Bulgaria’s infrastructure – Everything you need to know

When it comes to Bulgaria’s infrastructure, it is important to know some important aspects of our neighbors’ roads.

As we always say, it’s important to set off informed and know what to expect along the way.

Bulgaria’s infrastructure

Since 2012, Bulgarian legislation requires 2 distinct types of roads in Bulgaria, namely:

• highways (called in Bulgarian “Автомагистрала”, Avtomagistrala), which have emergency lanes and imposed a maximum speed limit of 140 km/h;
• express roads (called in Bulgarian “Скоростен пат”, Skorosten pat), which do not have emergency lanes and have a speed limit of 120 km/h

As of October 2022, there is a total of 845.3 kilometers of highways in operation for Bulgaria’s infrastructure.

To drive on Bulgarian roads it is necessary to purchase a vignette. The exception to the need to purchase the vignette is municipal roads, for which you do not have to pay any kind of tax.

You can find out all the information on how to buy a Bulgaria vignette online or in person by going to this link. The process is not a difficult one, and by reading all the necessary information, it will be very easy to get rid of the worries of a fine.

In addition to the vignette, it is important to know that there are two toll bridges:

• New Europe Bridge;
• Danube Bridge;

Both bridges are located at the border crossing points with Romania, in the Danube area. Both can be paid online from January 2019.

Connection with highways in neighboring countries

It is important to know the highway networks with Bulgaria’s neighboring countries in order to plan the most suitable route for you.

Greece

The Struma highway connects to the Greek highway A25 (Serres – Lagkadas – Egnatia Odos) near the town of Kulata. This route is part of the Pan-European Corridor IV.

An interchange is also being built on the Maritsa highway near Svilengrad to facilitate the connection with the future A21 highway in Greece.

Romania

The construction planning of the Botevgrad-Vidin, Veliko Târnovo-Ruse and Şumen-Ruse express highways, which branch off from the Hemus highway, also includes the connection with Romania. It is estimated that the Botevgrad-Vidin expressway will be the first to be built in this regard. After the inauguration of the New Europe Bridge, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta declared that Romania intends to build a highway between Craiova and Calafat.

In the long term, there are plans to connect the Cernavodă More highway with the future Romanian A4 highway to Constanța (including an intersection with the A2 highway, which leads to Bucharest).

Turkey

The Maritsa highway (A4) connects near Kapitan Andreevo with the Turkish highway O-3, which leads to Istanbul.

Serbia

A 31.5 km segment of the Europa highway, stretching from Sofia to Kalotina is planned to connect with the Serbian highway A4 to Niš. This route is part of the Pan-European Corridor X.

North Macedonia

The Dupnitsa Kyustendil expressway, which separates from the Struma highway, is planned to create a connection with this country.

Future roads in Bulgaria

Here is the list of upcoming highway and expressway openings in Bulgaria:

• Hemus highway: Boaza – Dermantsi (16 km) – Year 2024
• Hemus highway: Dermantsi – Kalenik (19 km) – Year 2024
• Hemus highway: Kalenik – Pleven (17 km) – Year 2024
• Struma Highway: Blagoevgrad – Simitli (13 km) – Year 2024
• Autostrada Europe: Dragoman – Kalotina (14 km) – Year 2023
• National Road 1: Botevgrad – Lyutidol (19 km) – Year 2023
• National Road 1: Lyutidol – Mezdra (13 km) – Year 2024
• National Road 1: Makresh – Bela (14 km) – Year 2023
• National Road 1: Vidin – Makresh (30 km) – Year 2024
• National Road 1: Bela – Ruzhintsi (11 km) – Year 2024

In total, in the period 2023-2024, 166 km of express roads and highways will be opened in Bulgaria.

If you are going to travel to Bulgaria, you must keep in mind that you have to pay the vignette. Prepare your route from home and make sure you choose the most suitable route for your needs. Bulgaria’s infrastructure is decent, in line with European standards.

If you want to find more information about vignettes for other countries, in our article section you can find information for all countries in Europe.