Varna to Constanta: border and coast road

Updated: October 29, 2026

Varna to Constanta is about 150 km, a drive of around 2 to 2.5 hours. The coastal route crosses at Durankulak–Vama Veche and passes Mangalia; the inland route via Dobrich crosses at Kardam–Negru Voda. Both are internal Schengen borders with no routine checks as of autumn 2026. A private transfer from Varna centre costs 140 € per car.

Coast or inland?

	Durankulak–Vama Veche (coast)	Kardam–Negru Voda (inland)
Route in Bulgaria	Varna, Balchik turn-off, Kavarna, Shabla, Durankulak	Varna, Dobrich, General Toshevo, Kardam
Route in Romania	Vama Veche, Mangalia, the coastal resorts, Constanta	Negru Voda, then north-east to Constanta
Approx. distance	150 km	145 km
Approx. time	2 to 2.5 h	2 to 2.5 h
Summer traffic	Heavy around Mangalia and the resorts	Lighter
Best for	Romanian coast resorts, scenery	Constanta port and the A2 motorway

The coastal route

Heading north from Varna, the road skirts Golden Sands and runs inland of Balchik and Kavarna before crossing the flat Dobrudzha plateau to Durankulak. Across the border, Vama Veche and 2 Mai are small beach villages, followed by Mangalia and a string of Romanian resorts named after planets and Roman gods: Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Neptun. The road then reaches Eforie and Constanta.

Out of season it is a pleasant, quiet drive. In July and August the stretch from Mangalia to Constanta can be slow, with traffic lights, pedestrians and weekend crowds.

The inland route

Via Dobrich and Kardam the road crosses farmland with few towns, and Romanian traffic is usually lighter. It joins the network north-west of Constanta, which makes it convenient for the port, the railway station and anyone continuing on the A2 motorway towards Bucharest. For that longer trip, see our Varna to Bucharest guide.

Border rules as of autumn 2026

Bulgaria and Romania have been full Schengen members on land since 1 January 2025, and the temporary checks kept after accession ended on 1 July 2025. You do not stop for passport control, but every traveller should carry a passport or national ID card, as police can still check identity. If you are driving your own car, you need a Bulgarian e-vignette and a Romanian rovinieta.

For cruise passengers

Constanta is one of the largest ports on the Black Sea and a regular cruise call. Passengers starting or ending a cruise there sometimes fly into or out of Varna, which has a seasonal schedule of flights from Western Europe. The trip between the airport or city and the port is short enough to fit around embarkation times.

• Leave at least 3.5 hours between landing at Varna and the latest boarding time in Constanta.
• Put the port as your destination and check which terminal or gate your cruise line uses.
• Choose a Minivan if you have large cruise suitcases: up to 6 passengers and 6 bags, or a Van for up to 8.

If you are disembarking in Constanta and flying from Varna, check how early your cruise line lets you leave the ship. Book the transfer for after the latest realistic disembarkation time rather than the earliest.

Bus or train?

There is no railway along the coast between Varna and Constanta. Some minibus and coach operators run between the two cities, mainly in summer, so check their websites for current departures. For two or more people with luggage, the per-car transfer price is often close to the combined fares and saves changes.

Further afield in Romania, see Sofia to Brasov or Ruse to Bucharest.