgaria consider the safety level to be relatively high, with an overall safety rating of 3.8 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Bulgaria consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 1.9 out of 5.
Violence rating
On average 18.3% percentage of women in Bulgaria have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.
Travel and Meet new People
Get the Travel Ladies app to meet new people, find travel buddies and stay with local women for free through hospitality exchange.
Crime & Safety Statistics
Based on 52 experiences
Safety rating: | 3.8/5 | Safe |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 3.2/5 | Moderate |
Safety using public transport: | 4.2/5 | Safe |
Crime rate: | 1.9/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 1.8/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1.6/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1.8/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1.7/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is Bulgaria?
Monika
Sofia
This city is not for one of the biggest or the most famous places ,but its soo charmingly and the people are so kind . You are gonna lose nothing if you come to see it,and i am waiting here for you to show you everything
Posted: February 4, 2025Sofia
Sofia is a generally very safe city and it has gotten more more international in the past years which has made it even safer as more regulations have been in place. The city centre is well lit and there are people out on the streets till very late so it doesn’t feel sketchy when you are alone.
Posted: January 27, 2025Sofia
As most cities, Sofia has both its good and bad neighbourhoods. Generally the more west an north you go, the worse it gets. Philipovtzi is a neighbourhood i will never go. South and south-east neighbourhoods are good and of course the centre is well lit and safe. I have never experienced any type of assault for my 21 years of living in Sofia and there is around one bad thing a year happening. The bad things that happen are generally between people who know and don’t really like each other .
Posted: January 26, 2025Sofia
I believe Sofia is a safe city. There are some parts of the town that are a big No No, but to go there is really tricky, so if you find yourself there you have to be really unlucky. Police is doing their job and you can see a lot of police cars driving around. Around the centre you have more than two or three dozen policeman after dark, especially in front of bars or the Arabic part of the city. There you can find a lot of immigrants, but I don’t think they are that scary. The only problem in Sofia is maybe the stealing. There are a lot of pickpockets. Overall, I really like the city - is noisy, colourful and you can do many things
Posted: January 25, 2025Sofia
As a woman who has lived all her life in the city centre, I'm not too concerned with safety, because the majority of the streets in the area are well lit and there's always groups of people walking around, even in the late hours of the night. To be fair though I always make sure there's someone to walk me home after dark and rarely go out alone after 9pm. Taking a taxi is great, personally I feel safer in the backseat and have never been harassed by a driver. You can see some homeless people here and there, but not to be worried- they are harmless human beings, even if they are loud or seem aggressive, they're not an issue. Some areas far away from the centre are not as great- many strange men and/or workers in construction catcalling you, starring. Nobody has ever followed me home. There have been two instances in which I was going home via public transport of some sort where a man sitting close by was masturbating whilst starring at me. Those incidents were years apart tho and smth similar hasnt happened to me since! To anyone taking a trip to Sofia- enjoy your stay but be careful as you would in any other European city ❤️
Posted: January 22, 2025Plovdiv
Plovdiv is safe. In the day you shouldn't feel worried because there is no crime. I don't walk alone at night because there are some crazy people but overall Plovdiv is very safe city. And the people are nice.
Posted: January 20, 2025
Kristina
Varna
During the day is safe, here are some small streets that could be considered suspicious,but I personally haven’t experienced anything.At the shopping centers and malls you should be careful,especially when there’s big crowds-sometimes there’s thieves but rarely.At night is a bit scary because here’s often to see drunk people or people under the influence of drugs ,especially when the weather is warm.Sometimes here’s a big groups of boys or young people but often they’re harmless.
Posted: January 16, 2025Blagoevgrad
Fairly safe, occasional issues with drunk older crowd and foreigners especially different skin colored people. Student life is abundant so safety is generally not an issue but be cautious around the big men.
Posted: January 16, 2025
Deya
Sofia
Sofia is a lovely city with a dynamic cultural life. It has a lot to offer - lots of cultural events, live music, nightlife, shopping, accessible public transport, great food and more. One can really feel the pulse of the city as it’s growing and changing.
Posted: January 15, 2025Plovdiv
According to statistics, crime rates in Plovdiv are relatively low. The city is lively and there are many people during the day. At night, of course, it sometimes looks scary, but nothing can happen to you on the busy streets. There are many non-stop pharmacies that work around the clock. In several places they have also introduced machines with the most basic medicines, which also work around the clock
Posted: January 12, 2025Is Bulgaria worth visiting?
Travel rating
based on 30 experiences from female travelers
Dilara
Turkey
Sofia, Solo travel
I had an amazing time in Sofya! The city has a charming atmosphere, and the food was absolutely delicious. We tried some traditional Bulgarian dishes, and everything was fresh and flavorful. The service was also excellent—fast and friendly. We explored some beautiful places like Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Vitosha Boulevard, which had great shops and cafes. In the evening, my friends and I went to a karaoke bar, and we had so much fun singing together. The whole trip was unforgettable, and I’d love to visit again to discover even more!
Posted: February 2, 2025Bulgaria, Solo travel
It was safe but there are some problems about Bulgaria first you shouldn’t go there in winter because it’s really cold rainy and windy second you shouldn’t trust a guys in Bulgaria as a solo traveler they are nice but some of them has different intentions with you
Posted: January 30, 2025Meet locals in Bulgaria
Ana
About Me
Hey there:) nice to meet you I’m Ana. I love to travel and explore the world in all its forms of beauty and unique differences. I prefer spending time in nature, doing sports or anything creative! I also LOVE winter ❄️❄️❄️ My next destination is Norway, where I will be spending all of March. I would love to arrive a few days earlier and explore Bergen, so I am looking for a place to stay currently 😇 I am social, outgoing and smiling and I love making new friends:) I am also the biggest cat person you will meet so that’s something we can bond over hahah:) I would love to explore the Norwegian Fjords if I have an opportunity and company 🏔️
Speaking
Safety in Bulgaria
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulgaria safe?
Is Bulgaria safe to walk alone at night?
Is public transport safe in Bulgaria?
What is the crime rate in Bulgaria?
What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Bulgaria?
What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Bulgaria?
What is the risk of being physically attacked in Bulgaria?
What is the risk of burglary in Bulgaria?
What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Bulgaria?
What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Bulgaria?
