Duty-free allowances between Bulgaria and Turkey

Updated: October 29, 2026

Travellers entering Bulgaria from Turkey by road are bound by EU customs allowances, which are lower for land arrivals than for flights. The standard limit for other goods is €300 per adult by land, against €430 by air. Tobacco limits can be much lower at land borders, and meat and dairy products from Turkey are banned. A private transfer from Plovdiv to Edirne costs 170 € per vehicle.

Why the rules are stricter by road

Turkey is outside the EU’s customs union for most personal goods, so Kapitan Andreevo, Lesovo and Malko Tarnovo are full EU customs borders. EU law sets one set of duty-free allowances for travellers, but it lets member states apply lower limits to people arriving by land, mainly to stop small-scale cigarette smuggling. Bulgaria is one of the countries where this matters.

Item	EU allowance by air or sea	By land (where lower limit applies)	Conditions
Cigarettes	200	40	17 and over only
Cigarillos	100	20	Alternative to cigarettes, not in addition
Cigars	50	10	Alternative
Smoking tobacco	250 g	50 g	Alternative
Spirits over 22%	1 litre	1 litre	Or 2 litres under 22%; 17 and over
Still wine	4 litres	4 litres	17 and over
Beer	16 litres	16 litres	17 and over
Other goods (adults)	€430	€300	Total value
Other goods (under 15)	Member states may set €150	€150	Total value

Bulgaria has used the lower land-border tobacco limits. Because these figures are set nationally and can change, check them with the Bulgarian Customs Agency shortly before you travel.

Things you cannot bring in

• Meat and dairy products: sausages, cheese, milk and similar products from outside the EU are generally banned for personal import, with narrow exceptions such as some baby food.
• Counterfeit goods: fake branded clothing, bags and watches can be seized, even in small quantities.
• Protected plants and animals: items made from protected species need permits.
• Medicines: carry prescription medicines in their original packaging, in quantities for personal use.

Cash

If you carry €10,000 or more in cash, or the equivalent in other currencies, you must declare it when entering or leaving the EU. This includes Turkish lira and travellers’ cheques. Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026, which makes the threshold easier to keep track of.

Fuel

Fuel in the vehicle’s standard tank is allowed without duty. A portable can is subject to a separate limit. On a private transfer this is the operator’s concern rather than the passengers’, but it is worth knowing if you see long queues of drivers filling up just before the border.

Leaving Turkey

Turkey has its own export rules. The most important is that antiques and items that could be considered cultural property cannot be taken out without official documentation. Keep receipts for carpets and other higher-value purchases, as customs officers may ask where they came from.

Planning a shopping trip to Edirne

1. Check the current Bulgarian land allowances before you shop.
2. Keep receipts together and the goods easy to reach in the boot.
3. Do not split goods between passengers to exceed limits; each allowance is personal and for personal use.
4. Allow time for the border on the way back; queues towards Bulgaria build in the afternoon.
5. Non-EU travellers will also pass the Entry/Exit System on re-entry; see EES at land borders.

For timings and queues, see our Kapitan Andreevo guide, and for the day trip itself, Plovdiv to Edirne.

If in doubt, use the red channel and declare. Paying duty on an item is much better than having it seized and fined.