How to plan your trip by car to Bulgaria on your own? Let's consider all the nuances when collecting for the best vacation from gas prices to hotels on the road, where you can stay and spend the night in a cozy atmosphere. We will find out all the best routes, how to pass the border, and where to visit besides the Black Sea coast.
How long does it take to get to Bulgaria from Moscow and St. Petersburg?
- From Moscow... Distance from Moscow to Bulgaria, more precisely - to Varna on the Black Sea coast 1899 kmif you go on the highway. To the point in the Gabrovo region - 2052 km, to Sofia - 2138 km. Travel time - 27 hours, driving along the E101 highway. The route passes through Kiev, the road is paid in some places.
- From St. Petersburg.Distance - 2386 km on the E95 / P23 highways can be overcome in 32 hours. On the route, you need to bypass the blocked section M8. The optimal route also goes through Ukraine.
Traveling to Bulgaria by car in 2021:
How much money should I take with me?
The amount directly depends on how long to travel to Bulgaria by car. According to ViaMichelin's calculations, the route through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia to Sofia will be 3040 km, it will take about 300 euros. That's travel and gas, add food and hotel or camping here. If you go to Varna through Ukraine (by the shortest route), then the costs will be significantly reduced.
Many European countries have their own currency, but some countries use the euro. A small amount in euros will not hurt you. In Romania, when crossing bridges and ferries, the payment is in lei. It is worth changing them in advance in large settlements, the course is better there. In other cases, you can pay by credit card. Just in case, you should issue a couple of cards and notify the bank that you are going abroad.
Gas prices, where is it better to refuel on the road?
Traveling to Bulgaria by car on your own involves long distances. A spare canister is not enough, and prices will rise as the next border approaches. But the cost of gasoline in Belarus is lower than in Russia: 35 - 46 rubles per liter. In Ukraine: 68 - 75, Romania ~ 88, Bulgaria ~ 86 rubles. Whichever route you choose, gas stations are common.
Which road?
There are a lot of options for how to get to Bulgaria by car from Moscow, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia. The road depends on the route, and the route can be short, spectacular, high-speed, bypassing Ukraine and simply original.
- Original route involves travel through Ukraine, and in Kharkov, the car can be put on a train - an auto transporter to Odessa and on the same train to go to Odessa. Saving in time, mileage, gasoline, hotel. Car transportation will cost 2,143 rubles, plus train tickets (476 rubles per ticket) and loading / unloading. In the morning you are in Odessa. Then you can go along the coast, there will be only 750 km to the resort of Sunny Beach. But the optimal route passes through Planca, Causeni, Chisinau, Cimislia, Comrat and Cahul. Entry to Bulgaria via Vama-Veche or Negru Vode. The second checkpoint is more deserted.
- Short route... Passes through Ukraine, more precisely through Zhitomir, Chernivtsi and Suceava in Romania. There are few border crossings and a good road along this route.
- Entertaining... May include landmarks from different countries, seaside holidays or ferry crossings.
Important! Calculate the route so that you do not go through border crossings from Friday to Sunday.
Where is the best place to eat?
A trip by car from Moscow to Bulgaria includes large cities. There will be no nutritional problems. Prices are not higher than in Moscow.
Crossing the border, what documents are needed
What documents do Russians need to enter Bulgaria?
Minimum:
- driver's license,
- registration on the vehicle,
- insurance (green card),
- sticker RUS
- and Schengen visas for all passengers.
Insurance can be obtained via the Internet. When driving bypassing Ukraine, you will need vignettes. Their cost is from 3 to 15 euros. You need to buy them at the border in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, respectively, or in advance on the Internet. The absence of vignettes on the windshield will lead to a hefty fine, up to 700 euros. In Turkey and Poland, it is possible to plan a route on the free road sections. Motorbike rides are only charged for ferry crossings. In the car you need to put 2 reflective vests, 2 emergency signs (according to Romanian and Bulgarian rules), a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. We recommend adding a jack, fuses and headlight bulbs to this set.
In addition to the documents, you need to take into account some peculiarities in the rules of different countries.
- At the Romanian border, there is a shift change from 7:00 to 8:00 in the morning and in the evening, cars are not allowed to pass.
- EU countries. The import of meat and dairy products is prohibited, you can take a little for food on the road. From November to March, the car must be “shod” in winter tires. Studded tires are prohibited. It is forbidden to carry children under 12 years old in the front seat.
- In Bulgaria. All passengers must be wearing their seat belts en route. The driver is obliged to turn on the dipped beam during the day.
How to get to Bulgaria by car via Georgia and Turkey?
This is a very expensive, but quite spectacular option. There is one thing, but you need to contact the port dispatcher in advance to clarify the departure date and book tickets. Flights to the ports of Odessa are irregular. Then the route Odessa - Bulgaria through Romania.
- From Georgia. Flight from Poti, it is 60 km from Batumi, to Ilyichevsk (Ukraine). The cost of transporting a car is $ 300.
- From Turkey... There are flights from Hyderapsha to Chernomorsk (Ukraine) and Samsun to Ilyichevsk. The cost for a car is $ 250 with a driver and meals. If there are more passengers, then each passenger needs to pay about $ 85 per cabin.
How to get around Ukraine?
You can go to Bulgaria by car from Moscow to bypass Ukraine through Poland, Hungary and Romania, or you can drive a little further west through Hungary and Serbia. At the same time, the distance and consumption of gasoline increases, but there are convenient high-speed routes on this route. The road will take at least 3 days with 2 - 3 nights. Exotic expensive routes go through Georgia and Turkey, and then by sea.
- Travel route from Moscow on the map:
Where to visit Bulgaria by car?
What you can see in Bulgaria by car yourself:
- Attractions in the major cities of Sofia and Varna are well described on the Internet.
- It will be interesting to wander around the fairytale castle of Ravadinovo in Burgas and Bot with children. Balchek garden, visit the water parks in Bulgaria and the puppet theater in Sofia.
- Nessebar. It is a city-museum on the peninsula. They have their own beaches.
- Sunny Beach and Golden Sands. These are resorts and reserves with good hotels and long sandy beaches.
- Burgas. A beautiful resort town with history.
- Ski resorts: Bansko, Pamporovo, Borovets, Chepelare in the Rhodope Mountains. The season lasts from mid-December to April, in Bansko - until mid-May.
- Fortress Tsarevets of the XXII century near Veliko Tarnovo.
- Balchek. Queen Mary Botanical Garden, beaches.
- Cave temples in Ivanovo, Aladzha monastery near Varna, Rila monastery, Khan-Krum monastery.
- House-Museum of Vanga in Rupite.
Where to stay for rest?
With a high-speed route bypassing Ukraine, it is convenient to stop in Minsk, Lublin and Budapest. Driving through major cities, you can pick up different options for hotels, or you can take a tent with you and plan a stop at a camping.
- Important! Parking in Bulgaria and other European countries is paid, but you can choose a hotel with free parking.
Route by car in Bulgaria on the map
All information for the best vacation in Bulgaria in a separate section.
