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Updated 2026-04-20T13:27:07Z
Full advisory →Is Burgas safe? 🇧🇬
Bulgaria · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Burgas scores 81/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Burgas is a safe coastal city for visitors, with low violent crime and only petty theft risks in crowded spots. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams.
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Burgas 🇧🇬
Bulgaria · Assessed 29 July 2026
81
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~87% of countries
What drives this score
Crime79/100GoodCrime index 36.9 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment88/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories97Good
Stability69Fair
Health94Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for Bulgaria: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-07-14T15:42:50.1962873-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Good
Homicide rate
1.1 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Bulgaria1.1World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
93
Robbery / mugging
LowMuggings and armed robbery against tourists are extremely rare; most incidents involve local disputes, not visitors.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag‑snatching occur in busy areas such as the sea promenade, markets and public transport, especially in summer.
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
88/100
Reported feel88Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Recent traveller reports describe feeling safe walking during the day and at night, with only occasional concerns about petty theft in crowded spots.
Yes — Burgas is a safe coastal city for visitors, with low violent crime and only petty theft risks in crowded spots.
Burgas scores 80/100 as safe, far below the world average homicide rate, and official advisories place Bulgaria at Level 1 (exercise normal precautions). Recent data shows no terrorism deaths, good air quality, and high public confidence walking at night, though corruption perception remains weak.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026BurgasMedia reports a surge in petty theft complaints near the sea promenade during the summer tourism peak— BurgasMedia
- Mar 2026Novinite.com notes six arrests in Burgas over alleged vote‑buying ahead of national elections, indicating localized political tension— Novinite.com
- Jun 2025Europol announced the arrest of 18 individuals for migrant smuggling through Burgas' southern border— Europol
- Aug 2024Euronews reported a seizure of €35 million worth of heroin in Burgas, highlighting drug‑related activity but not directly targeting tourists— Euronews
Common scams
- Overcharging in bars and clubs
- Fake taxi meters and inflated fares
- Pickpocketing in markets and bus stations
- Currency exchange scams at tourist sites
Full briefing
Burgas is a safe coastal city for visitors, with low violent crime and only petty theft risks in crowded spots. The multi‑database safety profile gives Bulgaria a composite score of 80 / 100 and rates the city as safer than 86 % of countries, while official travel advisories from Canada, the UK and the U.S. place it in the lowest risk tier (exercise normal precautions). Recent data shows no recorded terrorism deaths, good air quality, and high public confidence walking alone after dark, though corruption perception remains weak.
The live web dossier confirms the overall picture: a handful of recent incidents involve local political arrests, a drug‑seizure bust and a spike in petty‑theft complaints near the sea promenade during the July tourism peak. No active disaster alerts or extreme weather threats exist, and hospitals and emergency services are available, though specific hospital locations are not detailed in the data. Travel‑health notices list global polio, dengue and measles alerts, but these are not specific to Burgas.
Scams that commonly target visitors include overcharging in bars and clubs, inflated taxi fares, pickpocketing in markets and bus stations, and currency‑exchange tricks at tourist sites. To stay safe, keep valuables in front pockets or a money belt, use licensed taxis or rideshares, stay alert in crowded areas, and avoid flashing large amounts of cash. While the city is generally safe, be mindful of the modest pickpocket risk in busy tourist zones and take standard precautions.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Burgas districts for visitors: 4 safer, 2 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Burgas safety map.
Meden RudnikavoidIndustrial zone with higher theft and drug activity
Burgas PortavoidIndustrial port; limited tourist access, higher crime risk
Tsar SimeoncautionResidential area; stay alert after dark, limited lighting
LyustovatacautionQuiet neighborhoods; avoid isolated streets at night
Old TownsaferTourist hub with police patrols; petty theft only
Sea GardensaferCrowded beach area, well‑lit, frequent patrols
Kamen ItsarisaferModern shopping district, active police presence
SarafovosaferResidential with good lighting, low incident reports
07 · After Dark
Is Burgas safe at night?
86% of people in Bulgaria say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2020).
Muggings and armed robbery against tourists are extremely rare; most incidents involve local disputes, not visitors.
After dark, be most careful around Meden Rudnik, Burgas Port, Tsar Simeon, Lyustovata. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Score by traveller type
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Burgas's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
Solo female travellerCrime +35% weight80
Solo travellerCrime +23% weight81
Family with kidsCrime +19% weight · Health & Air +12% weight82
Nightlife-focused tripCrime +28% weight80
Travellers 65+Crime +13% weight · Health & Air +16% weight · Stability +4% weight82
Business tripCrime +14% weight · Stability +6% weight80
09 · Questions
Burgas safety FAQ
Is Burgas safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Burgas is a safe coastal city for visitors, with low violent crime and only petty theft risks in crowded spots. Burgas scores 80/100 as safe, far below the world average homicide rate, and official advisories place Bulgaria at Level 1 (exercise normal precautions). Recent data shows no terrorism deaths, good air quality, and high public confidence walking at night, though corruption perception remains weak. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Which areas of Burgas should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Meden Rudnik, Burgas Port as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Burgas?
- Overcharging in bars and clubs
- Fake taxi meters and inflated fares
- Pickpocketing in markets and bus stations
- Currency exchange scams at tourist sites
How does Burgas compare with other places in Bulgaria?
Burgas ranks #1 of 5 Bulgaria destinations we've assessed, scoring 81/100. See the Bulgaria safety overview for the full list.
How is this Burgas safety score calculated?
The score blends 11+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
More Bulgaria reports
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4 reportsBrowse the Bulgaria safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: burgas.json (CC BY 4.0).