Roads and Border Crossings in Bulgaria
Motorways
| Motorway | Route | In service | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trakia (A1) | Sofia–Plovdiv–Burgas | 360 km | Complete, 2013 |
| Maritsa (A4) | Chirpan–Kapitan Andreevo (Turkey) | 117 km | Complete, 2015 |
| Europe (A6) | Sofia–Kalotina (Serbia) | 63 km | Complete, 2025 |
| Hemus (A2) | Sofia–Varna | 206 of 418 km | About 2030 |
| Struma (A3) | Sofia–Kulata (Greece) | 143 of 172 km | About 2030 |
| Cherno More (A5) | Varna–Burgas | 8 of 103 km | 2032 |
| Vidin–Montana | Danube Bridge at Vidin–Montana | 14 of 95 km | 2030 |
| Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse | Towards the Danube Bridge at Ruse | 0 of 133 km | 2030 |
Source: Wikipedia: Highways in Bulgaria1
About 259 km of motorway was under construction at the end of 2025. The speed limit is 140 km/h on motorways and 120 km/h on expressways.1
The missing Struma section through the Kresna gorge is being built as a 4.2 km bypass with two tunnels and three bridges, under a €291.6 million contract. Construction started on 27 November 2025 and is planned to take about two years.2
Vignettes and tolls
Cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes need an electronic vignette, bought online or at petrol stations; there is no sticker. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes pay a toll by distance travelled. Prices rose by about 30% on 1 August 2026.3
| Vignette | Price from 1 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Annual | €64.50 |
| Three months | €35.90 |
| Monthly | €19.90 |
| Weekly | €10.00 |
| Weekend | €6.60 |
| One day | €5.30 |
Source: BNT: Government approves new vignette prices from 1 August3
Outside the motorways, the government says more than 35% of second- and third-class roads, over 7,000 km, are in poor condition.3
Border crossings
Bulgaria has been in the Schengen area since 1 January 2025, so there are no checks on people at the borders with Romania and Greece.5
The borders with Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia are external EU borders, with passport and customs checks at the official crossing points.10
| Neighbour | Road crossings |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Kapitan Andreevo (Maritsa motorway), Lesovo, Malko Tarnovo |
| Serbia | Kalotina (Europe motorway), Bregovo, Vrashka Chuka, Strezimirovtsi, Oltomantsi |
| North Macedonia | Gyueshevo, Stanke Lisichkovo, Zlatarevo |
| Greece | Kulata (Struma motorway), Ilinden, Kapitan Petko Voyvoda, Ivaylovgrad, Zlatograd |
| Romania | Danube bridges at Ruse–Giurgiu and Vidin–Calafat, the Oryahovo ferry, and Silistra, Kardam and Durankulak by land |
Source: Visit Bulgaria, official tourism portal: Geographic location and border checkpoints; EUR-Lex: Update of the list of border crossing points under the Schengen Borders Code (2025); EGTRE: Border crossings Bulgaria–Romania9,10,7
Kapitan Andreevo handles more than a million trucks a year. A €43.55 million upgrade, started in August 2026 and due by the end of summer 2027, will add about 25% capacity, or 250,000 vehicles a year. Lesovo, to the east, is the second truck crossing to Turkey.4,6
The two bridges over the Danube to Romania are the road and rail Danube Bridge at Ruse–Giurgiu, over 2 km long, and the New Europe Bridge at Vidin–Calafat, opened on 14 June 2013. A new rail and road bridge at Ruse is planned by 2032, and more bridges near Silistra and Nikopol.7,8
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kilometres of motorway does Bulgaria have?
Bulgaria had 911 km of motorways in service in November 2025, out of 1,661 km planned in total. Hemus and Struma are due to be completed by about 2030.
What are the speed limits on motorways and expressways in Bulgaria?
The speed limit in Bulgaria is 140 km/h on motorways and 120 km/h on expressways for vehicles using these roads.
How much does a car vignette cost in Bulgaria?
From 1 August 2026, an annual car e-vignette costs €64.50 in Bulgaria. Prices are €35.90 for three months, €19.90 monthly, €10.00 weekly, €6.60 for a weekend and €5.30 for one day; cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes need one.
Are there border checks between Bulgaria, Romania and Greece?
Bulgaria has been in the Schengen area since 1 January 2025, so there are no checks on people at its borders with Romania and Greece. Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia are external EU borders, where passport and customs checks take place at official crossing points.
How is the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing in Bulgaria being upgraded?
Kapitan Andreevo handles more than a million trucks a year. A €43.55 million upgrade started in August 2026 and is due by the end of summer 2027; it is expected to add about 25% capacity, or 250,000 vehicles a year.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Highways in Bulgaria
- BTA: Kresna town bypass on Struma motorway takes shape with bridges and tunnels
- BNT: Government approves new vignette prices from 1 August
- BTA: Kapitan Andreevo border crossing to expand capacity by 25% (18 August 2026)
- European Commission: Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area (3 January 2025)
- BNR: Heavy truck traffic at border crossings with Türkiye
- EGTRE: Border crossings Bulgaria–Romania
- Ministry of Transport and Communications: Action plan for 25 key projects on the Aegean–Danube–Black Sea axis (29 September 2026)
- Visit Bulgaria, official tourism portal: Geographic location and border checkpoints
- EUR-Lex: Update of the list of border crossing points under the Schengen Borders Code (2025)
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
