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Sofia to Varna by electric car

Under six hours, mostly on motorway: Trakia to Karnobat, north over the Balkan Mountains to Shumen, then Hemus into Varna. The shorter road through Veliko Tarnovo has one lane each way for most of its length. Here’s where the chargers are on the faster route, from today’s data.

  • 525 km
  • 5 h 40 min driving
  • 26 fast chargers on the way

The road and its chargers

Sofia: 103 more chargers in and around the city — see them on the map.

  1. Sofia → Plovdiv

    km 0–144

    Out of Sofia, the Trakia motorway (A1) runs past Ihtiman, Pazardzhik and Plovdiv. Chargers are close together on this stretch, many at fuel stations right by the motorway.

  2. Plovdiv → Nova Zagora

    km 144–259

    East on Trakia past Chirpan and Stara Zagora to the Nova Zagora junction, where a cluster of fast chargers sits right by the motorway.

  3. Nova Zagora → Karnobat

    km 259–346

    Trakia carries on past Yambol to Karnobat, with few fast chargers by the motorway until Karnobat itself.

  4. Karnobat → Shumen

    km 346–441

    Leaving the motorway at Karnobat, the road climbs north over the Balkan Mountains to Shumen, with one lane each way — slow in places, and with few chargers until Shumen.

  5. Shumen → Varna

    km 441–520

    From Shumen, the Hemus motorway (A2) takes you past Provadia into Varna. Shumen is the last good place to charge before the city.

Varna: 44 more chargers in and around the city — see them on the map.

Vignette and road conditions

  • No border on this route. You need a Bulgarian e-vignette for the motorway, 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.
  • The mountain road between Karnobat and Shumen can be slow in winter. Check the road agency’s traffic information (api.bg) before you set off.

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

Charging networks on this route

  • Fines21
  • Electrip5

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