Choosing a city for a family with children: criteria
For a family with children in Bulgaria there is no single "best city" and this page gives no ranking; a city is good or bad according to your own family's needs. What we give is a list of criteria and the official source from which each can be read. Apply city names (for example Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas) to these criteria yourself.
Cities and regions · Last reviewed: 2026-10-07
Criteria and where to read them
| Criterion | What to look at | Where to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery, kindergarten and school admission | The admission procedure, application channel and responsible unit differ from municipality to municipality | The municipality's own site (for example Varna Municipality's site has a section on admission to nurseries, kindergartens and schools and an Education and Youth Activities directorate) |
| Healthcare | Registering with a family doctor and health insurance | The National Health Insurance Fund (НЗОК) and the article on choosing a family doctor |
| Air quality | The hourly and 48-hour forecast index value for the city | The European Environment Agency's European Air Quality Index: five pollutants are measured and the index follows the worst one |
| Climate and warnings | Current data, forecasts and hazard warnings | The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (НИМХ) |
| Transport and connections | Urban public transport, trains and airport access | The Sofia Tourism Administration portal (metro, buses, trains, airport); Fraport Bulgaria, operator of Varna and Burgas airports |
| Proximity to higher education | Whether there is a university where the young people can later study in the city | NACID's Register of Higher Education Institutions |
What to watch in these criteria
- Admission to schools and kindergartens is a municipal matter; do not carry a rule over from one city to another, read each municipality's own page.
- The air quality index is a snapshot; to see the seasonal picture, look at different times. The index follows the worst of the five pollutants.
- For climate use the Institute's current and past data sections; winter life on the coast and in the mountains can differ from summer.
- An airport and rail link is a practical criterion if you think about how often a year you will travel to Turkey.
- For school type, language of instruction and fees see the education articles; this page does not repeat them.
Personal opinion is presented as criteria
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best city in Bulgaria for a family with children?
This page makes no ranking. A city depends on the weight that school admission, health access, air quality, climate, transport and housing have for you. Check the criteria in the official sources and make your own list.
Which institution do I apply to in order to enrol my child in school?
The procedure differs by municipality and school type. First look at the admission section of the site of the municipality where you live; details are in the article on school enrolment.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Община Варна — Прием в детски ясли, детски градини и училища — https://www.varna.bg/ · 2026-10-07
- Национална здравноосигурителна каса (НЗОК) — https://www.nhif.bg/ · 2026-10-07
- European Environment Agency — European Air Quality Index — https://airindex.eea.europa.eu/ · 2026-10-07
- Национален институт по метеорология и хидрология (НИМХ) — https://www.meteo.bg/ · 2026-10-07
- Sofia Tourism Administration — Public transport and railway transport — https://visitsofia.bg/en/how-to-travel/railway-transport · 2026-10-07
- Fraport Bulgaria — оператор на Летище Варна и Летище Бургас — https://www.fraport-bulgaria.com/ · 2026-10-07
- НАЦИД — Регистър на висшите училища — https://nacid.bg/bg/register_rvu/ · 2026-10-07
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