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Voykit pocket guide · Bulgaria
Silistra
Spend 1–2 days: explore the historic centre and take a half‑day to Srebarna Nature Reserve.
Silistra is a small Danube town of ~50,000 people with Roman‑era sites, an Ottoman fortress and a UNESCO bird reserve nearby. It is easy to see on foot and cheap to reach by bus from major Bulgarian cities.
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Bulgaria adopted the euro (EUR) on 1 January 2026, replacing the lev (BGN) at 1.95583 lev to the euro; the lev stopped being legal tender after January 2026, but banks and the Bulgarian National Bank still exchange old notes — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A1, Yettel and Vivacom sell prepaid SIMs; bring your passport to register.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: About 10%.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Guide or driver: €5–10 per person per day.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities; mountain spring taps are everywhere.
- Toilets
- Cafés and malls; public toilets usually cost €0.30–0.50.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1–2 |
| Beer (pub) | €2–3 |
| Taxi (city) | €1–2 |
| Museum entry | €1 |
| Bus ticket to Ruse | €5–7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VAR · Varna Airport
- —
- OTP · Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport
- —
- CND · Constanța Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Taxi within Silistra
- ≈ €1–2, flag down
- Bus Silistra → Ruse
- ≈ €5–7, 2 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town centre is walkable; taxis cost €1‑2, bikes are common; bus connections to Ruse, Dobrich, Shumen run several times daily.
See and do
Known for
- Medjidi Tabia fortress
- Roman Tomb of Silistra
- Archaeological Museum of Silistra
- Danube Garden
- Gallery of Fine Arts
- Srebarna Nature Reserve
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Srebarna Nature Reserve | Local bus or car, 18 km (11 mi) west, ~30 min driveLocal bus or car, 11 mi (18 km) west, ~30 min drive | ≈1 h total |
| Dobrich | Bus from Silistra station, 80 km (50 mi), ~1 h 15 minBus from Silistra station, 50 mi (80 km), ~1 h 15 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
| Ruse | Bus, 120 km (75 mi), about 2 hBus, 75 mi (120 km), about 2 h | ≈2 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Pelican Lake Guesthouse
- €15‑50/night off‑season, 20 % higher May‑Oct; breakfast €4, lunch €5, dinner €6
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Извинете |
| Thank you | Благодаря |
| How much is it? | Колко струва? |
| Where is the bus stop? | Къде е спирането на автобуса? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Yes and no: Say da or ne out loud; avoid: Relying on nods and head shakes
- Greeting: Handshake; three kisses between friends; avoid: Skipping hello in small shops
- Home visits: Bring flowers in odd numbers, wine or sweets; avoid: Even numbers of flowers
- Religion: Cover up in churches; light a candle if you wish; avoid: Photos during services
- Conversation: Food, wine, mountains, football; avoid: Lecturing on communism, the Ottomans or North Macedonia
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter snow can make roads slippery; avoid solo night driving.
- Ferry to Calarasi runs only in summer; check schedule.
- Taxi fares are low but confirm price before boarding.
Silistra is generally safe; keep an eye on belongings in crowded spots and check ferry schedules in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Silistra yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Medjidi Tabia fortress
- Roman Tomb of Silistra
- Archaeological Museum of Silistra
- Danube Garden
- Gallery of Fine Arts
- Srebarna Nature Reserve
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Silistra, revision 5208161 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5208161
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Silistra
До този адрес, моля
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- General emergency112
US consulate in Sofia; check Bulgarian foreign ministry for regional contacts.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/silistra). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.