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Bulgaria · Public shelters

Where are the public shelters in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria lists 247 public shelters (6 October 2025) in a GDPBZN PDF sorted by province, each graded category I or II. There is no official map.

Updated 2026-10-20· 4 official sources

Short answer. Bulgaria's public shelters are "collective protection means": blast shelters and fallout shelters owned by the state, municipalities or private owners. The fire and civil protection service (GDPBZN) publishes the official list: 247 facilities as of 6 October 2025, each graded category I (ready immediately) or II (ready within about a week) 12. There is no official interactive map.

What counts as a public shelter in Bulgaria?

The Disaster Protection Act defines collective protection means (колективни средства за защита) as "engineering facilities – blast shelters and anti-radiation shelters – whose main purpose is to shelter the population" 2. There are two types:

  • blast shelters (скривалища);
  • fallout or anti-radiation shelters (противорадиационни укрития) 2.

They may be public state, public municipal or private property, and are maintained by the agencies they are assigned to, by mayors or by their owners 2. A shelter may have another use only if that use does not prevent sheltering 2.

Under the 2009 ordinance on collective protection means, metros and underground garages in production and public-service buildings in urban areas of special importance must also be built as collective protection means 3.

How many shelters are there?

The GDPBZN list counts 247 facilities as of 6 October 2025 1. Each one is graded in one of two categories 1:

Category Meaning
I Good technical condition; can be made ready for use immediately
II Satisfactory condition; can be made ready within a short time (up to one week) with minor funding

How do I find my nearest shelter?

  1. Open the GDPBZN Registers page on the Ministry of Interior website 4.
  2. Download the "List of collective protection means" PDF 1.
  3. Look up your province (област): the list gives the address, operator, type and category of each facility 1.

There is no official interactive map or address search 14. Note the addresses near your home, work and children's school, and check the category: a category II facility may need up to a week to be made ready 1.

What if there is no shelter near me?

If no listed facility is near you, our guides explain the general principles of sheltering in place or evacuating and of the protection factor offered by different parts of a building. When sirens sound, follow the instructions broadcast with them (see alerts) and our guide on what to do during an air-raid alert.

Frequently asked questions

How many public shelters does Bulgaria have?

247 collective protection means on the GDPBZN list as of 6 October 2025 1.

Is there a shelter map for Bulgaria?

No official interactive map or address search. The list is a PDF sorted by province 14.

What is the difference between category I and II?

Category I facilities are in good condition and can be made ready immediately; category II facilities are in satisfactory condition and need up to one week and minor funding 1.

Can a shelter be used for something else?

Yes, but only for a use that does not prevent sheltering 2.

Sources

  1. MVR – GDPBZN — Списък на колективните средства за защита към 06.10.2025 г. — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/289359/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%BA%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%20%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  2. MVR – GDPBZN — Закон за защита при бедствия (consolidated text, last amended DV No. 60 of 7 July 2020) — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/287282/ZZB_GDPBZN.doc (accessed 2026-10-20)
  3. MVR – GDPBZN — Наредба за реда за изграждане, поддържане и използване на колективните средства за защита (ПМС № 60 от 17.03.2009, ДВ бр. 23/2009, изм. и доп. ДВ бр. 16/2013) — https://mvr.bg/upload/15670/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B1%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B4%D1%8A%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  4. MVR – GDPBZN — Регистри, водени в ГДПБЗН — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/info-center/%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F/%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8 (accessed 2026-10-20)

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Sources

  1. MVR – GDPBZN · Списък на колективните средства за защита към 06.10.2025 г. checked 2026-10-20
  2. MVR – GDPBZN · Закон за защита при бедствия (consolidated text, last amended DV No. 60 of 7 July 2020) checked 2026-10-20
  3. MVR – GDPBZN · Наредба за реда за изграждане, поддържане и използване на колективните средства за защита (ПМС № 60 от 17.03.2009, ДВ бр. 23/2009, изм. и доп. ДВ бр. 16/2013) checked 2026-10-20
  4. MVR – GDPBZN · Регистри, водени в ГДПБЗН checked 2026-10-20

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