PlugNest

Bucharest to Sofia by electric car

About six hours of driving, over the Danube at Ruse with no passport check. Most of the road has one lane each way until the Hemus motorway near Sofia. Here’s where the chargers are, from today’s data, and what to know before you go.

  • 385 km
  • 6 h driving
  • 1 border, no passport check
  • 37 fast chargers on the way

The road and its chargers

Bucharest: 34 more chargers in and around the city — see them on the map.

  1. Bucharest → the Danube Bridge

    km 0–64

    South out of Bucharest on the DN5 to Giurgiu, a busy road with one lane each way. There are no chargers by the road until Giurgiu, so leave Bucharest with enough charge to reach Ruse.

  2. The Danube Bridge → Byala

    km 64–129

    The Friendship Bridge takes you into Ruse, which has plenty of chargers — the obvious place to stop if you need to. After the city, the I-5 heads south to Byala; the motorway towards Veliko Tarnovo is still being built.

  3. Byala → Pleven

    km 129–226

    West on the I-3 across the Danube plain, one lane each way. This is the thinnest stretch for fast charging on the whole trip, so don’t count on a stop before Pleven.

  4. Pleven → Yablanitsa

    km 226–295

    From Pleven the I-3 carries on past Lukovit to Yablanitsa, where the Hemus motorway begins. Yablanitsa has large fast chargers right at the junction.

  5. Yablanitsa → Sofia

    km 295–379

    The last stretch is motorway: Hemus (A2) past Pravets and Botevgrad into Sofia. Roadworks at the Topli Dol tunnel can slow traffic until spring 2027.

Sofia: 64 more chargers in and around the city — see them on the map.

Border, bridge toll and vignettes

  • You cross at the Giurgiu–Ruse Friendship Bridge. Since Bulgaria and Romania became full Schengen members on 1 January 2025 there’s no passport control. Repairs in 2026 have at times narrowed the bridge to one lane, so allow for queues.
  • Bridge toll: €2 for a car from Ruse to Giurgiu. Romania’s fee for the other direction was reportedly dropped on 1 October 2026, but sources disagree — check at the toll booth.
  • Romania: you need a rovinieta for national roads, including the DN5 to Giurgiu. Electric cars aren’t exempt, but since 1 October 2026 they pay the lowest rate. Buy it online before you set off.
  • Bulgaria: you need an e-vignette for motorways and main roads, electric cars included. Since 1 August 2026 it costs €6.60 for a weekend, €10 for a week or €19.90 for a month. Buy it at bgtoll.bg.

Facts checked 11 November 2026. Prices and rules change — check before you travel.

Charging networks on this route

  • Fines17
  • Eldrive13
  • Electrip3

Each network takes payment its own way, usually through its app; newer fast chargers also take a bank card at the post.