Visa query: Travel to Athens (Greece) and Sofia (Bulgaria)

I am planning to travel to Greece (Athens) and Sofia (Bulgaria). I understand that I can travel to Sofia also under my Schengen visa, but I have questions:

Do I need to request for a multiple-entry or single-entry Schengen visa (tourist visa)?
Can I fly into Bulgaria (from India) and then move to Greece and then out of Greece to India?
Or do I have to fly to Greece and then only can visit Bulgaria?

Best Answer

As stated in Timatic, the database used by airlines:

Visa required [for Bulgaria], except for passengers with a C visa issued by Croatia, Cyprus, Romania or a Schengen Member State valid for the period of intended stay. They are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days

So your Schengen visa only needs to be valid. It doesn't matter if you used it to enter the Schengen Area before Bulgaria or not.

So:

Single-entry is enough.
Yes, you can visit Bulgaria first if you want.

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Do I need a visa for Athens?

Greece is a party to the Schengen Agreement; therefore, U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

Is Greece accepting visa?

You are allowed to travel to Greece and to all other members of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa, as long as your U.S. passport is valid for at least 3 months after your planned return to the United States!

Can I enter Greece with Schengen visa?

It is a self-declaration document that allows the government to track its visitor's health conditions. Is Greece under a Schengen visa? Absolutely.

Who can enter Greece without visa?

If you're thinking of taking a Mediterranean excursion to Greece, you most likely do not need a travel visa. Citizens of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Australia, Japan, and a host of other countries1\ufeff are permitted to enter Greece without a visa for up to 90 days within a six-month period.

GREECE TO BULGARIA (CRAZIEST TRAVEL DAYS YET!)

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