Bulgaria and Romania— Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Traveling to Bulgaria and/Vs Romania: An Overview
If you’re not sure how to travel between these two countries or the best time to plan a trip to Romania and Bulgaria, here’s a guide that you can follow:
Getting from Bulgaria to Romania
If you’re traveling between Bulgaria and Romania, you are more than likely to take the Sofia-Ruse route. Situated on the bank of the Danube river, Ruse is a border town in Bulgaria facing the Romanian city of Giurgiu on the opposite side of the bank. The quickest way to travel between the two capitals is on a bus, which takes around 7 hours 35 minutes. If you opt to take a train, the journey could take over 11 hours. And if you have a private transfer service on your Bulgaria and Romania tour, you can further shorten the travel time to just 5 hours, provided you do not make many stopovers along the way.
Best Time to Visit Bulgaria to Romania
The best time to visit Bulgaria and Romania is either between April and May or in the fall months between September and October. Temperatures are pleasant and the tourist numbers are also few during these periods. If you love vampires and Halloween, be sure to be in Romania in October.
Highlights of Bulgaria and Romania Trip
- Check out the historical churches of Bulgaria and Romania, such as the Church of the "Stavropoleos" Monastery and the Black Church.
- Lace up your hiking boots in Bulgaria’s Vitosha Mountain Range or Romania’s Cheile Turzii Nature Reserve.
- Hit the slopes in some of Europe’s most affordable and underrated ski destinations, Bansko and Brasov.
- Go on a cruise tour along the Danube River, which also serves as the border between Bulgaria and Romania.
Bulgaria and Romania Travel Tips
- Book a taxi service or take an Uber during your Bulgaria and Romania tour to avoid being overcharged.
- If you are driving in Bulgaria or Romania, you may be subject to a road tax. These are compulsory, and you’ll face a fine of over USD 160 if you are found driving without paying the road tax.
- Bulgaria and Romania are now part of that Schengen zone. So, if you have a Schengen visa or are traveling on the 90-day visa-less travel system within the Schengen area, you can travel to both countries without the need for extra visas.
At a Glance: Bulgaria Vs Romania
| Bulgaria | Romania | |
| Annual visitors | Approx 12.6 million | 13.65 million |
| Ideal duration | 5-7 days | 7-10 days |
| Transportation | Most US flights will have one-stop connecting flights into Sofia. These are normally in central European hubs like Frankfurt, Zurich, or Vienna. | Many US flights connect to Romanian cities including Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, and Sibiu. However, the most common flights into the capital, Bucharest require one change in either Frankfurt, Zurich, or Vienna. |
| Top destinations | Sofia, Plovdiv, Bansko, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Nessebar | Bucharest, Sibiu, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Sighișoara, and Constanta |
| Top activities | Skiing, hiking, exploring churches, watersports, beach holidays, archeology. | Castles, hiking, wildlife safari, exploring monasteries, food tours. |
| Affordability | $ Bulgaria is in the top 25% of affordable European countries. | $ Romania is also in the top 25% of affordable European countries, like its neighbor. |
