What the NSI data shows
On 29 September 2026 the National Statistical Institute published preliminary data for August. Foreign citizens visited Bulgaria 2,221,194 times, 2.1% fewer than in August 2025. A month earlier, on 27 August, the NSI reported 1,979,743 visits for July, or 1.2% fewer than in July 2025. In both cases the data is preliminary and may be revised.
What is counted matters. The NSI reports visits, not overnight stays and not venue customers. They include people who are only passing through the country: transit is 37.8% of visits in August and 37.5% in July.
Why foreigners came
In August, visits for holidays and excursions were 51.9% of all, or 1,153,036. Compared with August 2025 they are 3.9% fewer. Business visits were 4.9%, and other purposes, including visiting relatives and friends, were 43.2%. In July, holidays and excursions were 51.0%, 2.7% fewer year on year.
Where they come from
In August the top places were Romania (419.2 thousand visits), Turkey (346.5), Germany (212.4), Ukraine (174.6) and Poland (111.6). Serbia, Greece, Czechia, the Netherlands and France follow. European Union countries account for 58.9% of visits. In July Turkey was first (312.7 thousand), followed by Romania (301.2), Ukraine (202.1) and Germany (163.5).
The ranking shows that guests speak many different languages. The data does not say in which language they read the menu, so do not draw a conclusion about exactly which languages you need. That is visible from your own guests: from reservations and from questions at the table.
What to do with this
A statistic for the whole country does not change your evening. But it is a good reason to look at your menu through the eyes of someone who does not read Bulgarian.
- Review the last few weeks and write down which countries your guests came from.
- Open the menu on a phone, the way a guest opens it, and check whether a dish such as "shopska salad" or "patatnik" is understood without the waiter explaining it.
- Decide which one or two languages are missing most often and add them first for the main categories.
- Check that allergens are described clearly in every language you show. Check the rules for your venue with the competent authorities.
There are details about translations in the material on menus in more than one language.
How ISKA Menu can help
In ISKA Menu, the Plus plan includes up to 4 menu languages, and the guest opens the menu in the browser, with no app. Changes to dishes are made from a phone and stay a draft until published, and the link stays the same. The free plan includes a basic menu in Bulgarian. Prices are on the pricing page.