Driving to Varna from Romania and Turkey
Driving to Varna: from Romania via Durankulak–Vama Veche or the Ruse–Giurgiu bridge, from Turkey via Kapitan Andreevo; buy a Bulgarian e-vignette first.
Varna is an easy road trip from Romania and Turkey. From Romania’s Black Sea coast, cross at Vama Veche – Durankulak and follow the E87 south; from Bucharest, the Giurgiu – Ruse Danube bridge is the classic route. From Turkey, the main crossing is Kapıkule – Kapitan Andreevo. Every car on Bulgarian national roads needs an e-vignette.
From Romania
- Coastal route: Constanța – Mangalia – Vama Veche, then Durankulak in Bulgaria. Durankulak village sits on the E87 coast road about 6 km south of the border; Varna is around 100 km further south (Wikipedia).
- Danube route: Bucharest – Giurgiu, across the Danube Bridge to Ruse, then east to Varna.
Since 1 January 2025 Bulgaria and Romania are full members of the Schengen area, so routine identity checks at the land border ended. Random checks remain possible, so always carry your ID or passport.
From Turkey
The busiest crossing is Kapıkule (Edirne) – Kapitan Andreevo; from there motorways run towards Burgas and on along the coast to Varna. The Turkish–Bulgarian border is an external EU and Schengen border, so expect passport and customs checks and, in summer, queues.
The Bulgarian e-vignette
Cars and vans up to 3.5 t need an electronic vignette for national roads. It is linked to your number plate — there is no sticker. Buy it online at the official site bgtoll.bg before you set off. Prices rose by about 30% on 1 August 2026 (Sofia Globe):
| Vignette | Price (car) |
|---|---|
| One day | €5.30 |
| Weekend | €6.60 |
| Week | €10.00 |
| Month | €19.90 |
| Year | €64.50 |
Always check the current price on bgtoll.bg before you travel.
Driving tips
- Drive on the right; dipped headlights are required all year.
- Parking in central Varna is limited in summer — consider leaving the car at your accommodation.
More travel options: how to get to Varna.
Driving down the Romanian coast? Cape Kaliakra and the north coast is a short detour between Durankulak and Varna. Documents for the border are explained in Bulgaria’s visa and entry rules, and the Turkish route in detail in Istanbul to Varna.
Before you drive, check your plate for unpaid fines and a valid vignette on the fines and vignette check page.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette to drive to Varna?
Yes. Cars need a Bulgarian e-vignette for national roads and motorways. Buy it online at bgtoll.bg before you cross the border.
Is there a border check between Romania and Bulgaria?
Both countries have been full Schengen members since 1 January 2025, so routine passport checks ended, although random checks may occur.
Which is the quickest crossing from Romania's coast to Varna?
The Vama Veche – Durankulak crossing; from there the E87 road runs south along the coast to Varna.
