IRI Travel: 1.5 million Romanians who drive their own cars in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece. How can Romanian tourists get to Bulgaria, Greece or Turkey faster by road

The Romanians were informed that the Bulgarian state is carrying out rehabilitation works at the Giurgiu-Ruse Friendship Bridge in its own sector starting from July 9, blocking this bridge for two months. Unfortunately, the works take place at the height of the summer season, making it difficult for around 1.5 million Romanians who drive their own cars in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece, according to the travel agency IRI Travel, which presents alternatives to crossing the Friendship Bridge such as and the time spent on the road until you can reach the Bulgarian coast.

“The Romanians were informed that the Bulgarian state is carrying out rehabilitation works at the Giurgiu-Ruse Friendship Bridge in its own sector starting from July 9, blocking this bridge for two months. Unfortunately, the works are taking place at the height of the summer season, making traffic difficult for around 1.5 million Romanians who drive their own cars in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece. In the first stage of the repairs, road traffic on the bridge will be restricted in the direction of entry into Bulgaria and then in the direction of exit, towards Romania”, says IRI Travel, which presents the alternatives to crossing the Friendship Bridge as well as how much time tourists spend on way until they reach the Bulgarian coast, taking as a reference the city of Varna or the border with Greece, from Kulata.

Here are the Romania-Bulgaria customs crossing points and the distances to be covered, starting from the North Railway Station in Bucharest:

► Giurgiu Customs – Ruse = 70 km. – Varna = 285 km in total

► Vama Negru Voda = 257 km. – Varna = 363 km in total

► Vama Vama Veche = 270 km. – Varna = 391 km in total

► Ostrov Customs – Silistra (by ferry) = 129 or 145 km – Varna = 288 km in total. Bac program Monday-Sunday 06.00-22.00.

► Turnu Măgurele Customs (departing from Bucharest) 454 km. to Varna

► Zimnicea Customs (departing from Bucharest) 404 km to Varna

► Calafat Customs – Vidin (departing from Craiova) = 300 km to Varna, Kulata Customs = 783 km

► Bechet Customs = 306 km to Varna, (departing from Craiova) – Kulata Customs = 601 km in total

► Turnu Măgurele Customs (by ferry departing from Craiova) 135 km = Kulata Customs 541 km in total

“It is a reality that the Giurgiu – Ruse border crossing point is the most visited by Romanian tourists, especially those from Bucharest – Ilfov, Ploieşti or Braşov. This summer, the bridge will be much more difficult to access and tourists need patience. It is the decision of the Bulgarian authorities to carry out the repairs now. So we, as tourism consultants, have to recommend alternative transport to tourists. Of course, some of our bus journeys choose alternatives to pass at Vama Veche, Negru Vodă or by ferry to Silistra”, declares Lucian Bădîrcea, CEO of IRI Travel.

Prices for crossing the Danube by ferry:

• Zimnicea bus price (May 2024):

Car – 65 lei

Passenger – 5 lei

Motorcycle – 15 lei

Car 6 – 9 seats – 100 lei

Utility vehicle 2 – 3.5 t – 100 lei

Platform – 150 lei

Truck – 250 lei

Coach – 250 lei

“From the information we have, the Bulgarian authorities have decided to rehabilitate the section of the bridge that is under their management. We were informed that for repairs, the Bulgarian road workers will close one lane at a time and traffic will alternate on the other lane”, it is stated on the Facebook page of CNAIR (National Road Infrastructure Administration Company).

According to CNAIR, the Bulgarian side decided to close the traffic on one lane, with a three-minute delay, with traffic lights, for the first phase of the excavations, and then to see if it is necessary for the bridge to be completely closed to road traffic. In the first phase, one lane of traffic will be closed, and the traffic will be carried out alternately, at intervals of three minutes, starting from July 9.

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