Bulgaria–Romania border crossings compared

Updated: October 29, 2026

Bulgaria and Romania are linked by two road bridges over the Danube, at Ruse–Giurgiu and Vidin–Calafat, by a handful of river ferries, and by land crossings in Dobrudzha, east of Silistra. Since both countries joined Schengen fully on 1 January 2025, there are no routine passport checks. A private transfer from Ruse to Bucharest via the Danube Bridge costs 95 € per vehicle.

The main options at a glance

The Danube forms most of the border, so the choice is really between a bridge, a ferry or going round the end of the river in the east. Which one makes sense depends on where you start in Bulgaria and where you are going in Romania.

Crossing	Type	Best for	Things to know
Ruse – Giurgiu	Road and rail bridge	Bucharest from Sofia, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo	Busiest crossing; bridge toll; heavy lorry traffic
Vidin – Calafat	Road and rail bridge (New Europe Bridge)	Craiova, western Romania, Timișoara	Toll; quieter than Ruse
Silistra – Călărași	Land crossing plus ferry on the Romanian side	Călărași, Constanța motorway	Ferry timetable sets the pace
Durankulak – Vama Veche	Land crossing on the coast road	Mangalia, Constanța from Varna or Balchik	Busy in summer with beach traffic
Kardam – Negru Vodă	Land crossing	Constanța and Bucharest from Varna or Dobrich	Often the best inland route from Varna
Oryahovo – Bechet, Nikopol – Turnu Măgurele	Car ferries	Local trips in central northern Bulgaria	Check operation before travelling; weather and river levels matter

The two bridges

Ruse – Giurgiu

For most travellers between Sofia or central Bulgaria and Bucharest, this is the default. Bucharest is about 70 km from the bridge, so Ruse to central Bucharest is typically around 1 h 30 min to 2 h depending on traffic at both ends. The bridge itself is old and narrow, and queues of lorries can build up on the approaches. Our Ruse to Bucharest guide covers that route step by step.

Vidin – Calafat

The newer bridge in the north-west is the natural choice for Craiova and western Romania. It is rarely as congested as Ruse. From Sofia the road to Vidin crosses the Balkan range, so in winter it can be slower than the distance suggests.

Both bridges charge a toll for cars. Toll levels change, so check the current amount with the bridge operators before you rely on a figure.

Ferries across the Danube

Car ferries have long run at several points, but services depend on demand, the river level and the season, and some have been suspended for long periods. Treat them as useful for local trips rather than as a fixed part of an international transfer. If you are interested in the eastern ferry, our page on the Silistra–Călărași ferry explains how it works.

Dobrudzha: going round the river

East of Silistra, the Danube turns north into Romania and the border becomes a land line across the Dobrudzha plain. Here there is no river to cross, which makes these crossings the most practical from Varna, Dobrich and the northern coast.

• Durankulak – Vama Veche: the coast road, convenient for Mangalia and the Romanian resorts.
• Kardam – Negru Vodă: the main inland route towards Constanța and the A2 motorway to Bucharest.
• Smaller crossings such as Kaynardzha – Lipnița and Krushari – Dobromir serve local traffic.

For a full trip from the coast, see our guides to Varna to Bucharest and Varna to Constanța.

What Schengen means here

The European Commission confirms Bulgaria and Romania became Schengen members on 1 January 2025. In practice, the passport booths on these crossings are no longer staffed for routine checks. Police can still stop vehicles in the border area, so carry a passport or EU ID card. Our article on Schengen border checks explains what can still happen.

Road charges are separate in each country: Bulgaria uses an electronic vignette and Romania its own road charge (rovinietă) on national roads. These apply to the vehicle, not to passengers.