Before you come
Since 1 January 2025 the whole drive is inside Schengen, with no passport control.
By Loena Luxury SuitesUpdated September 20263 min read
The short way runs through Craiova, over the Calafat bridge into Vidin, past Sofia, and out of Bulgaria at Kulata. The other opens at Giurgiu and Ruse. Motorway carries you almost the whole distance. Leave Bucharest at first light and you are eating dinner in Ladadika.
| Route | Distance | Driving | Crossings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucharest, Craiova, Calafat, Vidin, Sofia | 652 km | About nine and a half hours | Calafat and Kulata |
| Bucharest, Giurgiu, Ruse, Sofia | 686 km | About ten hours | Ruse and Kulata |
Land border controls with Bulgaria and Romania were lifted on 1 January 2025, by a Council of the EU decision of 12 December 2024. Air and sea borders had opened on 31 March 2024. The wait at Promachonas is now at the toll plaza. On summer return evenings it reaches five kilometres. Spot checks still happen, so keep an ID card or a passport where you can reach it.
| What you pay | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian e-vignette, one day | 5.30 euro | bgtoll.bg, or at the border |
| Bulgarian e-vignette, weekend | 6.60 euro | bgtoll.bg, or at the border |
| Bulgarian e-vignette, one week | 10.00 euro | bgtoll.bg, or at the border |
| Greek toll, Promachonas | 2.35 euro | At the plaza |
| Greek toll, Strymoniko | 2.35 euro | At the plaza |
Two terminals matter, both on the western side of the centre. Intercity coaches use the Makedonia station and trains come into the New Railway Station. The railway station is the western end of the metro line, and Venizelou leaves you at the edge of Ladadika. One rule catches people out. A bus ticket does not work on the metro, and the metro ticket does not work on a bus.
The lanes in Ladadika are partly pedestrianised and street parking is out of the question. Put the partner garage into the navigation in place of our address. It sits 250 metres from the entrance, open around the clock and charged separately, so a slow crossing at the border and a departure before dawn both stop being problems. Message us before you set off and the garage location comes back with photo directions for the door.
Five identical suites at 13 Ernestou Emprar, 30 m2 each, on the fourth floor.
Vergina and the royal Macedonian tombs are about an hour west, motorway the whole way. The first Halkidiki beaches sit roughly an hour to the southeast, and Pella is closer than either. Collect the car in the morning, put it back in the garage by evening, and walk down to dinner.
Since 1 January 2025 there is no systematic check at the Romanian or Bulgarian land borders, or at Promachonas. Spot checks still happen, so carry an ID card or passport.
From 1 August 2026, 5.30 euro for a day, 6.60 for a weekend and 10.00 for a week, for a car. Prices are revised, so check bgtoll.bg before you leave.
Via Calafat and Vidin, 652 km and about nine and a half hours of driving with no stops. Through Giurgiu and Ruse, 686 km and ten hours.
In the partner garage, 250 metres from the entrance, open around the clock and charged separately. Ladadika is partly pedestrianised and street parking there is not realistic. Set the navigation to the garage in place of 13 Ernestou Emprar, and message us before you set off for the location and photo directions.
