UK holidaymakers are being urged to exchange any remaining Bulgarian Levs or Romanian Leu ahead of a big financial change next year. Both countries are set to adopt the Euro, joining the eurozone, which will mean their current native currencies are obsolete and could complicate the process of converting them back to sterling.
Bulgaria has been rising in popularity as a family holiday destination for UK travellers since 2018, with its beach resorts named the most affordable in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people from the UK now holiday in Bulgaria each year.
Romania welcomes 4.6million tourists each year. The transition, which was scheduled for early next year but has been delayed, mirrors Croatia’s shift to the Euro in 2023. Following this change, any old Croatian Kuna can now only be exchanged at a single bank in Zagreb, posing significant inconvenience for international travellers.
A similar situation is anticipated for the Lev and Leu, raising concerns among tourists and expats. Mario Van Poppel, founder of Leftover Currency, said: “With Bulgaria and Romania joining the eurozone, British travellers holding onto Levs or Leu need to act promptly. Once the Euro is adopted, it will become increasingly difficult and costly to convert these currencies back to sterling.
“We’ve seen similar challenges with the Croatian kuna, where the only option now is a specific bank in Zagreb.” He added: “The window of opportunity is closing fast. If people don’t exchange their levs or leu before the transition, they might face significant hurdles. Banks in the UK may no longer accept these currencies, and travellers might find themselves forced to travel back to Bulgaria or Romania just to get their money’s worth.
“This is not only inconvenient but can also lead to financial losses.” British travellers are advised to exchange their leftover Bulgarian Levs and Romanian Leu as soon as possible, either through local banks, currency exchange services, or specialised platforms. Proactive measures will ensure that their hard-earned money retains its value and utility without the need for inconvenient international transactions.
