At a glance
- Total time
- Call 112 now
- Official fees
- Free from any phone
- Where
- 112 for all emergencies
- Bulgarian needed?
- Operators often speak English
Save these numbers in your phone today. In an emergency, call 112: it is free from any phone, works without credit, and operators can usually help in English.
Emergency numbers
| Number | What for |
|---|---|
| 112 | All emergencies: ambulance, fire and police |
| 150 | Ambulance |
| 160 | Fire |
| 166 | Police |
| 1470 or +359 2 963 2000 | Mountain Rescue Service (PSS) |
The short numbers 150, 160 and 166 still work, but calls are routed through the 112 system. If you are not sure who you need, just call 112.
What to say when you call
- Say “English, please” if you need it.
- What has happened, and whether anyone is hurt.
- Where you are: city, street, building number and entrance (вход, “vhod”), floor and flat. Bulgarian blocks often have several entrances, so the entrance letter matters.
- Your phone number. Don’t hang up until the operator tells you to.
Hospitals and emergency care
For life-threatening emergencies, the ambulance takes you to the nearest hospital with an emergency department. In Sofia, the main emergency hospital is Pirogov. Emergency care is given to everyone, whatever your insurance, but you may be asked for your health insurance details or EHIC afterwards.
For problems that are urgent but not life-threatening, such as a bad fever at night, private hospitals in the big cities have emergency rooms where you pay for treatment, and staff often speak English. See our guide to finding an English-speaking doctor.
In the mountains
If you hike or ski, save the Mountain Rescue Service number before you go, tell someone your route, and check the weather. Mountain rescue in Bulgaria recommends mountain insurance, because some rescues and helicopter transport can be charged.
Other useful numbers
- Your embassy: save its emergency number for lost passports and arrests.
- Your family doctor: for anything that can wait until the morning.
- A 24-hour pharmacy near you. See our pharmacies guide.
Sources
- European Commission: 112, the European emergency number
- EENA: how Bulgaria’s 112 system works
- Mountain Rescue Service of the Bulgarian Red Cross (in Bulgarian)
If you are in danger now, stop reading and call 112.